GWM Cannon vs GWM Cannon Alpha

What's the difference?

GWM’s top-spec Cannon, the XSR, is a dual-cab 4WD ute worth checking out.

At a little more than $50,000, drive-away (nationwide), with twin lockers, a snorkel, underbody protection and Cooper Discoverer AT3 all-terrain tyres, this off-road-focussed Cannon variant also now has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine rather than the previous-generation’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel.

Lower-spec Cannons have undergone a refresh of sorts, including a revised front, but the XSR’s major change is the new engine. No matter, because there’s enough on offer in this top-shelf package for it to retain its value-for-money appeal.

But does the new engine make a difference to the XSR’s off-road performance?

Read on.

Chinese automotive brand GWM (aka Great Wall Motors) has been making headlines, given that in 2024 it was the first manufacturer to launch an HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) ute in Australia. And in 2025 it's replaced that short-lived model with a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) version.

The decision to axe the original Alpha Hybrid was a no-brainer for GWM, given its PHEV successor offers not only short-haul pure-electric driving but also superior power, torque and driving range plus the enhanced ride comfort and handling of four-coil suspension.

We were recently handed the keys to the latest iteration of this lavishly-equipped 4x4 dual-cab ute to assess its workhorse credentials from a tradie’s perspective.