2024 GWM Cannon Alpha Review

The Cannon Alpha hits the market with a larger platform than the standard Cannon ute, with its appeal buoyed by lovely interior designs and a tonne of equipment as standard.

Offered with both a conventional turbo-diesel and a powerful petrol hybrid range-topper, the Cannon Alpha is an impressive on-paper option in the ute segment, but how does it hold up against its rivals?

Let’s take a closer look at the 2024 GWM Cannon Alpha range to see how it ticks important boxes for working Aussies and family buyers alike.

GWM Cannon Alpha Competition

How Much Does the GWM Cannon Alpha Cost?

GWM has split the Cannon Alpha range into three variants for the Australian market in 2024 - two diesel versions and one flagship hybrid.

The entry-level Cannon Alpha Alpha Lux diesel is priced at $51,990 drive-away, while the more premium Alpha Ultra diesel is priced at $57,990.

The range-topping Cannon Alpha Ultra hybrid is priced at $64,990.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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2024 GWM Cannon Alpha Lux (4x4) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the GWM Cannon Alpha Have?

GWM’s entry-level Cannon Alpha Lux comes riding on a set of 18-inch alloys and receives LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, an electronic locking rear differential, hill descent & ascent control, side steps, a tub liner, dual-zone climate control, leatherette upholstery, a surround-view monitor with parking sensors and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Stepping up to the Cannon Alpha Ultra diesel range adds a locking front differential, a 60:40 split rear tailgate, LED fog lights, leather upholstery with power-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, a wireless charging pad and a panoramic sunroof.

GWM’s flagship Cannon Alpha Ultra hybrid picks up a head-up display, ambient interior lighting, a rear wireless charging pad, heated and ventilated rear seats, a parking assistant, auto reverse assist and power-adjustable rear seats.

GWM Cannon Alpha Connectivity & Infotainment Features

GWM is looking to make the Cannon Alpha range one of the most impressive utes in the segment on the technology front.

As standard, the Cannon Alpha range receives a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display positioned atop the dashboard in a landscape orientation.

It’s bright, responsive and crisp high-definition display that offers voice commands connected to several in-vehicle functions like closing the windows or adjusting the climate settings.

Base models receive a six-speaker sound system while the flagship Ultra hybrid picks up an upgraded ten-speaker sound system courtesy of Infinity.

Does the GWM Cannon Alpha have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Prospective buyers will be pleased to hear that every member of the GWM Cannon Alpha range receives wireless connectivity with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ecosystems.

It’s a great match for the Cannon Alpha’s large infotainment display and allows those behind the wheel to access their music, contacts and your preferred navigation app while on the move.

This also allows you to place your phone on the wireless charging pad while using either Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and makes the Cannon Alpha range particularly competitive when it comes to in-car tech.

Is the GWM Cannon Alpha Comfortable to Drive?

For all its sleek new looks and new hybrid technology, the GWM Cannon Alpha remains a pretty familiar affair for those accustomed to the quirks of a dual-cab ute.

GWM offers the Cannon Alpha with a choice of two engines, with the base model picking up a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel that kicks out 135kW of power and 480Nm of torque.

Upgrading to the Cannon Alpha hybrid range uses a 2.0-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder petrol paired with an electric motor that pushes out a very impressive 255kW of power and 648Nm of torque.

It’s clear to see, then, that the Alpha hybrid has been designed primarily with power figures in mind rather than any efficiency gains.

Both versions of the Cannon Alpha throw power to either the rear wheels or all four wheels via the on-demand 4WD system and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

On the road, the Cannon Alpha feels rock-solid and while acceleration isn’t fierce in the base turbo-diesel, it is impressively smooth while bumbling around town.

Upgrading to the Cannon Alpha hybrid gives you a tonne more power to help you pick up the pace and even smoother acceleration around town - though the upgrade comes at a steep price.

In the urban jungle, the Cannon Alpha remains user-friendly thanks to its relatively light steering rack and a tonne of safety tech, including a transparent chassis mode that adds confidence behind the wheel.

On rougher country roads, the Cannon Alpha is typically firm, as you’d expect from a dual-cab ute platform built to lug around heavy loads.

The ride quality errs on the firmer, bumpier side on a particularly rough section of road, though it feels planted to the road to help add some confidence when tackling a nasty B-road.

All up, GWM has done well with the latest Cannon Alpha range which offers a healthy dose of user-friendliness around town while feeling solid on the road and ready for work.

Is the GWM Cannon Alpha a Good Off-Roader?

The Cannon Alpha range ticks all the important boxes when it comes to being an off-road-ready package.

There’s a healthy amount of torque from both powertrain options, an on-demand 4x4 system, decent ground clearance and an electronic locking rear differential in every model of the range.

It’s worth noting that Ultra Diesel variants also pick up a locking front differential to get you out of strife.

• Ground Clearance: 224mm

• Wading Depth: 800mm

• Approach Angle: 28.5 degrees

• Departure Angle: 23.0 degrees

• Breakover Angle: 19.0 degrees 

How Much Can the GWM Cannon Alpha Tow and Carry?

