0-100: Cannonball run
Chinese brand GWM is the first to land a hybrid ute on the Australian market.
Australia’s biggest-selling vehicle segment, the 4x4 dual cab ute, has long been a bastion of turbodiesel power, but that may be set to change as car makers look to lower their fleet emissions in the face of the government’s long-mooted and recently legislated New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.
Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer GWM is one of the first brands to reposition in the face of the standard, releasing its new Cannon Alpha with both hybrid and turbodiesel powertrains. Ute rivals, including the Toyota HiLux and RAM 1500, have previously introduced 48-volt mild-hybrid systems, but the GWM is the first ute sold here with a full hybrid-electric drivetrain.
Smaller than US full-size pick-ups but longer, wider and taller than the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, the Cannon Alpha rides on an extended 3350mm wheelbase that ensures generous rear-seat accommodation.
The interior is upmarket for a workhorse, with a crisply rendered but somewhat fiddly 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring multiple exterior camera views, and both a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and head-up display ahead of the driver.
Other luxuries include a heated steering wheel, faux wood trim, a panoramic sunroof, a 10-speaker Infinity audio system, a wireless phone charger, and leather front seats with heating, ventilation and massage functions.
Credit: Digital Fuel Productions Pty Ltd
Credit: Digital Fuel Productions Pty Ltd
The exterior is polished, with a bold US-style chrome grille flanked by LED headlights, factory side-steps, roof rails and prominent wheel arches, all riding on attractive 18-inch alloy wheels. The generous tray is accessed via an electric 60/40-split tailgate that can be opened in one piece or individual sections.
But it’s what’s under the Cannon Alpha’s bonnet that’s most intriguing, with buyers offered the choice of a conventional 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel or a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol-hybrid. The diesel is available in two grades, starting at a sharp $51,990 drive-away, while the Cannon Alpha Ultra Hybrid tops the range at $64,990 drive-away.
On paper, the hybrid’s impressive output of 255kW/648Nm means it easily outmuscles the turbodiesel’s 135kW/480Nm, but it never feels like it has V8-rivalling horsepower; there are occasions where confusion between the combustion engine, the hybrid system and the automatic transmission dulls its edge. It’s not especially frugal either, with combined cycle consumption of 9.8L/100km being higher than both its diesel stablemate’s 8.9L/100km, and the 7.2L/100km of Toyota’s HiLux mild-hybrid.
The drive is channelled to either the rear or all four wheels via a smooth nine-speed automatic with Eco, Normal and Sport modes. A two-speed transfer case, good ground clearance and locking front and rear differentials offer off-road performance.
With its keen pricing, handsome styling, generous premium features, and an aftersales package that includes a seven-year unlimited-km warranty, roadside assistance and capped-priced servicing, GWM’s new luxury ute is a solid alternative in this diesel-centric category.
The specs
Make/model: GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra Hybrid
Body style: Four-door dual cab utility
Retail price: $64,990 (drive-away)
Seating: 5
Fuel consumption: 9.8L/100km (225g/km CO2)
Safety rating: Not yet rated
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-petrol-hybrid (180kW/380Nm). 1.6kWh battery, electric motor (78kW/268Nm), combined output (255kW/648Nm)
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Drive type: Full-time dual-range four-wheel drive
Kerb weight: 2575kg
Payload: 735kg
Towing capacity: 750kg (unbraked)/3500kg (braked)
0-100km/h: N/A
For more, visit the GWM website.