Great Wall Cannon L 2021 review: snapshot

The GWM Ute 2021 range has a midpoint known as the Cannon L variant. We’ve also referred to it here as the Great Wall Cannon L, because that’s what it’s also likely to be known as.

The mid-spec model costs just $37,990 drive-away, and that’s for a dual-cab 4WD ute with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. It has a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine with 120kW/400Nm, and is good for a payload of 1050kg according to the brand, as well as towing capacity of 750kg for unbraked trailers and 3000kg for braked loads. Claimed fuel use is 9.4L/100km.

The Cannon L model takes a step up in terms of spec compared with the lower grade Cannon variant, and to justify the extra $4000 you get some nice, and desirable, items.

Highlights for this grade include different 18-inch alloy wheels (shared with the Cannon X above it), a spray-in tub liner, a sports bar, and easy-down-up tailgate, and a clever deployable cargo ladder, plus roof rails. 

Explore the 2021 GWM Ute Range

GWM Ute 2021 review: Cannon-L GVM test GWM Ute 2023 review: Cannon-X GWM Ute 2024 review: Cannon Vanta GWM Ute Cannon 2024 review: XSR - off-road test Great Wall Cannon 2021 review: snapshot Great Wall Cannon L 2021 review: snapshot Great Wall Cannon X 2021 review: snapshot

The front seats are heated but still with that fake leather trim, while the driver's seat has power adjustment, there's a leather steering wheel, and it has climate control air conditioning (single zone), an auto-dimming rearview mirror, tinted rear glass, and the sound system jumps to a six-speaker unit (up from four).

Also standard are LED headlights with LED DRLs and active fog lamps, LED tail-lights, body-coloured bumpers, side steps, powered mirrors, keyless entry, push-button start, paddle shifters for the automatic gearbox, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and AM/FM radio. There are three USB ports and a 12-volt power outlet in the rear, and rear seat directional air vents as well.

And the safety case is a strong one - the first time that can be said for a Great Wall ute. All models have auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, lane keeping assistance, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and seven airbags including a front centre airbag - up to now we’d only seen tech like this in the likes of the Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu D-Max, which in 4x4 dual-cab pickup body styles cost tens of thousands more than the GWM Ute.