GWM Cannon Alpha vs Geely E5 EM-i

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

GWM Cannon Alpha Discontinued model
GWM Cannon Alpha in South Africa

GWM Cannon Alpha

2.4T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 829,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 135 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 10.2 km/l
VS
Geely E5 EM-i in South Africa

Geely E5 EM-i

Apex Plug-in Hybrid Current
ZAR 679,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 73 kW 🔧 125 Nm
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM Cannon Alpha vs Geely E5 EM-i: the short answer

Cannon Alpha and E5 EM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context Cannon Alpha: last listed from ZAR 699,900 · E5 EM-i: current from ZAR 599,999

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Cannon Alpha E5 EM-i
Maximum Power Cannon Alpha135 kW @ 3600 rpm E5 EM-i73 kW
Maximum Torque Cannon Alpha480 Nm E5 EM-i125 Nm
Engine Size Cannon Alpha2378 cc E5 EM-i1499 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Cannon Alpha10.2 km/l E5 EM-iNot Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance Cannon Alpha220 mm E5 EM-i172 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

GWM Cannon Alpha

2.4T Double Cab LX 4x4

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Geely E5 EM-i

Apex

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Cannon Alpha

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

E5 EM-i

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon Alpha

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

E5 EM-i

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Cannon Alpha E5 EM-i
360 Degree Camera Yes Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Yes
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Yes
Attention Assist Yes -
Autonomous Emergency Braking Yes Yes
Auto Highbeam Yes Yes
Auto Lights Yes -
Auto Park Assist No -
Auto Wipers Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Blind Spot Monitoring Yes Yes
Driver Fatigue Alert Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Eco Mode No -
EV Mode No -
Forward Collision Warning Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Lane Departure Warning Yes Yes
Lane Keep Assist Yes Yes
Park Assist Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Parking Sensors Front and Rear Rear
Rain Sensor Wipers Yes -
Rear View Camera Yes Yes
Rear Cross Traffic Alert Yes Yes
Rear Parking Sensors Yes Yes
Reverse Camera Type Wide-angle -
Reversing Camera Yes -
Sport Mode Yes -
Traffic Sign Recognition Yes Yes
Around View Monitor Yes Yes
Blind Spot Warning Yes Yes
Cruise Control Adaptive cruise control Yes
Reverse Camera Yes Yes
Spec Cannon Alpha E5 EM-i
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Hi Range Yes Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Lo Range Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Differential Lock Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Differential Type Front Open -
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable -
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD FWD
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Four Wheel Drive Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 Not Officially Disclosed
Number of Gears 9 Not Officially Disclosed
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Gear Shift Type Automatic Not Officially Disclosed
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic Not Officially Disclosed
LSD Available No Not Officially Disclosed
Paddle Shifters Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 -
Transfer Case Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Transmission Speeds 9 Not Officially Disclosed
Transmission Type Automatic Not Officially Disclosed
Gearbox Type Automatic Not Officially Disclosed
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Officially Disclosed
Automatic Shift Paddles Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Axle Layout Front driven axle Not Officially Disclosed
Clutch Type Dual wet clutch Not Officially Disclosed
Front Differential Lock Open differential with electronic traction control Not Officially Disclosed
Low Range Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Low Range Ratio Yes Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Differential Lock Open differential with electronic traction control Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This Cannon Alpha and E5 EM-i comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Cannon Alpha 69 vs E5 EM-i 39.

Efficiency index: Cannon Alpha 42 vs E5 EM-i 79.

Safety-equipment index: Cannon Alpha 94 vs E5 EM-i 91.

Practicality index: Cannon Alpha 81 vs E5 EM-i 71.

Ownership-cover index: Cannon Alpha 65 vs E5 EM-i not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Cannon Alpha leads by 3 points

Cannon Alpha and E5 EM-i are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 72 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 100% source coverage
72
#1 Evidence leader

Cannon Alpha

100% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 42
Performance 69
Efficiency 42
Safety 94
Practicality 81
Ownership 65
Leads by 3 points
69
#2

E5 EM-i

55% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 79
Safety 91
Practicality 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cannon Alpha +30 Efficiency E5 EM-i +37 Safety Cannon Alpha +3 Practicality Cannon Alpha +10

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Cannon Alpha

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 42/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 81/100
Ownership 65/100

E5 EM-i

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 79/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 71/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index GWM Cannon Alpha leads the specification evidence index with 72 pts vs 69 pts for E5 EM-i

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Cannon Alpha leads. However, E5 EM-i may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Cannon Alpha vs E5 EM-i questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.