GWM Cannon News

Utes are one of the most popular body styles according to Australian new-vehicle sales, but in recent years some of the bigger name models have increased in price.There's a new breed of ute that's undercutting the old guard, and they're mostly from China.So what are the three cheapest utes in Australia?CarsGuide’s reviewers not only know the answer but we also know what they’re like to live and work with day in and day out.Due to the huge number of ute variants available in Australia, we are focusing on the most popular body style and variant - the 4x4 dual-cab pick-up. So something like a Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux or Nissan Navara, but in this case, more affordable alternatives that can get the job done on a budget.Without further ado, here’s the top three most affordable utes in Australia;GWM’s popular dual-cab Cannon in entry-level Premium guise is currently the most affordable 4x4 dual-cab ute in Australia with a drive-away price of $39,490.The Cannon benefited from a significant update in 2025 that introduced revised exterior styling, a fresh looking cabin and a new engine.The Premium has an extensive standard features list including 18-inch alloys wheels, LED headlights and LED tail-lights, roof rails, side steps, damped tailgate, power-folding mirrors, chrome sports bar, a spay-in bedliner and proximity unlocking.Also standard is single-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch media touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, synthetic leather upholstery and a wireless phone charger.The Premium has a 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, four-wheel drive and a braked towing capacity of 3200kg.CarsGuide reviewers like the excellent value and quality of the Cannon, but didn’t like the intrusive steering assistance and the ergonomics of the gear shifter.China's LDV has a newer and shinier ute in its stable now in the shape of the big, bold Terron 9 (a twin of the MG U9), but the ageing T60 Max continues on.Currently priced at $41,042, the T60 is more than $12k cheaper than the most affordable Terron 9.Standard gear includes a 10.25-inch multimedia screen, six-speaker audio, two USB ports, a 12-volt outlet, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paddle shifters, keyless entry, auto emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control.It's powered by a gutsy 160kW/500Nm four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and a 3500kg towing capacity. Payload is 1040kg.We haven't had a chance to review a T60 in a while but CarsGuide reviewers said while safety improvements have helped the ute, the onboard tech is patchy and outdated, and the steering and braking is too heavy. The powertrain might be gutsy but it's still rough on the road.KGM’s (formerly SsangYong) Musso might not have the superstar status of some utes but it’s popular among those after a hardworking machine and its low price has seen it earn a place here in our most affordable top three. As a Korean brand, the KGM is also the only non-Chinese ute on this list. Keep in mind, though, that KGM will bring its next-gen ute to Australia about the middle of 2026 to replace this model and it’ll likely cop a price increase from the $42,500 drive-away price of the current entry-grade ELX.Standard features on the ELX include 17-inch alloy wheels, twin 12.3-inch displays for media and driver instruments, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.There’s also a six-speaker stereo, HID headlights with LED daytime running lights and silver roof rails.Powering the Musso ELX is a 133kW/400Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine with a six-speed automatic. Braked towing capacity is 3500kg.CarsGuide reviewers like the Musso's comfort and space, and its refined driving manners, but didn’t like how some safety items were only offered on top-of-the-range grades. JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in 2025 and since then the entry-grade Oasis has undergone a price drop of nearly $5000 to land it here in the top three for $42,662 drive-away.Standard features include 18-inch alloys wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, a sprayed tub liner and sports bar.There’s leather upholstery inside, a 10.4-inch media screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power driver's seat and wireless phone charging.Powering the T9 Oasis is a 125kW/410Nm 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo-diesel. The braked towing capacity is 3200kg. CarsGuide reviewers like the T9’s tough styling, strong value and its ability to do what will please most people. The things we don't like include the lumpy power delivery of the engine, and the intrusive safety tech. 

