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Six Months On: The 2025 GWM Cannon

When GWM introduced the updated Cannon to Australia, it restructured the line-up into something much clearer. The Cannon name now stretches across the entire range, and every variant is a 4x4 fitted with an automatic transmission. No more two-wheel drives, no more manuals — buyers get a fully equipped ute regardless of spec.

At the entry level are the Premium Single Cab Chassis ($34,800 drive-away) and the Premium Dual Cab ($38,300 drive-away). These two keep the older 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel with 120kW and 400Nm, but paired to a ZF 8-speed automatic. Towing capacity here is 3200kg braked. This powertrain is proven, economical, and ideal for tradies and fleets who need reliability over maximum grunt.

From the Cannon Lux upwards, GWM fits the newer 2.4-litre turbo-diesel producing 135kW and 480Nm, paired with the in-house GWM 9-speed automatic. With that engine comes 3500kg braked towing, sharper acceleration, and improved real-world efficiency. The split in engines means the Cannon now offers two distinct flavours: a tough workhorse at a sharp entry price, or a more powerful, feature-packed dual cab that still undercuts the Japanese competition by thousands.

Pricing: Still the Value Benchmark

Despite small price rises, the Cannon remains the most affordable way into a brand-new, fully warrantied 4x4 ute in Australia.

2025 GWM Cannon 4x4 Australian Pricing (Drive-away for private buyers):

• Premium Single Cab Chassis (2.0L, 3200kg tow) – $34,800
• Premium Dual Cab (2.0L, 3200kg tow) – $38,300
• Cannon Lux (2.4L, 3500kg tow) – $40,490
• Cannon Ultra (2.4L, 3500kg tow) – $43,490
• Cannon Vanta (2.4L, 3500kg tow) – $45,490
• Cannon XSR (2.4L, 3500kg tow) – $49,990

Even at the bottom end, $34,800 for a 4x4 single cab with an automatic transmission, digital displays, and a seven-year warranty is unmatched by any rival.

Want the best price on a GWM Cannon? We can help! Click here: CarSauce Buy

Design and Exterior Updates

The facelift brought subtler styling but more attitude. The big chrome grille has been toned down, the bumper reshaped for a squarer, tougher face, and the lighting upgraded to LED units with bright daytime running lights and sweeping indicators. It doesn’t look cheap, and importantly it doesn’t look overdone.

Underneath, there’s proper steel bash plating and underbody protection, making it more off-road-ready than the price might suggest. Along the sides, roof rails, side steps, and privacy glass all add to the practicality.

Around the back, GWM hasn’t just given the Cannon flashy LEDs — it’s engineered one of the smartest tailgates in the class. Gas struts make it feather-light to operate, and a concealed step folds out for easy tray access. These touches matter when you’re using a ute every day.

Tub and Practicality

The tray remains one of the Cannon’s highlights. It measures 1560mm long, 1614mm wide (1146mm between arches), and 563mm deep — roomy enough for trade gear, camping setups - or even, a Matt.

The spray-in liner is neatly finished, and combined with the light, gas-strut tailgate and integrated step, the Cannon’s tub is simply easier to use than most competitors’.

Interior and Cabin Quality

Inside, the Cannon continues to surprise. The Premium trims may be the budget end of the line-up, but they still get a 12.3-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a 7.0-inch driver display.

Move into the Lux and upwards, and things get very plush: leatherette or leather seats, heated and ventilated fronts, heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, and even an operational sunroof.

The tech package is genuinely strong. The infotainment is snappy, wireless phone mirroring works smoothly, and the wireless charger has its own cooling vent to prevent overheating — a detail many premium rivals miss.

Storage is plentiful, from a cooled centre console to flip-up rear seat bases that reveal hidden compartments.

The only real miss remains the lack of rear cupholders, which feels like an oversight in an otherwise very well-thought-out cabin.

Powertrain and Performance

The two engine options define the Cannon range.

• 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (Premium Single/Dual Cab): 120kW/400Nm, ZF 8-speed automatic, 3200kg braked towing. It’s proven, economical, and reliable, perfect for buyers who don’t need maximum power.
• 2.4-litre turbo-diesel (Lux and above): 135kW/480Nm, GWM 9-speed automatic, 3500kg braked towing. It’s stronger, smoother, and more efficient, hitting 0–100km/h in 10.5s and averaging 7.9L/100km in testing.

How does the GWM Cannon drive?

Slip behind the wheel of the Cannon and the first thing you notice is how much stronger the new 2.4-litre turbo-diesel feels compared with the old 2.0-litre. On paper the numbers don’t look huge — 135kW and 480Nm versus 120kW and 400Nm — but in practice the difference is night and day. Put your foot down and the torque comes on thick, making the Cannon feel more muscular than its price point suggests.

Our testing saw it sprint from 0–100km/h in 10.5 seconds, which places it among the quicker diesel dual-cabs on the market. It’s not just the engine either: the pairing with the 9-speed automatic is smooth and decisive, with well-chosen ratios that keep the engine in its sweet spot. Even the entry-level 2.0-litre Premium variants feel polished with the 8-speed ZF transmission, though you do lose the extra pulling power and the higher 3500kg tow rating.

Where the Cannon really surprised us was in its real-world efficiency. Officially, GWM claims 8.4L/100km for the 2.4-litre, but we managed 7.9L/100km in mixed driving. That’s better than the outgoing engine and better than many rivals, especially considering this is a full-time 4WD ute. Even after harder driving — launches, sport mode, and plenty of enthusiastic throttle — economy hovered around 8.0L/100km, which is genuinely impressive for a dual cab of this size and weight.

