Is there a market for US-style dual-cab 4×4 ute that’s bigger than a Ranger and smaller than an F-150, but more comfortable and less expensive than both?
Cue the GWM Cannon Alpha, the latest 4×4 offering in the Cannon dual-cab ute range. It’s bigger, more luxurious and better appointed, so let’s take a test drive and see if the Alpha lives up to the name and the hype.
Wow! It’s familiar! And that’s not because it looks the same as the Cannon from the outside (it doesn’t) or that it’s no bigger than the standard Chinese dual-cab (is it). It’s because the bonnet looks like the one on Tank 500 and that connection becomes even more apparent when you open the door.
When you climb in, it’s clear this is the Tank 500 interior in a ute. The cabin is spacious, comfortable, and the front seats feel like a business class pod in a plane. A bit like a full-size US pickup, it’s encapsulating in a warm and comforting manner that provides a deep sense of safety, security and serenity.
Identical to the Tank 500, bar a few additional extras (like the front diff lock switch, which we will discuss later), it oozes with the same luxury, style and comfort that’s almost too much for a tradesman’s utility!
WATCH: Paul’s video review of the GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra Diesel
While it also comes with a bigger 2.4-litre turbo-diesel than the regular Cannon, here we’re driving the 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid variant, which has a more powerful version of the same powertrain available in both the Tank 300 and 500.
The hybrid delivers smooth and positive power. It’s no race car but the torque curve feels flat and carries well through the rev range, offering decent enough acceleration and outright performance (click it over to Sport mode and all that steps up a noticeable notch).
The dash display and controls are pleasing to look at, functional and easy to access, but the indicator stalk is a little quirky and appears to get stuck on. It takes a little time to get used to as it has a touch sensitive partial mode for lane changing.
On the downside, and possibly the only real downer when it comes to the on-road experience, the Alpha has the same hum and vibration as the Tank 500, but possibly not as bad. It is amplified in the back seat, however.
The brakes are phenomenal, almost to the point you’d call them high-performance. They are calibrated perfectly, since they don’t grab unexpectedly yet the firmness in pedal application when pulling up is outstanding. Definitely one of the best braking systems I have experienced in a modern vehicle.
But there’s more when it comes to the Cannon Alpha’s stopping power! There is a noticeable amount of off-throttle deceleration, thanks to the magnetic load of the electric motor that forms part of the energy regeneration system, which is a very efficient use of the driveline and a very positive addition for off-roading, where autos typically ‘run away’ on steep descents.
Ride quality on the freeway and other blacktop is generally smooth and comfortable, but a couple of small and quirky things did get my attention when it comes to the chassis. The hum and vibration mentioned above is one of them, but I also found that the steering is a touch heavy.
It’s not that it is so much worse than many other new vehicles, but it’s worth noting as it could be taxing on long-distance drives. Overall though, the steering is generally quite good and it does offer a decent level of feel without being overly sensitive.
The head-up display showing the speedo is a nice touch. It’s an excellent safety feature and just one of many smart additions that give an ‘above and beyond’ feel to this vehicle’s design.
Fortunately, the driver assist systems had been dialled down before our test drive via an upcoming software upgrade, so the usually lane keeping and centring functions were far more bearable. Yet we still got to enjoy the frequent and intrusive verbal reminders to ‘please concentrate while driving’ and ‘take a break’.
The rear seat is spacious and really takes advantage of the larger size of the Alpha. They are also adjustable, which is another nice addition, but best of all the seats themselves are very comfortable.
To see how the GWM Cannon Alpha lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Off-road
Hitting the dirt, it’s immediately apparent the Cannon Alpha is stable and easy to control. You can select a 4H mode via the centre console dial and in this setting the vehicle handles like an all-wheel drive at speed on unsealed roads.
Based on the information available and my actual drive experience, the Alpha’s nine-speed auto is attached to a part-time transfer case to provide permanent four-wheel drive, and the transfer becomes locked when 4H is selected (as well as in 4L).
Off-road at speed the cabin vibrates a little, but aftermarket suspension would go a long way to improve that. Slipping into 4L is intuitive and seamless once the vehicle is parked and the transmission is in neutral. It’s true low-range gearing that gives plenty of control with the normal benefits of the associated lower ratios.
Traction control works okay but is a somewhat agricultural. The system creaks, growls and groans with a loud clashing sound from the front-end as the traction control engages and disengages the brakes in an attempt to maintain traction.
It actually sounds like the drive plates on the end of the stub axles are only partially engaged. The noise is pretty harsh and I see plenty of uninitiated owners returning the vehicle to their dealer and complaining it is broken!
