2021 Great Wall Cannon pricing and specs detailed: Game-changing Chinese dual-cab seriously undercuts Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger

Great Wall has at last confirmed the Australian pricing for its incoming GWM Ute, with the all-new Cannon range to seriously undercut its arch rivals like the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.

The brand has so far only confirmed the starting price for the GWM Ute range, but it’s impressive, with the entry-level Cannon Dual Cab 4x4 to cost $33,990 drive-away. For that, you get four-wheel drive, a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.

That makes it up to $10k less than equivalent models from Ford and Toyota, with the Ranger XL Hi-Rider Double Cab yours for $40,390, and the HiLux Workmate Hi-Rider a cool $40,365. But both of those are before on-road costs are added, extending the price gap between them and their new Chinese rival even further.

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It won’t be the cheapest way into a Chinese-built diesel 4X4 ute, though, with the LDV T60 offering sharp drive-away deals of around $28k.

“We firmly believe that the new GWM Ute offers a compelling all round package that will make Australian buyers think differently about their next ute. The $33,990 entry price point for the 4x4 Dual Cab Cannon AT is quite exceptional given the high level of features buyers can expect,” says GWM Australia Head of Marketing, Steve Maciver.

“We understand both the competitiveness and the opportunity in the ute segment and as such, it was important that we come in with a strong product offering and unbeatable value. The new GWM Ute firmly ticks those boxes and we expect to see increased customer interest in showrooms over the coming weeks.”

While the brand is yet to confirm fill pricing and specifications for the new model, we do know that all Cannons will get the brand’s 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine good for 120kW and 400Nm, along with that eight-speed auto. You also get active and passive safety equipment, including AEB, Lane Keep Assist and seven airbags.

The brand is yet to confirm the pricing for the rest of the Ute range, which starts with the Cannon, and then climbs to the mid-tier Cannon-L and the top-spec Cannon-X. Every trim level gets a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while some trim will get an "extendable ladder" designed to make climbing into the tray a breeze.

The Cannon measures 5410mm in length, 1934mm in width and 1886mm in height, and with a tray that stretches 1520mm/1520mm. Great Wall says to expect a 1000kg payload and a “minimum” 3000kg braked towing capacity, which is precisely what the local arm has asked its Chinese HQ to deliver.

The full GWM Ute range will launch in Australia this month.