Hit the sport mode button and the Cannon takes on a different character. It even pipes in a bit of sound effect when you engage it, which is a little gimmicky but also fun — at least it has a sport mode, something even an $80k Ranger doesn’t offer. Build up boost, launch it, and the Cannon surges forward with more urgency than you’d expect. No, it’s not a sports car, but for a diesel dual-cab ute it feels genuinely lively, and that broad torque band makes everyday driving easy.

The suspension changes introduced with the facelift have transformed the way the Cannon behaves on road. New shocks mean the ute feels more composed over bumps and less wallowy in corners. It’s still firm when unladen, as any dual cab will be, but it’s not crashy. The front end in particular feels better tied down, likely thanks to the heavier engine up front. Body control is improved, so the Cannon settles quickly after bumps, and over our “ball buster” test road it absorbed the hits without crashing onto the bump stops. That’s a big step up from where it was before.

Steering is light and doesn’t give masses of feedback, but it’s predictable and consistent. Importantly, when you turn into a corner the chassis feels balanced, and the ute holds its line with confidence. You don’t get the floaty sensation that some rivals suffer from when their trays are empty. It’s not going to thrill an enthusiast driver, but it inspires confidence in everyday use, and that’s exactly what most buyers want.

Off-road credentials remain solid. Every Cannon gets low-range gearing and a locking rear differential, so you’ve got proper hardware for trails straight from the showroom. The XSR steps it up with a front diff lock, snorkel, underbody armour and off-road drive modes, making it a genuine budget alternative to hardcore rivals. Traction control is tuned well, too: through tight hairpins, it allows just enough slip before intervening, meaning you don’t constantly feel power being cut. That balance makes the Cannon more enjoyable to drive both on and off road.

Where the Cannon still shows its price point is in the driver assistance systems. They all work — adaptive cruise, lane keeping, AEB, blind-spot monitoring — but the calibration is conservative. Adaptive cruise in particular leaves a very wide gap to the car in front, which can be frustrating in heavy traffic. It’s not broken, just cautious. That aside, the systems operate reliably, and they’re more comprehensive than what many rivals offer at the same money.

Taken as a whole, the Cannon drives better than it has any right to for the price. The engine and gearbox combination is smooth and torquey, the suspension is composed, fuel use is genuinely impressive, and the off-road hardware is the real deal. Add in a seven-year warranty and the fact it’s one of the quickest diesels in its class, and you’ve got a ute that feels far from the budget afterthought some might assume. Six months on, the improvements are clear: this is a dual cab that doesn’t just look good on paper — it drives with confidence in the real world.

Ownership and Warranty

All Cannons are covered by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with annual or 10,000km service intervals. The 2.0-litre engine has already proven itself durable in Australian conditions, and the 2.4-litre is building a positive reputation. For buyers still sceptical of Chinese brands, that long warranty combined with strong reliability reports offers real reassurance.

Specifications by Grade

Premium Single Cab Chassis – $34,800 drive-away

• 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (120kW/400Nm), ZF 8-speed automatic, 4x4
• 3200kg braked towing
• Cloth trim, air conditioning
• 12.3-inch infotainment with wireless CarPlay/Android Auto
• 7.0-inch driver display, trailer sway control, seven airbags

Premium Dual Cab – $38,300 drive-away

• Dual cab body
• Same 2.0-litre engine, 3200kg towing
• Same infotainment and safety suite as Single Cab

Cannon Lux – $40,490 drive-away

• 2.4-litre turbo-diesel (135kW/480Nm), GWM 9-speed automatic, 4x4
• 3500kg braked towing
• Faux leather, powered driver’s seat, climate control
• Wireless charger, LED headlights, fog lamps, LED tail-lights
• Adaptive cruise, blind-spot monitoring, reversing camera, rear sensors
• Spray-in bedliner, strut-assisted tailgate, chrome sports bar
• 18-inch alloys

Cannon Ultra – $43,490 drive-away

• Adds leather-accented seats, heated and cooled fronts, heated wheel
• 360-degree cameras, front sensors
• Electric sunroof, ambient lighting, privacy glass
• Tailgate step, dashcam USB port

Cannon Vanta – $45,490 drive-away

• Black exterior trim, black alloys, black sports bar

Cannon XSR – $49,990 drive-away

• Snorkel, side steps, off-road modes
• Front locking diff, part-time 4x4
• Deletes some ADAS for hardcore off-road use

Verdict

The 2025 GWM Cannon is now a clearer proposition than ever. The Premium trims keep the tried-and-true 2.0-litre diesel alive, paired with the excellent ZF 8-speed automatic and priced from just $34,800 for a 4x4. From the Lux upwards, the newer 2.4-litre brings more power, better efficiency, and 3500kg towing, while still undercutting mainstream rivals by tens of thousands.

It isn’t flawless — adaptive cruise can be frustrating, the factory tyres aren’t great, and the missing rear cupholders remain baffling — but the overall package is unbeatable for value. With a seven-year warranty, broad safety tech, clever tray features, and strong off-road credentials, the Cannon is no longer just a budget pick. Six months on, it’s one of the smartest utes you can buy in Australia.

Want the best price on a GWM Cannon? We can help! Click here: CarSauce Buy