Summary
Initially launched in the UK as the ‘Funky Cat’, the 03 is an all-electric hatchback launched by Ora – a fledgling brand owned by Chinese motoring giant Great Wall Motors.
Slightly smaller than the Volkswagen ID.3 but larger than the electric Mini hatch, the 03 is Ora’s first foray into the European market, which has received a rather mixed bag of reviews from UK media sources since it became available to order in the last weeks of 2022.
Often described as “a good start”, some reviewers found it hard to look past its unusual ‘Funky Cat’ name and questionable infotainment, while others have earmarked the hatchback as an interesting left-field choice that could tempt buyers who usually opt for the cars of bigger brands. The styling is often described as a combination of Mini Cooper and Nissan Micra design cues.
As of 2025, the Ora 03 is offered in three trim levels – Pure, Pro and GT – with prices starting at £25K and climbing in £4K increments to the range-topping GT at £33K.
The entry-level Pure model comes with a 43kWh battery, which is good for an official 193-mile electric range, while the top-spec GT has a 63kWh battery, boosted by a heat pump, that raises its official range to 248 miles. As for charging, a 15% to 80% boost should take around 45 minutes.
Parker‘s Alan Taylor-Jones concludes that the hatchback will appeal to those “more focused on style than sensibility”, pointing to the car’s smart styling that is hindered by its small boot, and the fact that it has less battery range than some smaller, cheaper electric superminis.
That said, Richard Ingram of Auto Express adds that the 03 does “punch above its weight on kit and cabin tech” – a conclusion mirrored by the car’s impressive five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
“The Funky Cat is different”, says The Sun‘s Ron Gill, “but it doesn’t move the game on.” While Ora’s first entrant in the UK market is a capable hatchback, it does little to stand out in an increasingly crowded electric family car pack.
As of September 2025, the GWM Ora 03 holds an Expert Rating of A, with a score of 73%. It has an excellent safety score, very low running costs and produces zero tailpipe emissions, as well as an excellent new car warranty. Journalists are not that impressed with how it drives, but it should be a very affordable car to live with.
Ora 03 highlights
- Upmarket interior
- Generous warranty
- Comes with plenty of safety tech as standard
- Spacious cabin
Ora 03 lowlights
- Poor infotainment
- Rivals offer better driving dynamics and performance
- Small boot
- Having to constantly explain what it is…
Key specifications
Body style: Small-medium five-door hatchback
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £32,590 on-road
Launched: Winter 2022/23
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Featured reviews
“As an urban runabout, the electric GWM Ora 03 is spacious for a supermini, has an excellent safety rating and comes with an impressive equipment list.”
Model reviewed: Ora 03 GT
Score: 6.6 / 10
Read full review
The Car Expert
“The GWM Ora 03 is a stylish and tech-filled EV, but it could go further on a battery and the boot is tiny.”
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
Read full review
Carwow
Jamie Edkins
More reviews
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Cute retro looks and lots of safety kit help the GWM Ora 03 stand out from rival electric vehicles.”
Author: Max Adams, Alex Ingram
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Model reviewed: 03 GT
Score: 6 / 10
“The flagship GWM Ora 03 GT has been given a sporty new look and more equipment, but the changes are purely cosmetic.”
Author: Alastair Crooks
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Model reviewed: First Edition
Score: 8 / 10
“The GWM Ora Funky Cat is arguably the biggest and most pleasant surprise of 2022. It’s time to sit up and take notice of the Chinese car industry; if you can see past the childish name and slightly challenging rear-end styling, the Funky Cat is an extremely credible small EV. Watch out, Europe, China’s on the march.”
Author: Richard Ingram
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“In a competitive market, the GWM Ora 03 (former Funky Cat) faces a tough battle but those cute looks are a good start, even if some of the finer details lack polish.”
Author: Dan Trent
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Business Car
Model reviewed: First Edition 45kWh
Score: 5 / 10
“The Ora Funky Cat drives well enough, but there are too many shortcomings sacrificed for style.”
Author: Martyn Collins
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Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“This is a solid if not outstanding initial gambit from Ora that’ll certainly appeal to those more focused on style than sensibility.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Ora Funky Cat has landed in the UK on all fours and is one of the strongest small EVs currently on sale.”
Author: Tom Jervis
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Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Ora Funky Cat may not be to everyone’s tastes, but it’s a great electric city car with a plush interior and all the kit you could possibly need.”
Author: Tom Jervis
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“You might choose it just for the looks, quality and technology, but the Ora Funky Cat is good to drive too. Rivals have a longer range and can charge faster, but that might not worry drivers who rarely venture out of town.”
Author: Tom Barnard
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Ora Funky Cat has characterful exterior styling, an interesting interior, the refinement that you would expect from an EV, and decent driving dynamics. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the quality of the car, especially the cabin.”
