Volkswagen Amarok vs Gwm Cannon

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Volkswagen Amarok in South Africa

Volkswagen Amarok

3.0 V6 TDI Double Cab Aventura 4Motion AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,252,200 ex-showroom
⚡ 125 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 12.8 km/l
VS
Gwm Cannon in South Africa

Gwm Cannon

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel Automatic
ZAR 634,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon
Fuel Economy Amarok
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Cannon
🔑 Ownership Cannon
Cannon starts ZAR 593200 cheaper Amarok from ZAR 593,200 · Cannon from ZAR 484,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Amarok Cannon
Engine Power 125 110
Torque 400 480
Engine Size 1968 1996
Claimed Mileage 12.8 9.8
Ground Clearance 192 210
Boot Space 0 -
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2095 2035
Seating Capacity Available 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Cannon

60
/ 100
+3
pts
#2

Amarok

57
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Amarok and Cannon are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon +1 pts
Efficiency Amarok +7 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Cannon +1 pts
Ownership Cannon +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 20/20

Amarok

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 7/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Amarok

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Amarok

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Cannon

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Amarok Cannon
Ground Clearance 192 210
Wheelbase 3097 3180
Length 5254 5380
Width 1944 1920
Height 1834 1835
Kerb Weight 2095 2035
Gross Vehicle Weight 3150 3000
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 0 -
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Number of Doors 5 4
Boot Space Seats Folded 1500 0
Front Track Width 1550 1560
Rear Track Width 1540 1560
Turning Radius Available 13.6
Load Bed Length Available 1505
Load Bed Width Available 1545
Front Legroom Available 1070
Rear Legroom Available 880
Front Headroom Available 1020
Rear Headroom Available 975
Front Shoulder Room Available 1440
Rear Shoulder Room Available 1420
Max Payload Available 900
Boot Volume Available 0
Doors Available 4
Seats Available 5
Front Overhang Available 980
Fuel Tank Capacity Available 75
Rear Overhang Available 1160
Spec Amarok Cannon
Engine 2.0L TDI Turbo Diesel 2.0L GW4D20 Turbocharged Diesel
Engine Type Inline 4 Turbocharged Intercooled Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Diesel
Displacement 1968 1996
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 4 16
Power 125 110
Torque 400 480
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Common Rail Direct Injection
Turbocharger Twin Turbo Yes
Top Speed 180 172
0-100 km/h 10.5 110
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Engine Code Standard GW4D20
Compression Ratio 10.5:1 16.5:1
Cylinder Bore 82.0 84
Piston Stroke 92.0 90
Fuel Grade Required Petrol Diesel
Power @ RPM 150 3,400-3,600 rpm
Torque @ RPM 400 1,600-2,600 rpm
Engine Position Available Front Longitudinal
Engine Oil Capacity Available 8.0
Power 150 148
Variable Valve Timing Available No
Maximum Engine RPM Available 4,000
Engine Type Config Available Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged
0–100 km/h Available 13.5
Battery Capacity Available -
Charging Port Available -
AC Charging Time Available -
Engine Displacement Available 1996
EV Range Available -

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Cannon wins with 60 pts vs 57 pts for Amarok

In structured scoring, Cannon emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Amarok may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Cannon edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Amarok 7 vs Cannon 0. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Amarok 18, Cannon 18. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Amarok 12, Cannon 20. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Amarok 7, Cannon 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Amarok 13, Cannon 14. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Cannon edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Cannon scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Amarok and Cannon in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Amarok scores 13 vs 14.

Efficiency: Amarok scores 7 vs 0.

Safety: Amarok scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Amarok scores 7 vs 8.

Ownership: Amarok scores 12 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Cannon the advantage in this comparison.