The second most popular Chinese ute in Australia is about to get a serious boost.GWM’s Cannon ute will gain a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain before the end of the first half of this year, giving the brand a second PHEV ute alongside its larger Cannon Alpha PHEV stablemate.The PHEV Cannon was revealed in Chinese government findings in February, but details like electric driving range are scarce. The Australian launch was confirmed by GWM Australia Chief Operating Officer John Kett at a media briefing in Melbourne.The Cannon PHEV’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and electric motor will produce 185kW (torque hasn’t been confirmed), which is off the pace of the popular BYD Shark 6 (321kW) as well as the Cannon Alpha PHEV (300kW).In good news for Aussie ute fans, the new Cannon PHEV won’t lose any of its towing capacity. It will retain the segment-standard 3500kg figure of the diesel-powered versions. This is in part due to the inclusion of GWM’s off-road capable Hi4-T four-wheel drive system found in the Cannon Alpha.The updated Cannon will also ditch one of the Cannon Alpha’s most contentious features - the tub-mounted spare wheel. GWM Australia has confirmed the Cannon PHEV will feature a spare wheel housed under the rear tub.Exact timing is yet to be locked in but expect the plug-in Cannon in showrooms before the end of June.Grades and pricing is a mystery for now, but you can guarantee it will carry a premium over the respective diesel grades. At the moment, PHEV versions of the Cannon Alpha cost $10,000 more than the equivalent diesel grade.The most affordable Cannon Alpha PHEV is the Lux from $61,490 drive-away and the Ultra is $67,990. The Cannon PHEV shouldn’t reach those levels given its smaller size and overall positioning.By comparison, the only other PHEV utes are the BYD Shark 6 PHEV, which is still only offered in one model grade (for now) from $57,900 before on-road costs, and the Ford Ranger PHEV that runs from $71,990 BOC to a hefty $86,990.Some more good news for GWM ute fans is the arrival of the much hyped new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine for the Cannon Alpha and the related Tank 500 SUV. The Chinese carmaker says the 3.0L Cannon Alpha will go on sale in Australia in the second half of 2026, but specific timing is yet to be locked in.Outputs for the four-cylinder internal combustion 3.0L diesel haven't been revealed by GWM but it is set to hit similar figures to the 3.0-litre V6 diesel in Ford’s Ranger ute and Everest SUV siblings, and that’s 154kW of power and 600Nm of torque.

GWM’s top-spec ute, the Cannon XSR, is impressive.It’s packed with standard features for the price ($50,990 drive-away nationwide, at time of writing), is very capable off-road (it’s armed with a front and rear diff lock) and is not atrocious on-road.But, with new-age rivals like the BYD Shark 6 and the Ford Ranger PHEV variants setting the gold standard for refinement and performance in the ute market, does the Cannon represent the future of 4WDing – cheap(er) but not nasty – or is it spearheading a worrying trend of people falling for vehicles that initially seem pretty good but ultimately deliver a less-than-ideal driving experience?As hinted at above, there’s a lot to like about the Cannon, especially in XSR guise.For one, the line-up’s new 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine – 135kW and 480Nm – is tractable and well suited to the demands of 4WDing. That’s not to say the previous-gen Cannon’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine – 120kW and 400Nm – was no good, it’s just that bigger and more powerful is better this time around.It’s nowhere near as refined as the Shark 6 or Ranger PHEV, but it’s not terrible either.And then there’s its off-road capability. It seemingly can’t go wrong armed with high and low-range 4WD, twin lockers, off-road drive modes, a snorkel, underbody protection and all-terrain tyres (Cooper Discoverer AT3 265/65 R18).Ground clearance of 228mm (reasonable), wading depth of 700mm, and off-road angles of 30 degrees (approach), and 26 degrees (departure; rampover is not listed) don’t hurt its capabilities either.Off-roading is the one area in which the Cannon eclipses something like the Shark 6 and matches, if not bests, the Ford Ranger PHEV.There’s no doubting this ute’s efficacy as a 4WD – it is very good – however, there are some trade-offs (more about that soon).This Cannon ute is also packed with features including 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome sports bar, automatic LED headlights, spray-in tubliner, keyless entry, leather-accented upholstery, 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia system (with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), six-way power-adjustable driver seat, four-way power-adjustable front-passenger seat, ambient lighting, black sports bar, and matt black exterior trim.With a drive-away price of $50,990, the Cannon XSR is a new ute that represents solid value for money.But there are quirky aspects about the overall driving experience in the Cannon that leave questions lingering about the prospect of actually living with it over the long term.Concerns and criticisms have been raised over the years about driver-assist tech in Chinese-built vehicles. To the company’s credit, GWM seems to have addressed those issues, at least to some extent.The worst example of this: we were leaving a stretch of highway and driving down an off ramp when the auto emergency braking (AEB) fully engaged for no apparent reason. We went from 100km/h to a full stop in what felt like only a few metres but, of course, was about 40m or so. AEB was impressive in its application but there was no obstacle or hazard on or near the off ramp that required it. Nothing. We were supremely lucky no one had been tailgating us. The fact that this incident had even happened was far from ideal.Adaptive cruise control is haphazard in its application as it’s overly sensitive in gauging the distance between your vehicle and the one travelling in front, cutting speed when it doesn't have to.And changes in your vehicle’s speed – in response to vehicles in front, road signs (on or off the road on which you’re travelling), or other perceived threats (cyclists, parked cars, roadside shrubbery etc) – are abrupt and jarring (sometimes downright dangerous), rather than smooth and intuitive.Speaking of road signs, traffic sign recognition in the Cannon, as alluded to in the above paragraph, is regularly ‘off’ – suddenly cutting your speed in a school zone outside of school zone hours or reacting to a side street road sign, rather than the street on which you’re driving.While 4WDing, swapping between high and low-range, changing off-road modes, or switching diff locks on or off has been at times a clunky process, with the transition taking on a feeling not unlike shunting trains.Also, on one particularly hot day, the Cannon’s multimedia screen did not function at all for about five minutes after I started driving the ute. Mild inconvenience, sure, but more than annoying when a lot of the functions are operated via the screen.All of these driver-assist tech issues combine to deliver an off-kilter driving experience overall, one in which you’re never quite sure how the tech will be applied or react to real or perceived hazards.I’ve never had any such problems in the Shark 6 or Ranger PHEV.That’s not to say I don’t like the Cannon because I do. I think it’s a very capable off-roader, is a decent ute to live with day to day and, at face value at least, it seems like solid value for money (with plenty of standard features onboard), but the lingering tech issues threaten to ruin the whole Cannon experience for me.

