The all-electric GWM Ora is nearly upon us, having been revealed all the back in May with an initially claimed price tag of R716,900.
Since then, however, the Chinese manufacturer has published the finalized pricing of the incoming vehicle, revealing that it will retail from R686,950 up to a max of R835,950 for the flagship GT.
At the same time, the Ora’s only competitor in South Africa, the Mini Cooper SE, has seen its starting price climb to R783,500, making the gulf between the two cars significantly larger.
With electric cars still being slim pickings on the local market, it’s helpful to examine what each of these cars is bringing to the table.
Powertrains
Both the Ora and Cooper are equipped with a single front-mounted electric motor, though their outputs differ and the former has access to two different battery packs.
The base GWM 300 has a 48kWh battery, which provides an electric range of 310km, while the 400 uses a larger 63kWh cell which allows for 420km of driving.
The Mini, on the other hand, relies on a 32.6kWh battery, granting a range of 215km.
As for their power, the Chinese car produces a total of 126kW and 250Nm, while the German has 125kW and 270Nm at its disposal.
A 10-80% charge on the Ora 300 is then expected to take 41 minutes using its 80kW DC cable (50 minutes for the 400), while the SE takes 23 minutes with its DC plug and 2h30 with an 11kW AC outlet.
Features
Since both vehicles are competing in the premium hatchback segment, buyers of either brand can expect automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, tyre-pressure monitoring, keyless start, climate control, hill assist, a digital driver display, an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a leather multifunction steering wheel.
Opting for the Mini specifically will further get you 17-inch alloys, cruise control, ambient lighting, a Harman Kardon stereo, a 5.0-inch instrument cluster, an 8.8-inch media screen, a sustainable fabric upholstery, and four driving modes – Sport, Mid, Green, and Green+.
The GWM, meanwhile, gets keyless entry, 18-inch alloys, a hands-free tailgate, a panoramic sunroof, leatherette seats, launch control, a wireless charger, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, front and rear cross-traffic and collision assist, a 360-degree camera, electronically adjustable front seats with ventilation and massage functions, two 10.25-inch displays for the driver and infotainment, and five driving modes for Standard, Eco, Sport, Auto, and Eco+.
It’s also important to note that the GWM has five seats, while the Mini only has four.
Pricing
The South African pricing for the new GWM Ora is as follows:
- GWM Ora 300 Super Luxury – R686,950
- GWM Ora 400 Super Luxury – R775,950
- GWM Ora 400 Ultra Luxury – R805,950
- GWM Ora 400 GT Ultra Luxury – R835,950
The company has not yet provided the warranty and service plan details for its new car.
The local pricing for the Mini Cooper SE is as follows:
- MINI Cooper SE Hatch 3-door – R783,500
- MINI Cooper SE Hatch 3-door Resolute Edition – R815,200
This includes a 5-year/100,000km Motorplan as well as an 8-year/100,000km battery warranty.
GWM Ora
Mini Cooper SE
Keyword: New GWM Ora vs Mini Cooper SE – Cheapest electric hatchbacks in South Africa compared