GWM’s Cannon ute has made waves in the New Zealand market with its aggressive pricing and big-spec energy, and the base model proves you don’t necessarily need to spend top dollar to get a feature-rich workhorse. This truck might not nail every aspect of premium ute life, but for those on a tighter budget looking for something tough, capable, and well-equipped, the Cannon base model is an intriguing proposition.
Design and Exterior
From a styling perspective, the Cannon looks every bit the modern ute. The shape is conventional but confident, with roof rails and a factory sports bar helping complete the look. It’s a big, broad machine that stands tall on the road, and while its badge might not carry the same clout as some of its rivals, its proportions and accessories make a solid first impression.
The exterior design leans heavily into traditional ute territory, with clean lines, a big grille, and chunky bodywork. It looks the part whether it’s parked outside a building site or a weekend trailhead.
Cabin and Comfort
Inside, the Cannon’s cabin is a blend of rugged and surprisingly refined. You get two large screens (one for infotainment and one for the driver display), which immediately elevates the feel. The infotainment system isn’t perfect (more on that later), but it’s big, bright, and full of functionality.
Fit and finish are where the base model’s value pricing peeks through. Materials feel tough and ready for abuse, but you won’t find plush soft-touch plastics or refined trim details here. The surfaces are practical, easy-wipe plastics — not luxurious, but ideal for a ute that’s likely to see dirty boots and dusty gear.
The seats themselves look the part and offer decent comfort, though the bolstering is a little loose and flat, especially when you’re bouncing around off-road. Still, they’re perfectly usable for everyday work and travel.
Infotainment and Tech
Tech levels in the Cannon base model are surprisingly generous. Wireless phone charging, USB-A and USB-C ports, a 360-degree camera, and a fully digital driver display all make the spec sheet. You can even customise the instrument cluster, though the menus are a little clunky, requiring a long press of the OK button and some menu-diving.
Unfortunately, the radio tuning leaves a lot to be desired. Reception is patchy, and if you rely on terrestrial stations, you may find the system frustrating. The stereo quality also doesn’t impress. It’s one of the few areas where cost-cutting feels particularly noticeable.
Cruise control is standard (but not adaptive) and is located on a stalk beneath the steering wheel — a slightly dated approach, but effective nonetheless. The rest of the steering wheel controls are intuitive and clearly labelled.
Performance and Ride Quality
Under the bonnet, the GWM Cannon houses a Powered by a new 2.4 litre turbo diesel engine delivering 135kW and 480Nm runs with an expected but not excessive diesel clatter, and it’ll move the ute to 100 km/h without too much fuss. It’s no rocket, but for its intended audience, the performance is more than adequate.
The suspension setup is firm, particularly at the rear, which is I guess is typical for a ute of this type. But even on sealed roads, small bumps and surface imperfections make themselves known, and it tends to wobble slightly on rough patches when unladen. That said, it’s perfectly composed when loaded or maybe even towing (I didn’t test its 3,500kg capability).
Steering feel is acceptable. It’s not dripping with feedback, but it isn’t vague either. Again, for a work-focused ute, the steering performs about as well as expected.
Off-Road Ability
Despite being a base model, the Cannon doesn’t skimp on capability. It features 4WD with low range, a rear differential lock, and multiple drive modes including Sport, Eco, and Normal. It’s genuinely built to go off-road or at least handle rough access roads to worksites and backcountry blocks.
While we didn’t get deep into the mud, initial impressions are that the Cannon will handle itself well in typical New Zealand conditions. It’s a welcome addition to the budget 4WD ute space.
Safety and Driver Aids
Safety tech is a mixed bag. There’s plenty of it: lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and more. However, the lane keeping system is too aggressive, frequently tugging at the wheel with overconfidence. A bit more calibration or customisation would go a long way here.
Nonetheless, these are big safety inclusions at this price point, and for tradies or small business owners looking for peace of mind, the Cannon ticks the boxes.
Real-World Economy
Our observed fuel economy was around 11.1L/100km (8.4L claimed). That’s not exactly sipping fuel, but it’s in the realm of acceptability for a diesel-powered ute with off-road ability and a decent kerb weight. Those looking to maximise fuel savings may need to consider smaller, less capable options – GWM also offer HEV and PHEV powertrains.
Despite its name, the GWM Cannon Lux is not a luxury ute. But it is one hell of a value proposition. With its solid powertrain, genuine off-road capability, and an interior that blends rugged practicality with modern tech, it offers a lot of ute for the money. Some polish is missing, especially in infotainment refinement, audio quality, and suspension tuning, but these are trade-offs many buyers will accept at this price point.
If you’re a small business owner, a tradie on the move, or even just a buyer looking for an affordable entry into the world of 4WD utes, the Cannon deserves serious consideration. It’s not perfect, but it’s not trying to be. What it is, is capable, smartly equipped, and surprisingly enjoyable to drive.
In short? GWM has built a ute that’s worth more than the sum of its parts, and definitely worth a test drive.
