Is the GWM ORA better than the Volvo C40?

It depends on your priorities. The GWM ORA and Volvo C40 each lead in different areas, compare price, running costs, boot space, safety and warranty in the full spec breakdown below.

Which is cheaper to run, GWM ORA or Volvo C40?

Both are electric, so both cost far less to run than a petrol rival, roughly $600–900 a year in home electricity versus $1,800+ for a comparable petrol SUV. The Volvo C40 also goes further on a charge (500km vs 400km WLTP).

Which is safer, GWM ORA or Volvo C40?

The GWM ORA holds a 5-star ANCAP rating. The Volvo C40 has not been ANCAP-tested yet, so no star rating is published for it.

Which has more boot space, GWM ORA or Volvo C40?

The GWM ORA offers 228L of boot space; the figure for the Volvo C40 is being confirmed.

Which has a better warranty, GWM ORA or Volvo C40?

The GWM ORA comes with a 7-year warranty.

Which is more powerful, GWM ORA or Volvo C40?

The Volvo C40 is more powerful at 300kW, versus 126kW for the GWM ORA. The Volvo C40 is quicker to 100km/h (4.7s vs 8.4s).

Home›Comparisons›GWM ORA vs Volvo C40

Spec Battle Updated 20 April 2026 5 min read

GWM ORA vs Volvo C40

Two electric Hatchbacks go head to head. Which EV is the better buy for Australian drivers in 2026?

Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.

Data checked: specs 1 Oct 2026, price 25 Jun 2026

Winner

GWM

GWM ORA

From $31,990

Hatchback

Electric

Electric

126kW

—

5★ ANCAP

228L

Volvo C40

Price TBC

Hatchback

Electric

Recharge Twin Electric Motor

300kW

—

ANCAP: no data

—

Specifications in progress

Volvo C40: we're still completing price, length, width, height and wheelbase, plus 5 others.

A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.

SpecGWMVolvo

Price (RRP)$31,990TBC

Fuel typeElectricElectric

Range (WLTP)347km500km

Battery57.7 kWh78 kWh

Power126kW300kW

0-100 km/h8.4s4.7s

Max DC Charge80kW—

10-80% Charge Time35 min—

Boot (seats up)228L—

Towing—1,800kg

Warranty7yr / Unlimited—

ANCAP Safety5 StarsNo data

Track the GWM ORA & Volvo C40

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Price Breakdown

Pricing for one or both models is yet to be confirmed for the Australian market. We will update this comparison when official RRPs are announced.

Safety Rundown

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

Charging Times

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

How long to charge

59kWh usable

Public DC

50kW charger · 0–80%

57 min

Ultra-rapid DC

up to 80kW · 0–80%

44 min

Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (6.6kW AC, 80kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.

How long to charge

78kWh usable

Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7.4kW AC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.

Feature Showdown

Both come with modern infotainment systems.

The GWM ORA stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto — features our data doesn't list for the Volvo C40. The Volvo C40 counters with wireless charging, panoramic roof, heated front seats, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Drivetrain

The GWM ORA uses a Electric producing 126kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.4 seconds.

The Volvo C40 responds with a Recharge Twin Electric Motor making 300kW and 660Nm, paired to a single-speed driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

The Volvo C40 has the clear power advantage at 300kW vs 126kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Volvo C40 is 3.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 57.7kWh (GWM ORA) vs 78kWh (Volvo C40), giving WLTP ranges of 347km and 500km.

Space & Comfort

Turning Circle

Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.

11.2m diameter

Average

GWM ORA Lux

11.2m

←

GWM ORA Lux

11.2m · Average

Based on 11.2m turning circle:

U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
Standard parking bay
Tight carparks
Narrow laneways

Turning circle ratings

Under 10m, Excellent

10 to 11m, Good

11 to 12m, Average

Over 12m, Large

Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing

Turning Circle

Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.

11.2 m Ø

Average

GWM ORA Turning circle · Ø 11.2 m Kerb strike

Scrub the turn

Road width 9.0 m

Towing a trailer

Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)

Needs about 10.0 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.

U-turn on a wide street

≥ 10 m: 3-point turn

U-turn on a standard street

7 m: 3-point turn

✓

Standard parking bay

1.8 m wide: fits with room

✓

Tight carpark aisle

6 m: swings in

Narrow laneway

3.5 m: no room to turn

Turning circle ratings

Under 10 m · Excellent 10–11 m · Good 11–12 m · Average Over 12 m · Large

Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).

Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.

True Cost to Own

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Who Should Buy Which?

Buy the GWM ORA if: You or prefer GWM's approach to design and ownership experience.

Buy the Volvo C40 if: You prioritise performance, or prefer Volvo's approach to design and ownership experience.

The Verdict

The GWM ORA comes out ahead on the CarSorted Score (66 vs 46), taking 0 of 5 key spec rows below. The deciding gaps: energy efficiency (GWM ORA ahead by 37), performance (Volvo C40 ahead by 37), safety (GWM ORA ahead by 36). The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.

Explore GWM ORA Explore Volvo C40

Common questions

Which is cheapest, GWM ORA and Volvo C40?

The GWM ORA is the cheapest at $31,990 before on-road costs.

Which has the longest driving range?

The Volvo C40 has the most range at 500km (WLTP).

Which charges fastest?

The GWM ORA accepts the highest DC charging at up to 80kW.

What are the ANCAP safety ratings?

GWM ORA holds a 5-star ANCAP rating. We have no published ANCAP rating for Volvo C40, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.

Which can tow the most?

The Volvo C40 has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.

Which is the most powerful?

The Volvo C40 makes the most power at 300kW. The Volvo C40 is quickest to 100km/h in 4.7s.

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Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.

Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026