There is a quick and simple fix though, and the problem disappears completely when the factory-fitted front and rear locking differentials are activated.
This, understandably, transforms the Alpha into an almost unstoppable off-road beast. In fact, the only real limiting factor in its capability at this point is the clearance of the side steps. As with most new off-road vehicles, they are not going to last long if the vehicle is driven anywhere near its actual potential in the bush.
And given the standard front and rear diff locks, some off-road enthusiasts could argue it would have been better to leave the traction control system out of this model all together because, like the Tank 500, the Alpha’s system is awkward and unnerving.
While the Tank 500 comes with only a rear diff lock, the fitment of lockers at both ends of the Alpha negates any real need for traction control to assist it in off-road conditions at all. So my suggestion to GWM is either make the traction control system smoother and more user-friendly, or remove it altogether in the models with front and rear diff locks.
Off-road in low range and with both diff locks on, the Alpha is a beast! It climbs cleanly and smoothly, walks confidently through large wombat holes, and handles uneven and broken terrain with ease.
With the addition of aftermarket suspension, the removal of the factory side steps and the fitment of a more aggressive light-truck 4WD tyre like the Geolandar MT G003, the Alpha could well be the king of the hill when it comes to off-road capability.
While the interior design and fit-out is well beyond that of a normal utility vehicle, the back of this 4WD is all business. The bed is appropriately fitted with a tub liner and the dual-activation tailgate is a real winner.
The tailgate has clean panel lines and no visible handle, but a simple press of a button in the centre of the GWM logo opens the long side of the rear door, allowing for horizontal side opening of the 60/40-split tailgate. And pressing the same button for a longer period automatically drops the entire tailgate in one smooth motion.
It’s a clever touch of technology that may well prove convenient, but could also be just another thing to go wrong in remote locations.
The off-road camera system in the Alpha is well worth mentioning too. It comes on automatically when in low range and does a great job of assisting the driver.
It’s not so much that the camera system itself is better than anything else on the market, but it is the large central display screen on the dash that makes the system so much more functional.
When you take into account the solid fundamental off-road ability of the Alpha and consider the additional extras like the camera, diff locks, hill start assist and more, this really is a decent off-road rig.
To see how the GWM Cannon Alpha lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
The GWM Cannon Alpha was Australia’s first hybrid 4×4 ute. The top-shelf Ultra Hybrid combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to deliver impressive combined outputs of 255kW of power and 648Nm of torque. As standard, there’s a GWM-developed nine-speed auto and a Borg Warner transfer case. It also offers a healthy 3500kg braked towing capacity.
While all this will cost you just $64,990 drive-away, at the lower end of the Alpha range are the Lux and Ultra, priced even more sharply at $51,990 and $57,990 drive-away respectively and powered by a 135kW/480Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, offering lower outputs than the most popular mid-size utes but more than the standard GWM Cannon’s 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.
To see how the GWM Cannon Alpha lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Mod-ability
It is definitely early days as far as aftermarket mods and accessories are concerned here.
GWM doesn’t list any genuine accessories for the Cannon Alpha itself, so as usual we will defer to Savage Tech Auto in southeast Queensland as the authority on what is available for the Alpha in Australia and, at this early stage, the answer is not much at all.
However, Savage Tech says to watch this space and we’ve heard rumours that bullbars, suspension and plenty more is already in transit!
To see how the GWM Cannon Alpha lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the GWM Cannon Alpha
All up, the Alpha is a big step up from the Cannon, but while it shines in so many areas it could still do with some refinement. That said, alongside a comparable Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux, the Alpha offers plenty of bang for your buck.
Whack on a bullbar, a suspension lift kit, and a good set of all-terrain tyres, then replace the factory side steps with some neatly ticked away rock sliders, and you’ve got yourself a seriously capable, comfortable and very well appointed dual-cab 4×4 ute.
Get over the badge on the grille and the brand name, and this vehicle certainly has a lot to offer and is well worth a look, because when you look beyond the luxury and comfort this is in effect a work ute.
With the Cannon first launched in Australia over three years ago, and both the Tank 300 and 500 off-road SUVs now also proving popular in the market, the Alpha makes it four clean hits in a row for GWM here.
Has GWM now got your attention and do you understand it’s a serious player in local the market yet, or are you still stuck on the failures of the early Great Wall offerings and the fact its vehicles are made in China? Let us know in the comments below.
Interested in buying a GWM Cannon Alpha? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
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