GWM’s Cannon ute will get plug-in hybrid power in 2026 as a potential budget option to battle the BYD Shark 6.The Cannon PHEV has appeared in Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filings over in China, according to AutoHome. A spokesperson for GWM Australia said there was nothing to confirm at this stage about the Cannon PHEV’s future in Australia. It is likely the petrol-electric ute will arrive Down Under, as the plug-in hybrid ute market is expanding rapidly as emission regulations trample conventional ute options. Australia is also a major export market for GWM, which puts us at the front of the queue for new models.It will give GWM a second plug-in hybrid ute choice for buyers, which is likely to come in cheaper than competitors in the space. The more expensive Cannon Alpha ute already has a plug-in variant in Australia, which starts from $61,490 (drive-away). The Cannon PHEV’s 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and electric motor will produce 185kW, a far cry from the hot selling Shark 6's 321kW. We also know the ute will employ a lithium-iron-phosphate battery.  The Cannon PHEV measures up bigger than diesel Cannon, at 5653mm long compared to 5416mm and with a wheelbase of 3470mm as opposed to 3230mm.The Cannon PHEV will face some stiff competition if it comes here, with the BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute (the current 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year best ute). It is priced from $57,900 drive-away.If it comes to Australia it is likely the Cannon PHEV will be cheaper than the Shark 6, given the base dual-cab diesel variant starts from $35,990 (drive-away). Ford's Ranger PHEV is more expensive, but again offers more grunt and a 3500kg towing capacity.The Cannon PHEV could be following a similar trajectory to many other GWM products on their route to Australia. GWM Australia officially announced the Tank 300 PHEV soon after its official China unveiling last year. Based on this, it can be speculated we might see the Cannon PHEV hit Australian showrooms in the next few months.

It will come as no surprise that 2025 was a massive year for new-model launches. The sheer number of new cars arriving in Australian showrooms has been unprecedented.

GWM has admitted there is still plenty of work left to do to boost the popularity of its entry-level Cannon 4x2 and 4x4 range in Australia. Whilst recording a decent 19 per cent volume rise year-to-date, to just under 7000 units, on the back of a significant diesel engine and transmission upgrade earlier this year as part of 2025 facelift, the keenly-priced Chinese mid-sized ute is only in seventh spot.

