Having two diesels sitting in the driveway (a 530d and an X1) while staring at a roof of solar panels was starting to annoy me every time the fuel price went up. My medium term car strategy is to get a small EV car for running around, and a large diesel 7 seater for longer road trips. Based on the fuel prices, the priority was to get the EV first and replace the X1-which was used as the run around (despite the likelihood of used ev prices coming down in the next few years)
So, the search for a small EV began.
I looked at the BYD Dolphin Surf, but the power and torque were underwhelming. That left the Geely E2, Box and the Chery Q—all hovering around the 85-90 kW mark. The Chery especially seemed a bit light on torque(115 Nm vs 150 Nm). However, I tend to shy away from buying brand-new cars because of depreciation—especially so on EVs. On top of that, a family member already drives a Geely E2. That has its own set of quirks and the thought of looking at two of the same cars at Sunday lunch wasn't doing it for me.
I then spotted a 2023 GWM Ora 03 400 GT with 35,000 km being sold by a private seller.
I did my homework, accepted its quirks, and made the decision. Back in 2023, these retailed at a ridiculous R835,000 (though I doubt anyone actually paid that—from what I understand, most went for closer to R600k–R700k with dealer discounts). I managed to scoop it up for less than the top spec versions of those entry-level EVs.
For the money, the spec leap is massive:
63 KWh battery
126KW and 250 Nm
7-year / 200,000 km vehicle warranty, 7-year service plan, and 8-year battery/motor warranty
Plus, it comes with luxury features(gimmicks?) —massaging and ventilated electric seats, smart adaptive cruise control, panoramic sunroof, "comfort access" etc.
Its looks are... interesting, to say the least. Maybe a Temu crossover between a Mini Cooper, a Fiat 500, a Porsche, and a Beetle. My wife—who knows absolutely nothing about EVs being appliances—took one look at it and said amused: "It looks like a Smeg kettle." Now I can't unsee it.
I flew up to Joburg, signed the papers, and drove it back home down the N3. Total time was about 7 hours, including two stops at the Zero Carbon Charge stations. I was definitely conservative and over-charged at each stop, but I wasn't taking chances for my first EV road-trip. Could have done it in about 6hr 30min if I trusted "A Better Route Planner" more.
Pros so far:
Instant 250 Nm in a hatch makes city driving fun, maybe a bit too much for its Giti tyres.
Surprisingly solid suspension setup and direct steering.
Quiet, premium feel, and zero rattles.
Spacious rear seats
Almost free fuel.
Kids enjoy the massaging seats...
Cons (The "quirks"):
Almost every AC and vehicle setting is buried in the touchscreen.
For reasons known only to GWM engineers, the adaptive cruise control uses friction brakes on downhill stretches instead of regenerative braking.
Calling the boot a "boot" is generous. Also, no frunk.
No spare wheel
Maxes out at 64 kW DC.
Wind noise above 120.
Overall: I knew all the cons before I signed, and these are more glaring and may be an issue on longer trips, so not too applicable to my use case as a city car. In saying that, I can actually see myself using an appropriate EV for road trips in the future.
In summary: very happy with the purchase right now. Only time will tell if it was a good decision or not.
Happy to answer questions on efficiency, charging logistics etc. or how to explain to your family why your car looks like a retro toaster.
So, the search for a small EV began.
I looked at the BYD Dolphin Surf, but the power and torque were underwhelming. That left the Geely E2, Box and the Chery Q—all hovering around the 85-90 kW mark. The Chery especially seemed a bit light on torque(115 Nm vs 150 Nm). However, I tend to shy away from buying brand-new cars because of depreciation—especially so on EVs. On top of that, a family member already drives a Geely E2. That has its own set of quirks and the thought of looking at two of the same cars at Sunday lunch wasn't doing it for me.
I then spotted a 2023 GWM Ora 03 400 GT with 35,000 km being sold by a private seller.
I did my homework, accepted its quirks, and made the decision. Back in 2023, these retailed at a ridiculous R835,000 (though I doubt anyone actually paid that—from what I understand, most went for closer to R600k–R700k with dealer discounts). I managed to scoop it up for less than the top spec versions of those entry-level EVs.
For the money, the spec leap is massive:
63 KWh battery
126KW and 250 Nm
7-year / 200,000 km vehicle warranty, 7-year service plan, and 8-year battery/motor warranty
Plus, it comes with luxury features(gimmicks?) —massaging and ventilated electric seats, smart adaptive cruise control, panoramic sunroof, "comfort access" etc.
Its looks are... interesting, to say the least. Maybe a Temu crossover between a Mini Cooper, a Fiat 500, a Porsche, and a Beetle. My wife—who knows absolutely nothing about EVs being appliances—took one look at it and said amused: "It looks like a Smeg kettle." Now I can't unsee it.
I flew up to Joburg, signed the papers, and drove it back home down the N3. Total time was about 7 hours, including two stops at the Zero Carbon Charge stations. I was definitely conservative and over-charged at each stop, but I wasn't taking chances for my first EV road-trip. Could have done it in about 6hr 30min if I trusted "A Better Route Planner" more.
Pros so far:
Instant 250 Nm in a hatch makes city driving fun, maybe a bit too much for its Giti tyres.
Surprisingly solid suspension setup and direct steering.
Quiet, premium feel, and zero rattles.
Spacious rear seats
Almost free fuel.
Kids enjoy the massaging seats...
Cons (The "quirks"):
Almost every AC and vehicle setting is buried in the touchscreen.
For reasons known only to GWM engineers, the adaptive cruise control uses friction brakes on downhill stretches instead of regenerative braking.
Calling the boot a "boot" is generous. Also, no frunk.
No spare wheel
Maxes out at 64 kW DC.
Wind noise above 120.
Overall: I knew all the cons before I signed, and these are more glaring and may be an issue on longer trips, so not too applicable to my use case as a city car. In saying that, I can actually see myself using an appropriate EV for road trips in the future.
In summary: very happy with the purchase right now. Only time will tell if it was a good decision or not.
Happy to answer questions on efficiency, charging logistics etc. or how to explain to your family why your car looks like a retro toaster.