Author: Paul Clarke
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Weird name aside, the Ora Funky Cat is actually a really likeable electric car. We love its cutesy looks and cheerful interior, while it also strikes us as excellent value for money.”
Author: Andy Brady
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5.4 / 10
“If you like the styling of the GWM Ora 03 (formerly known as the Funky Cat) and enjoy its fun interior, you likely won’t be disappointed by the car’s undemanding driving dynamics. But we’ll hold out hope for a software update to fix some of our bigger complaints with the car.”
Author: Keith Adams
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The Scotsman
Model reviewed: First Edition
Score: 5 / 10
“There’s no doubt Chinese brands are going to have a major role in the UK’s motoring landscape but probably not off the back of the Ora Funky Cat, which feels like a car rushed out to meet a set of on-paper specs with little focus on how well it works in the real world.”
Author: Matt Allan
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The Sun
Model reviewed: Range overview
“Funky Cat is different but it doesn’t move the game on. If you really want a smart, do-it-all electric car, go and try a Kia Niro. That’s the Top Cat.”
Read review
The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Funky Cat has its problems, including the price tag and the comparatively small battery, but it’s still a competitive product, nonetheless. The driving experience and cabin quality are both a match for the Funky Cat’s rivals, and the in-car technology is impressive.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 03 GT
Score: 6 / 10
“Rebranded and restyled, this five-door hatchback brings quirky charm and generous kit, but struggles to turn novelty into substance.”
Author: Alex Robbins
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Model reviewed: First Edition
Score: 4 / 10
“There’s far too much ‘that’ll do’ for the Ora Funky Cat to be a credible contender in what is going to be a very hard-fought sector of the market, despite its attractive five-year/unlimited mileage warranty.”
Author: Andrew English
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 5 / 10
“Interesting to look at and to explain to your friends, but the Funky Cat is let down by some fundamental issues.”
Author: Greg Potts
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Model reviewed: Funky Cat First Edition
Score: 7 / 10
“The indicators are a nightmare: it’s a light touch for a quick indicate and a heavy touch when you’re sat at a junction, but it’s all too easy to press too hard.”
Read review
Which EV?
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“If you like to stand out and you can handle the name, the Ora Funky Cat could be the small EV for you. It has personality by the bucketload, provides a respectable range, and gives the likes of the Honda e and Mini Electric a run for their money. But there’s no denying this is a Chinese oddball, and it’s not as fun to drive as it looks.”
Author: Tim Barnes-Clay
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: September 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 92%
Child protection: 83%
Vulnerable road users: 74%
Safety assist: 93%
Notes on safety rating
The GWM Ora 03 was awarded Euro NCAP’s best small family car for 2022, based on its impressive scores across all four categories of testing.
The hatchback comes with adaptive cruise control with steering assistance as standard, traffic-sign recognition and a driver monitoring system.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of September 2025, the GWM Ora 03 has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the Ora 03 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing if and when it takes place. Check back again soon.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 216 miles | C |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 4 m/KWh | C |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 24 | B |
The GWM Ora 03 should be a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of fuel economy in a petrol or diesel car) is only average, but if you are able to charge from home then it is still significantly cheaper than paying for petrol at a service station.
We don’t yet have servicing and maintenance costs for the GWM Ora 03, so check back soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of September 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the GWM Ora 03 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the 3, we’ll publish the score here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the GWM Ora 03
| Overall rating | A | 96% |
| New car warranty duration | 5 years |
| New car warranty mileage | Unlimited miles |
| Battery warranty duration | 8 years |
| Battery warranty mileage | 100,000 miles |
GWM’s new car warranty is better than average, and better than some other brands in a similar price bracket to the 03.
The duration is five years, with no limit on mileage. In addition, there is an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
If you’re looking to buy a used car that is approaching the end of its warranty period, a used car warranty is usually a worthwhile investment. Check out The Car Expert’s guide to the best used car warranty providers, which will probably be cheaper than a warranty sold by a dealer.
Awards
Significant UK trophies and awards that the GWM Ora 03 has received.
2022
- Driving Electric Awards – Best Urban Electric Car
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the GWM Ora 03, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Current models: BYD Dolphin | BYD Dolphin Surf | Citroën ë-C3 | Cupra Born | Dacia Spring | Fiat 500 Electric | Fiat Grande Panda Electric | Hyundai Inster | Leapmotor T03 | MG 4 | Mini Cooper Electric | Nissan Micra | Peugeot e-208 | Renault 5 E-Tech | Vauxhall Corsa Electric | Volkswagen ID.3
Discontinued models: Honda e | Kia Soul EV | Mini Electric | Nissan Leaf | Renault Zoe
More information
More news, reviews and information about the GWM Ora 03 at The Car Expert
Buy a GWM Ora 03
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