GWM was here before the multitude of other Chinese car brands arrived, which allowed it to build a reputation that could soon see it become a brand as ‘Aussie’ as Toyota with just a few more models — and it’s so obvious what they are. Now you might think that’s ridiculous, but once Australians would have laughed at the idea of swapping their Holdens and Fords for a Toyota, but models such as the LandCruiser, HiLux and Corolla changed their minds, forever.GWM is poised to do the same, but it’ll take more models and the right ones — these ones.GWM’s year-to-date sales (until the end of August) were 34,398, and while Toyota is a long way ahead as expected with 163,491 sales, GWM’s results make it the seventh most-bought brand in Australia. If GWM’s sales keep tracking upwards at the present rate it will overtake Mitsubishi (currently sixth place for year to date sales) in 2026.Catching Toyota is highly unlikely in the next decade if ever, but GWM doesn’t need to beat Toyota to be a successful and loved brand in Australia. If it can aim for what Kia (55,554) and Hyundai (51,957) have now it’ll be safe… well until its Chinese rivals start pecking away at its lead. GWM has an excellent model portfolio already and they are all doing big numbers.The Haval Jolion small SUV has reached 12,278 this year already, the Haval H6 mid-sized SUV is at 9224, the Tank 300 has reached 3271 and the Cannon 4x4 ute has reached 4428 sales. Adding to the overall number are decent sales of the Cannon Alpha ute with 1549 sales and the Tank 500 large SUV with 1021 sales.It would seem that GWM doesn’t really need any new models at all as it has utes and SUVs, which is the way to Aussie sales success. But the models it doesn’t have are so obvious you might not have spotted it and not having them is very ‘un-Chinese’. GWM doesn’t have electric vehicles.Well it has the little Ora hatch, which is cute, but lacks the outstanding refinement, cutting edge EV architecture and dazzling cabin tech Aussies have come to expect from Chinese EVs. Still 432 have been sold this year.GWM has won Australia over already with its regular combustion cars and now it must add good electric models to its range.Fellow Chinese brand MG has done just that and if GWM dawdles with EVs then MG will surge ahead, especially with the launch of its MG S5 and new MG4 Urban electric cars.The electric models GWM needs now are a Jolion EV, a H6 EV, a medium-sized electric sedan to rival the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal and a new-gen Ora that’s better than the current version.    Chinese EVs are known to be exceptional both in technology and value and GWM launching an electric line-up of at least four battery electric vehicles will ensure it can overtake Mitsubishi and possibly even Hyundai, Kia, Ford and Mazda for yearly sales.GWM’s footprint in Australia is now huge with more than 120 dealerships already operating in Australia. The hard part is done, and EVs will be the final piece of the GWM puzzle.Does GWM have the EV know-how and the models? That’s a good question and the company’s Chief Operating Officer John Kett said it does, but we’ll believe it when we drive it.When asked earlier in 2025 where GWM’s EVs are, Kett said they were coming with two or three new ones to arrive in 2026.“Should we do better? Certainly. Are we happy with the progress? Yes. Have we got more Oras and other EV platforms in our plan going forward? Yes, definitely,” he told CarsGuide.Whether GWM can do electric cars as well as MG and BYD really remains to be seen, but if the company is able to produce not only affordable EVs but good ones even then it might even cause Toyota to start looking over its shoulder.

