The family hybrid crossover segment has replaced the sedan market in Israel as the most significant category in the automotive industry, with a growing number of competitors in the price range of NIS 136,000 to NIS 180,000. The JAECOO 5 is currently the segment’s sales leader, while the BYD Atto 2 recently gained a plug-in hybrid version. These models join more established competitors, ranging from the Chery FX to the Kia Niro, Nissan Juke, MG ZS, and others.
Following the electric Ora 03 (formerly known as the Funky Cat) and Ora 07, the Chinese manufacturer from the Great Wall Group is now moving into the hybrid vehicle market, a trend that other automakers are also accelerating as they recognize that the transition to electric vehicles will neither be complete nor particularly rapid.
The Ora 5 resembles the design of the Ora 03 in a larger and taller form. It measures 4.47 meters in length (longer than the Niro and FX), 1.83 meters in width (narrower than the JAECOO 5), 1.64 meters in height (with only the Atto 2 being taller in the segment), and features a wheelbase of 2.72 meters (identical to the Niro). Cargo capacity stands at 390 liters.
The powertrain combines a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 220 horsepower and 48.6 kg-m of torque, making it the most powerful setup in the segment. This enables acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds, a top speed of 220 km/h, and a combined fuel consumption figure of 19.6 km per liter.
The safety package includes all the standard active safety systems, from autonomous emergency braking for both forward and reverse driving to adaptive cruise control. The model has not yet been tested by the European crash-testing program.
The major question is pricing: The JAECOO 5 starts at NIS 155,000, the BYD Atto 2 Plug-in Hybrid at NIS 150,000, while the Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona are priced between NIS 170,000 and NIS 176,000. Where will Colmobil choose to position the new model?
The launch of the hybrid version is expected next month, with gasoline-powered and fully electric variants set to arrive later.