GWM Cannon Alpha review
This high-tech ute shakes up the dual-cab pecking order with features found in no other model in this class.
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We’ve never seen a ute like this. Progress is slow in the dual-cab pick-up class, but the GWM Cannon Alpha promises to change that by putting pressure on the establishment.
As the first proper hybrid ute in this class, China’s GWM beat major manufacturers such as Toyota and Ford to market with green tech that could change utes forever.
It ditches diesel power in favour of a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol motor boosted by hybrid assistance to deliver V8-rivalling figures.
More than that, the Cannon Alpha attempts to redefine what a ute should be, by applying technology from the world of luxury cars.
It has the camera-based see-through bonnet tech originally used by Land Rover to help owners place cars with precision when off road.
It also has the voice-activated commands originally offered to prestige car customers who could change the cab temperature by saying “Hey Mercedes, I’m cold”.
It even has an automatic reversing feature first offered by BMW that effectively rewinds the last few dozen metres of a journey, working the steering wheel and pedals on the driver’s behalf as it replays low-speed manoeuvres in reverse.
Other luxury touches include faux wood trim and an analog clock that lend a premium vibe, and ambient lighting that cycles through a kaleidoscope of colour in illuminated pinstripes and a graphic motif of the ute’s front-end styling embedded above the glovebox.
The equipment list might be the longest we’ve seen in any car for this price. It has a head-up display and panoramic sunroof, the dash is fully digital, and the infotainment screen is an enormous 14.6-inch unit linked to 10-speaker premium hi-fi.
It has every safety feature you could want, as well as some you don’t. We’ll come back to that.
Wireless smartphone mirroring is standard, and wireless phone chargers in the front and back meet leather seats that are heated and cooled in the front and rear.
Rear sears are electronically adjustable, and the front seats have a driver’s memory function and a decadent massage feature.
You don’t even get leather in a Ford Ranger for this money.
Priced from $64,990 drive-away, the GWM Cannon Alpha really does attempt to tip the category upside down. Or sideways, like its clever 60/40 split tailgate that can fold down in the traditional manner, or swing open like barn doors.
It matches the Ranger’s 800mm maximum wading depth and 3500kg towing capacity, and exceeds Ford’s five-year coverage with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with roadside assistance and capped price servicing.
Negatives include just 735kg of maximum payload that will evaporate quickly once loaded with passengers and their stuff. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor that makes 180kW and 380Nm - the sort of figures you might normally find in a hot hatch such as VW’s Golf GTI.
But the turbo motor is also boosted by a 78kW/268Nm electric motor to deliver a combined 255kW and 648Nm to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Those were V8-rivalling power figures not long ago, and they’re a long way from the 150kW or so people get in most utes.
But those punchy outputs mean fuel consumption is higher than folks might expect for something with hybrid credentials - an official consumption fuel figure of 9.8L/100km quickly turns into double digits in the real world.
It’s here that the GWM loses some of its appeal.
Plainly, it’s not great to drive. The steering feels slow and unresponsive compared to the best in class.
Power can be inconsistent depending on what the battery and hybrid system are up to, and it has an eye-popping tendency to keep accelerating for a moment after you lift off the accelerator, as though there is some lag in its control systems.
Suspension refinement and wind noise are middle-of-the-road in that it’s not a class leader or in any way offensive. But plenty of customers will hate a nagging driver monitoring system that admonishes you for anything less than total concentration on the road ahead.
A glance at a side mirror can trigger alarms and warnings that will have you poking and prodding at touchscreens to extinguish the car’s complaints - further distracting you from the task of driving.
We also had a series of driver assistance system errors that suggest the brand may have a little way to go before rivalling the fuss-free driving and ownership experience promised - if not always delivered - by big-name rivals.
VERDICT
There’s a lot to love about Australia’s first hybrid ute - particularly its generous equipment list. There is also room for improvement - and GWM will get there soon.
3.5 stars
GWM CANNON ALPHA HYBRID
PRICE: From $64,990 drive-away
ENGINE: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo hybrid, 255kW and 648Nm
SAFETY: 7 airbags, front and rear auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert.
WARRANTY/SERVICE: 7-year/unlimited km, price TBC
THIRST: 9.8L/100km
TOWING: 3500kg
SPARE: Full-size
Originally published as GWM Cannon Alpha review
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