BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV meet their match? Benchmark towing capacity, sharp pricing and 880km driving range confirmed for 2025 GWM Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrid ute

GWM has confirmed pricing, details and the release date of its incoming plug-in hybrid ute, the Cannon Alpha PHEV.

Poised to arrive in showrooms by April, the new ute will carry a price tag of $63,990, drive-away, for the entry-level Lux, rising to $68,990, drive-away, for the fully-loaded Ultra.

Depending on which state you live in, its starting price puts it at about $2000 to $4000 more expensive than the drive-away pricing of its key competitor in the BYD Shark 6, which starts nationally at $57,900, before on-road costs.

Pricing remains unconfirmed on the incoming Ford Ranger PHEV, its next biggest competitor, but Ford Australia has said on record that it is aiming for a price tag of less than $70,000 when it arrives later this year.

On both Cannon Alpha variants, power will be sourced from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (180kW/380Nm), with a single electric motor (120kW/400Nm), 37.1kWh ternary lithium battery and a nine-speed automatic transmission.

All up, GWM claims total power and torque outputs of 300kW/750Nm, 21kW down on the Shark but with an extra 100Nm. This crucially means a 3500kg braked towing capacity.

Under the NEDC cycle, pure electric range is rated at 110km with a total range of 880km. Both figures are 10 per cent higher than the BYD Shark 6.

Fuel consumption, which is also certified under NEDC, is 1.7L/100km, exceeding the Shark 6’s 2.0L/100km rating, but falling short of Australia’s top-selling PHEVs in the Mitsubishi Outlander (1.5-litres/100km) and the BYD Sealion 6 (1.4-litres/100km).

The Cannon Alpha PHEV provides full-time four-wheel drive, even when driving in EV mode; water wading depth is quoted at 800mm and maximum ground clearance is 224mm.

A DC fast-charging rate of up to 50kW allows for a 30 to 80 per cent replenishment in 26 minutes, while a standard AC home charger will do the same charge in 6.5 hours.

Vehicle-to-load functionality comes standard with a 3.3kW output, which is enough to power a camp fridge or air compressor.

Standard features on the Lux include 18-inch alloy wheels, an electronic centre and rear locking differential, dual-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital driver's display and multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, synthetic leather seats and steering wheel, as well as LED headlights, running lights and taillights.

The Ultra adds a front differential lock, a panoramic sunroof, a 14.6-inch multimedia display, a 60/40 split tailgate, a 10-speaker audio system, twin wireless charging pads, a head-up display, leather-accented seats, heated and ventilated front and rear outboard seats, as well as massage functions for the front seats.

Both variants carry seven airbags, front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep Assist, hill descent control, rear collision warning and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with junction assist.

A seven-year/unlimited km warranty applies to the GWM Cannon Alpha, along with an eight-year/unlimited km battery-pack warranty. Additionally, there is seven years of roadside assist and capped price servicing.

2025 GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV

Prices listed are national drive-away

Variant	Price
Lux	$63,990
Ultra	$68,990