• GWM Cannon Alpha Braked Towing Capacity: 3,500kg

• Lux Diesel Payload: 821kg

• Ultra Diesel Payload: 760kg

• Ultra Hybrid Payload: 735kg

Is the GWM Cannon Alpha Hybrid Fuel Efficient?

GWM has been the first to admit that its petrol-electric hybrid engine was designed with power additions, rather than outright fuel-efficiency in mind.

On a combined cycle, the Cannon Alpha diesel range consumes 8.9L per 100km, while the Cannon Alpha Hybrid is rated at 9.8L per 100km.

This, ironically, makes the hybrid the less efficient engine option, though it does come with some significant power and torque upgrades over the diesel powertrain.

• Cannon Alpha Diesel Combined Fuel Economy: 8.9L/100km

• Cannon Alpha Hybrid Combined Fuel Economy: 9.8L/100km

How Much Fuel does the GWM Cannon Alpha use Around Town?

• Cannon Alpha Diesel City Consumption: 10.2L/100km

• Cannon Alpha Hybrid City Consumption: 8.9L/100km 

How Much Fuel Does the GWM Cannon Alpha use on the Highway?

• Cannon Alpha Diesel Highway Consumption: 8.2L/100km

• Cannon Alpha Hybrid Highway Consumption: 10.4L/100km

Is the GWM Cannon Alpha Practical and Spacious?

Step inside and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the GWM Cannon Alpha’s interior - which takes a significant leap forward over the standard Cannon in terms of accommodation.

It also sits as one of the most refined cabins in the segment, a feat made more impressive by the reasonable asking prices for both variants.

Up front, things are particularly SUV-like which adds to the appeal of the Cannon Alpha as a dual-purpose ute for both working Aussies and families.

There’s a healthy amount of headroom and forward visibility in the cockpit, with more premium materials used across the most important touch points that give it a seriously upmarket vibe.

The driver and front passenger are separated by a beefy centre console that houses two retractable storage areas, one of which picks up cupholders, with added storage inside the folding armrest.

Move to the second row and interior space is a big upgrade over the standard Cannon, with tonnes of legroom and a healthy amount of headroom for tall adults to get comfortable.

The second row picks up air vents, charging ports and a folding centre armrest with cupholders, while Ultra variants pick up heated rear seats and even reclining rear seats in the flagship Ultra Hybrid.

For the parents out there, the Cannon Alpha receives two pairs of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts behind the seatbacks, while accessing the rear bench is made easy thanks to the wide doors.

All up, space and practicality are one of the most impressive selling points of the Cannon Alpha range, which asserts itself as one of the most practical dual-cab options without stepping up to a massive, all-American platform like a RAM or Ford. 

How Big is the GWM Cannon Alpha’s Tray?

• Length: 1,500mm

• Width: 1,520mm

• Width (between arches) 1,110mm

• Height: 500mm

This puts it slightly behind major rivals like the HiLux, Ranger, Triton, D-MAX and BT-50 when it comes to the size of the tray, but there’s only a few millimetres in it.

There’s also a neat 60:40 split tailgate for the range-topping Cannon Alpha Ultra Hybrid which makes loading and unloading heavy, bulky cargo a significantly easier process.

Is the GWM Cannon Alpha Safe?

As standard, the GWM Cannon Alpha range comes jam-packed with safety equipment tech.

Every member of the range picks up autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alerts, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist with lane centring, a surround-view monitor with front & rear parking sensors and seven airbags.

To make things more impressive, no active safety tech is reserved for the range-topper, with GWM happy to bundle its full suite of technology in the base model, which is a nice tip of the hat to budget-conscious buyers.

What Warranty Does the GWM Cannon Alpha Come With?

The GWM Cannon Alpha range benefits from one of the longest warranties you’ll find in Australia.

The company backs the Cannon Alpha with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty.

Hybrid buyers also pick up an eight-year warranty for the battery and high-voltage components.

Our Verdict: Is the GWM Cannon Alpha Worth it?

With a larger, more practical platform and a super refined interior layout, it’s hard to deny the appeal of the GWM Cannon Alpha range, particularly for family buyers.

There’s a lot going for GWM’s latest and greatest ute, which takes a noticeable leap over the standard Cannon range while retaining the company’s typically impressive value proposition, especially in the base model.

GWM’s pricier hybrid variants leave a lot to be desired when it comes to fuel efficiency, though the significant power and torque upgrades may make it hard to ignore for some buyers looking for that extra push off the line.

All things considered, the GWM Cannon Alpha is well worth a spot on any dual-cab ute shortlist.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new ute, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five GWM Cannon Alpha Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Turbo-diesel and petrol-electric hybrid variants available

3. On-demand 4x4 system, locking rear differential as standard

4. 8.9 - 9.8L per 100km fuel economy figures (diesel vs hybrid)

5. 3,500kg braked towing capacity