Chinese carmakers aren’t just winning over Aussies with affordable electric SUVs, the same manufacturers have quickly established themselves as serious competitors in the popular ute segment that's dominated by the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Just this year we’ve seen a stack of new Chinese utes models arrive in Australia to join some already well-established players. So, here’s the ultimate list of Chinese utes in Australia to help you keep up to date with what’s on the ground now and those expected to arrive soon.BYD has taken Australia by storm with its affordable electric cars, but wading into the treacherous and competitive waters of the ute segment inhabited by the likes of Toyota’s HiLux and Ford’s Ranger was brave. BYD, however, didn’t just wade in, it backstroked in during late last year and stole a sizable chunk of the market with the Shark 6 becoming the fourth best-selling 4x4 ute on the market so far in 2025.The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid that uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 321kW and 650Nm. Braked towing capacity is 2500kg.The GWM Cannon is the most established Chinese ute in Australia and is popular for its combination of good looks and good value.The Cannon dual-cab has a 2.4 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit making 135kW and 480Nm. Braked capacity is 3500kg.JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in late 2024 and there are currently two grades on sale - the Oasis and the Haven. Powering the T9 is a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine making 120kW and 410Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Braked towing capacity is 3200kg.LDV’s Terron 9 is the latest member of the brand’s growing ute family. Larger in every way than the T60 both in dimensions and grunt.Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four cylinder making 163kW and 520Nm, the Terron 9 has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.An eTerron 9 electric version could also be arriving in Australia soon. The LDV T60 is the smaller stablemate of the Terron 9 and is powered by a 160kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, mated to an-eight speed automatic, with a six-speed manual gearbox also available. LDV upgraded the T60 in 2025 and this T60 Max, as it's called now, has a higher braked towing capacity of 3500kg.The new Foton Tunland arrived late in 2025 a very different vehicle to the one we used to know with strikingly handsome exterior and lavish looking cabin.All variants have a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with a 48V mild hybrid system, with outputs of 120kW and 450Nm.Chery has confirmed that it will bring a plug-in hybrid ute to Australia to compete against BYD’s Shark 6 in 2026 and the Rely P3X could be it.Rely is one of the many brands owned by Chery, along with Omoda and Jaecoo which are already in Australia. Rely showed off the P3X recently at the Chengdu motor show and it's very likely one or both of these will be vehicles to be picked and arrive wearing a Chery badge.The P3X appears to have all the ingredients to make it a tough rival to the BYD Shark 6 with its ladder frame chassis and 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with dual electric motors.MG’s U9 arrives right about now and could be a game changer, even if it’s based on a ute that’s already here - the LDV Terron 9.MG’s bosses say that the U9 will come with a choice of diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, and that variety, along with its good looks and expected affordable price point, will make it a big market disrupter. A 3500kg braked towing capacity is confirmed as well - possibly only on the diesel.Unlike all the other utes here the Geely Riddara doesn’t sit on a ladder frame and is far more car-like and lifestyle focused than a work truck.Still, there’s definitely a market for a small and comfortable little ute like the Riddara RD6, which is likely to come to Australia with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.When it does come isn’t certain, with Geely appearing to concentrate more on growing its passenger car line-up first.

Chinese car brands aren’t just content to dominate the electric car game, they are coming for our favourite dual-cabs, too.

So far in 2025, China’s GWM has been setting new sales records again and again despite the overall new car market cooling down.Momentum for the Chinese brand has been gaining slowly but surely and it’s now setting its sights on sustaining a top five placement by 2030.In order to do this it would likely see GWM topple brands like Mitsubishi and Hyundai, as well as another established Chinese brand in the shape of MG.Earlier this year the Chinese carmaker set a lofty target of selling at least 50,000 new cars in Australia during 2025.In the first six months of 2025, the brand has sold a total of 25,189 new vehicles, which puts it on track to achieve its target. This is helped by GWM achieving its best ever monthly sales in June.GWM is the seventh best-selling brand in Australia so far in 2025.It’s ahead of brands like MG (21,674 sales) and Isuzu Ute (21,883 sales) but still behind Mitsubishi (33,379 sales).BYD (23,335 sales) is catching up quickly, however, with astronomical year-on-year growth of 144.6 per cent. For context, GWM’s year-to-date sales are up 17 per cent year-on-year.Rounding out 2025, GWM plans to sell a total of around 8000 examples of the Haval H6 in the second half, bringing total annual sales to 15,000.A mid-life updated version of the Haval H6 just launched in Australia. Initially only hybrid variants are available, though petrol versions are arriving in August and new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants are launching in September.Beyond the Haval H6, GWM is launching a vast number of new vehicles in Australia.The Chinese carmaker has confirmed the Haval H7 is launching in August and the Tank 500 PHEV is arriving in October.Beyond these, GWM Australia and New Zealand Chief Operating Officer John Kett said the company is expecting to have a total of three electric vehicles (EVs) on sale by the end of September 2026.One of those will likely be the Ora hatchback, which is set to get an update soon. Another could be the Ora Sport liftback that’s been earmarked for a local launch for years now and the other could be a production version of the Haval Xiaolong SUV prototype.