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.
So, you’re after an affordable alternative to the increasingly expensive Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger. You need it to be tough enough for work, but also big and comfortable enough to haul family every now and again.
It’s a common predicament, and one that's increasingly served by Chinese and Korean alternatives.
Today, we’re looking at LDV’s latest effort - the T60 Max Plus. While it looks like just another new variant from the outside, it’s hiding some significant changes underneath, and it takes its place at the top of the T60 range in 2024.
Could it be the right ute to fit your budget? Let’s take a look.
The GWM Cannon XSR is a twin-locked 4WD ute that’s reasonable on-road (it’s getting better all the time) and very capable off-road.
It certainly has enough gear onboard – including front and rear diff locks, a snorkel and all-terrain tyres – to be taken seriously as a 4WD, but it could still be better and more refined in other aspects, even at this price-point.
There are some issues with the Cannon’s general driveability but ultimately it has plenty going for it, not least its appeal as an impressive value-for-money purchase.
The Max Plus brings a lot of welcome upgrades to the T60 range, particularly in its previously non-existent active safety suite, but it’s not all good news. There are still a few areas where this ageing ute could use a lot of polish.
Still, there’s something to be said for how refreshingly straightforward much of it is, and for the most part its specs and features are up to the task of competing with many more expensive alternatives.