The GWM Canon Alpha Ultra HEV is essentially a full-size statement of intent from Great Wall Motors. With the Chinese brand gunning for a slice of the lucrative lifestyle and work-ready ute pie, the Canon Alpha Ultra lands with a bold presence, hybrid credentials, and a spec sheet that reads like a luxury SUV brochure. While its name might be a mouthful, it’s fitting for a vehicle that sits somewhere between a traditional 1-tonne ute and the full-sized American pickups. It’s ambitious, well-priced, tech-laden, and perhaps a little confusing at times. But one thing’s for sure: it’s impossible to ignore.
Big. Bold. Blinged, let’s face it, the Canon Alpha Ultra doesn’t try to fly under the radar. Up front, a massive chrome grille dominates the nose, flanked by squared-off LED headlights and thick DRLs. The new GWM “Power” badge (standing for Power, Off-road, Enjoyable, Reliable) adds a futuristic twist to branding that once meant Great Wall Motors – now ‘Go With More’. There’s chrome everywhere, from the grille to side accents and tailgate, which may not appeal to the minimalist, but certainly adds presence.
Dimensionally, the Canon Alpha is 5.44m long, about 75mm longer than a Ford Ranger, and around 2 metres tall and wide, meaning it’s a big unit, but not quite into RAM 1500 territory. It rolls on 18-inch wheels with Giti GY Xross all-terrain tyres and offers 224mm of ground clearance, making it capable of handling a variety of Kiwi backroads and trails. A dual-opening tailgate is one of its party tricks: it opens sideways (60/40 split) or downwards like a traditional ute, revealing a 1500x1500mm tray area capable of carrying up to 738kg, slightly shy of the typical 1-tonne payload.
In short, it looks serious, but with a surprising dose of flair and humour, more on that in a moment.
Step inside and the Canon Alpha Ultra HEV blurs the lines between rugged utility and luxury SUV. The dash is trimmed in soft-touch materials, gloss black, and yes, a good dose of very fake wood. But despite the fake textures, the cabin looks upscale and is brimming with features you wouldn’t expect in a $60k ute.
Front seats are ventilated, heated, and massage-equipped, with nine levels of heating (yes 9!!) adjustment. Rear passengers aren’t left out either, they get ventilated and heated seats, a wireless charging pad, USB ports, and even electronic reclining rear seats, which are unheard of in this segment. Practicality is addressed too, with deep felt-lined door bins, a cooled centre cubby for drinks or pies, and dual-pane sunroofs overhead.
There’s a small but stylish GWM-branded analogue clock in the centre stack, and even the vehicle key mimics the “P” logo, adding a quirky, if chunky, design cue.
Space is excellent front and rear, and the cabin insulation and materials contribute to a quiet, refined experience that’s more SUV than ute.
Tech is where the Canon Alpha Ultra HEV punches well above its price. Dominating the cabin is a large infotainment screen with crisp graphics and a surprisingly responsive interface. It includes wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a voice assistant that’s capable, but not without its quirks. It can control everything from windows to the sunroof, AC, and volume, but sometimes chimes in unsolicited, like suggesting I find a gym when I asked it for a cafe. It’s funny… until it’s not.
There’s extensive customisation available through the infotainment, ambient lighting colours, drive modes, ADAS settings, massage functions, and more. The digital gauge cluster is also customisable, showing real-time power distribution, hybrid operation, and consumption data.
On the safety front, it features:
- 360° surround camera
- Driver attention monitoring
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keep assist
- Automatic parking assist
- Forward collision warning and AEB
It’s as tech-packed as any premium SUV, just with a tray on the back.
When you first drive the Canon Alpha Ultra HEV, it feels almost surreal. It starts silently in EV mode and will happily creep around the carpark or residential streets without ever waking the engine. For a 2.6-tonne ute, that’s a novel sensation. As you accelerate, the 2.0L turbo petrol engine quicky kicks in but smoothly, combining with the electric motor to deliver a healthy 255kW and 685Nm via a multi-speed automatic gearbox. On paper, it tows 3.5 tonnes, solid for a hybrid.
Real-world driving is better than expected. Around town, it’s surprisingly nimble, with a tight turning circle that belies its size. On the motorway, the cabin remains hushed thanks to good sound insulation and thick window glass. Ride quality is plush, with suspension tuned for comfort over undulations and speed bumps alike.
Off-road, it performs capably. While not a hardcore rock crawler, it handled slippery grass and mild terrain easily during testing. The 4WD system offers low-range, diff locks, and drive mode selectors, ensuring it’s more than just a pavement princess.
The hybrid powertrain delivers good punch when needed, although it’s not quite the torque monster that a diesel might be down low. And while the claimed 9.8L/100km economy sounds promising, our test average sat between 11–12.5L/100km, which is decent for a big hybrid ute, but certainly not groundbreaking.
The GWM Canon Alpha Ultra HEV is not perfect, but it’s fascinating, impressive, and extraordinary value. At NZ$60,000, you’re getting a fully kitted out, luxurious full-size hybrid ute that competes with models costing far more. It may not have the payload or brute diesel torque of some rivals, and the voice assistant may try to pick fights with you, but for buyers wanting a blend of capability, comfort, and style, it hits a unique sweet spot.
More than that, it shows how far Chinese automakers have come. The Canon Alpha Ultra HEV doesn’t just undercut the competition, it redefines what a $60k ute can offer. Add to that GWM’s strong push into the NZ market, and this hybrid hauler might just be the bold disruptor our ute landscape didn’t see coming.
Whether you’re hauling gear to the worksite or taking the family away for the weekend, there’s no denying this is a whole lot of ute for the money. And with a plug-in hybrid version on the horizon, things are only just getting started for GWM.
