ORA 5 EV

First Impressions

The ORA 5 is unmistakably an ORA. You see it and you know exactly what brand it is — though I'll admit there's a passing resemblance to a certain European marque. It replaces the Good Cat and grows substantially in every dimension: 23.6 cm longer, 7 cm more wheelbase, and 3 cm more ground clearance. It looks properly proportioned now, like the design team finally had the canvas they needed to make everything work together.

This was a first-impression test drive on a pre-production unit, so I haven't had the chance to do a full charging test yet. But I covered enough ground to form strong opinions about how it drives, how efficient it is, and where it still needs work.

Design and Exterior

The SUV proportions suit the ORA design language much better than the hatchback did. LED headlights with automatic high-beam control, 18-inch black alloy wheels, and a clever rear wiper hidden under the spoiler give it a clean, modern look. The rear light bar embedded in the glass is carried over from the Good Cat, but it works better here with the taller stance.

The top-spec Ultra trim adds a panoramic glass roof with an electric shade and a powered tailgate with anti-pinch. Nice touches that make the car feel more premium than you'd expect.

Interior and Tech

Step inside and there's still that playful ORA personality — the tartan fabric accents, the chrome toggle switches, the two-tone color scheme available on the EV version. It's cute without being childish. The light interior option is exclusive to the electric powertrain, which is a nice differentiator.

The real upgrade story is the infotainment. The old 10.25-inch screen was painfully slow. This new 14.6-inch display is in a different league — thin bezels, fluid response, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument cluster has also grown to 10.25 inches. There's Huawei Petal Maps for navigation, Thai and English voice control, and OTA updates. The top trim throws in a 50-watt wireless charger, 9-speaker audio system, ventilated front seats, and an 8.8-inch vanity mirror with LED lighting shaped like a cat. Charming.

Driving Experience

The single front motor puts out 204 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque. I clocked 0-100 km/h in 7.36 seconds in Sport mode, with some wheel spin eating into that time. The 80-120 km/h overtaking punch took 4.88 seconds, which feels genuinely adequate. You can choose between Eco, Normal, Wellbeing, and Sport driving modes, each changing throttle response noticeably.

Steering weight is adjustable across three levels and honestly feels decent at any setting. The problem is the dead zone at center. Nudge the wheel slightly and there's a gap before the car reacts. On the highway this translates to constant micro-corrections that get tiring. It's the same issue I experienced on the Haval H6, and I'm hopeful a software update can tighten it up.

The suspension is now fully independent with a multi-link rear, replacing the Good Cat's torsion beam. On smooth tarmac it's comfortable and composed. On rough concrete or undulating surfaces, though, there's a persistent small-amplitude bounce, especially noticeable from the back seat. The test car wore Chinese-brand Prince tires that felt quite hard — production Thai-spec cars reportedly get Goodyear rubber, which could improve things meaningfully. The brake pedal sits higher than expected and bites aggressively, requiring some acclimatization.

Efficiency and Range

This is where the ORA 5 genuinely impressed me. Despite being a bigger, heavier SUV, energy management has improved over the Good Cat. At a steady 80 km/h I measured about 11.4 kWh per 100 km, and even at 120 km/h it only climbed to around 16.8 kWh per 100 km. DC fast charging now supports up to 120 kW, with 30-80% claimed in 20 minutes. V2L output is rated at 6 kW, which is genuinely useful for powering external devices.

Safety

Every trim gets six airbags, a 360-degree camera with transparent underbody view, and a solid suite of ADAS including adaptive cruise control, AEB, lane keep assist, and traffic sign recognition. The Ultra trim adds blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, door open warning, and emergency lane keeping. There's also an emergency power cutoff button inside the cabin — a thoughtful touch for peace of mind.

Final Verdict

The ORA 5 is a meaningful evolution over the Good Cat. It's bigger, more efficient, better equipped, and the infotainment alone is worth the upgrade. But the steering dead zone and suspension tuning on rough roads hold it back from greatness. If you mostly drive on decent tarmac and want a charming, efficient electric SUV with genuine personality, this deserves a test drive. Just spend enough time with it to make sure those dynamic quirks don't bother you.