Hyundai Santa Cruz vs GWM UTE

What's the difference?

Hyundai is leading the charge. And not just in electric vehicles.

Not yet known in Australia for utes, the brand’s Santa Cruz is part of a new wave of car-based dual-cab “pick-ups” that is sweeping North America.

We’re talking monocoque-bodied utes here, not body-on-frame light trucks like a Toyota HiLux.

Recently, we learned that Hyundai is planning to release the Santa Cruz in Australia in the not-too-distant future, giving us the excuse to get behind the wheel of one right now.

What’s it like? How’s the driving experience? Is the tray 'ute' enough? And would it work in Australia?

Let’s find out!

The Cannon XSR is GWM’s new top-shelf ute variant.

This dual-cab 4WD ute is intended as an off-road-focussed vehicle and has visual and mechanical upgrades over the rest of the Cannon stable, including part-time 4WD (not the full-time 4WD on GWM’s lower-spec Cannons), a front differential lock (in addition to the existing rear diff lock), raised air intake (aka a snorkel) and Cooper Discoverer AT3 all-terrain tyres.

It’s priced from $52,990 drive-away, so costs about $7500 more than you’d pay for the standard Cannon X on which this special edition ute is based. But it still undercuts similarly-equipped top-spec Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes by about $20,000.

So, with twin lockers, a snorkel, underbody protection and all-terrain tyres, is the GWM XSR worth the extra cash?

Read on.