RAM 1500 vs GWM UTE

What's the difference?

Fancy a Ford Ranger Wildtrak, Toyota HiLux Rogue or Isuzu D-Max Blade, but need something that’s a bit bigger, bolder and brawnier?

Behold the Ram 1500 Rebel. No, not a Rambler Rebel from the Mad Men era, but a full-sized pick-up truck that’s aimed at younger and/or more-adventure-minded buyers.

Rivalling the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2, it brings a sporty off-road vibe to Australia’s best-selling big US-made ute. Let’s check it 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.