GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV: Shades the rest

0 0 September 01, 2025 Edit this post

by Derek Ogden

What is it?

With the landing of its Cannon Alpha plug-in hybrid in Australia, Great Wall Motors (GWM) has shot its big ute into a leading spot.

The Chinese maker claims the PHEV sets a new yardstick in performance, range, and capabilities for electrified vehicles in the segment.

GWM’s second model to enter the growing PHEV market in Australia, following the Haval H6 GT PHEV, the Cannon Alpha PHEV comes in two variants -- Lux and Ultra.

What’s it cost?

Lux and Ultra are on the market for $63,990 and $68,990 respectively -- that's driveaway.

On first glance, the Cannon PHEV is instantly recognisable, if not for all the right reasons.

The spare wheel sits upright in the right of the tub (blame the battery pack), taking up precious load space.

While the split tailgate, on test, was an open-and shut case – press the button once to drop the lot, or twice to split it.

Sometimes it went to script, others not so.

Up in size comparison to the ICE Cannon ute, just shy of 5.5 metres long, a 3350mm wheelbase and 13.1m turning circle, the Cannon Alpha leaves Ranger, D-Max and HiLux in the shade.

A panoramic sunroof, on the other hand, opens up the cabin to the great outdoors.

The Lux grade includes 360-degree view monitor, 12.3-inch full-colour driver instrument cluster and similar-sized touch screen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, plus front and rear USB outlets.

Ultra adds nice touches with 14.6-inch full-colour touchscreen infotainment system.

Also upgraded are the premium Infinity audio system with 10 speakers and amplifier, wireless phone charger (front and rear) and head-up windscreen display.

There are physical controls on the steering wheel, and volume controls on the swipe-down, but a volume knob wouldn’t go astray.

The Alpha plug-in’s infotainment system allows for a lot of special controls around the powertrain – camping modes, power preservation, charging cycles and energy consumption.

The all-new Cannon Alpha PHEV has received a maximum five-star safety rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, following months of close collaboration between GWM and ANCAP.

Contributing to the top rating are seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, AEB junction assist, lane change assist and Lane keeping assist, hill descent control and rear collision warning.

Cannon Alpha PHEV is backed by GWM’s comprehensive customer care program offering an 8-year unlimited kilometre battery pack warranty, 7-year unlimited kilometre new car warranty, 7-year roadside assistance with 24/7 support, and seven years capped price servicing.

What’s it go like?

The Cannon Alpha PHEV is decidedly commercial vehicle plush, with quality features including leather accented seats, driver seat eight-way electric adjustment, front passenger seat six ways, and heated/ventilated/massage front seats.

Heated/ventilated rear outer seats have a recline function and two-way electric adjustment.

Surprisingly, leg room is not limited by the adjustments. Oh, and there’s a heated steering wheel and a twee analogue clock in the centre stack.

Up front, decor is de rigueur for a big ute with panelling across the dashboard, while piano black and satin metallic-looking sections are suckers for smudges and spots.

Cupholders take up positions down near the centre console, and a wireless charging pad under a sliding panel. Power outlets are easy to get at.

Powered by GWM’s Hi4-T Plug-in Hybrid EV technology and equipped with a 37.1 kWh ternary lithium battery, the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine delivers a combined 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque.

Paired with GWM’s nine-speed automatic transmission, it offers up to 110km of pure EV driving range, with a combined range of 880km – 10 per cent more than its nearest rival.

GWM’s 9AT gearbox is no bigger than a conventional six-speed auto.

Despite this, the unit achieves an impressive 97 per cent efficiency by using a lower viscosity gearbox oil and is engineered to handle a maximum of 750Nm.

For a start (literally), setting off in the Cannon Alpha PHEV can be something of a mystery with acceleration – from pedestrian to spritely – out of proportion to the pressure on the pedal.

Initial response was not without a deal of lag.

The multimedia screen displays charging status and time, as does the GWM app.

Charging times with a DC fast charger are reckoned at 24 minutes from 30 to 80 per cent charge.

When using an AC home charger, the battery recharges from near empty to full in approximately 6.5 hours.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities of up to 3.3kW output is included and enables the Cannon Alpha to provide AC power to devices and some home appliances.

Filling the fuel tank with petrol is per ICE vehicles.

The system has multiple modes to suit drive conditions such as EV priority, full EV and intelligent modes.

The Hi4T technology allows the engine to remain in EV mode in 4×4 high range mode, in addition to supporting EV-only driving at highway speeds -- a first for the segment.

Alpha PHEV in EV mode is primarily rear-wheel drive.

Lock into 4x4 and the transfer case directs a 50:50 split front-to-rear.

Off road, 4x4 is easily engaged via a centre-console push button.

Class-leading 3500kg maximum braked towing capacity is carried over from ICE models, while an impressive 800mm water wading depth and 224mm of ground clearance ensure flexibility and versatility.

With a 75-litre tank, open road fuel consumption on test was recorded at 26.8kWh/100km and 0.7L/100km.

What we like?

Each-way bet
Larger than most
Plenty of rear legroom
Large 14.6-inch touchscreen
Premium Infinity audio system

What we don’t like?

No physical volume knob
Spare wheel sits upright tub
Split tailgate hit and miss
Laggy initial acceleration

The bottom line?

The Cannon Alpha PHEV Ultra could be just the ticket for those wishing to make an each-way bet on electric vehicles.

Wiith public charging infrastructure lagging, plug-in hybrids with external chargeable electric power and ICE back-up are taking over the automotive world.

The Cannon Alpha looks to be a well handicapped n early favourite.