GWM Cannon Alpha vs Toyota Fortuner

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
Toyota Fortuner in South Africa

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 999,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 13.2 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM Cannon Alpha vs Toyota Fortuner: the short answer

Cannon Alpha and Fortuner are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Recorded price context Cannon Alpha: last listed from ZAR 699,900 · Fortuner: current from ZAR 685,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Cannon Alpha Fortuner
Maximum Power Cannon Alpha135 kW @ 3600 rpm Fortuner150 kW
Maximum Torque Cannon Alpha480 Nm Fortuner500 Nm
Engine Size Cannon Alpha2378 cc Fortuner2755 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Cannon Alpha10.2 km/l Fortuner13.2 km/l
Ground Clearance Cannon Alpha220 mm Fortuner279 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

Toyota Fortuner

2.8 GD-6 4X4 GR-Sport 6AT

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)

Cannon Alpha

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

Fortuner

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon Alpha

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Fortuner

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

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 Fortuner
360 Degree Camera Yes Not Available
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Not Available
Adaptive Cruise Control Yes Not Available
Attention Assist Yes -
Autonomous Emergency Braking Yes Not Available
Auto Highbeam Yes Not Available
Auto Lights Yes -
Auto Park Assist No -
Auto Wipers Yes Not Available
Blind Spot Monitoring Yes Not Available
Driver Fatigue Alert Yes Not Available
Eco Mode No -
EV Mode No Not Available
Forward Collision Warning Yes Not Available
Lane Departure Warning Yes Not Available
Lane Keep Assist Yes Not Available
Park Assist Yes Not Available
Parking Sensors Front and Rear Not Available
Rain Sensor Wipers Yes -
Rear View Camera Yes Not Available
Rear Cross Traffic Alert Yes Not Available
Rear Parking Sensors Yes Not Available
Reverse Camera Type Wide-angle -
Reversing Camera Yes -
Sport Mode Yes -
Traffic Sign Recognition Yes Not Available
Around View Monitor Yes Not Available
Blind Spot Warning Yes Not Available
Cruise Control Adaptive cruise control Standard
Reverse Camera Yes Not Available
Spec Cannon Alpha Fortuner
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Available
4WD Hi Range Yes Available
4WD Lo Range Yes Available where 4WD low range is fitted
Differential Lock Yes Not Applicable
Differential Type Front Open -
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable -
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD 4WD / AWD
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Four Wheel Drive Ladder frame
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 Not Applicable
Number of Gears 9 6
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not Applicable
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic Automatic
LSD Available No Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters Yes Not Applicable
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 -
Transfer Case Yes Confirmed 4WD derivative
Transmission Speeds 9 6
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
4WD Selector Not Applicable Confirmed 4WD derivative
Automatic Shift Paddles Yes Not Applicable
Axle Layout Front driven axle 4x4
Clutch Type Dual wet clutch Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Open differential with electronic traction control Not Applicable
Low Range Yes Available where 4WD low range is fitted
Low Range Ratio Yes Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Open differential with electronic traction control Not Applicable
Drive Mode Selector Not confirmed 4WD/off-road drive mode support

In depth: how these cars differ

This Cannon Alpha and Fortuner 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 Fortuner 79.

Efficiency index: Cannon Alpha 42 vs Fortuner 56.

Safety-equipment index: Cannon Alpha 94 vs Fortuner 89.

Practicality index: Cannon Alpha 81 vs Fortuner 84.

Ownership-cover index: Cannon Alpha 65 vs Fortuner 43.

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

Fortuner leads by 1 points

Cannon Alpha and Fortuner are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 73 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 72% source coverage
73
#1 Evidence leader

Fortuner

72% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 89 Check Ownership 43
Performance 79
Efficiency 56
Safety 89
Practicality 84
Ownership 43
Leads by 1 points
72
#2

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
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Fortuner +10 Efficiency Fortuner +14 Safety Cannon Alpha +5 Practicality Fortuner +3 Ownership Cannon Alpha +22

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Fortuner

Performance 79/100
Efficiency 56/100
Safety 89/100
Practicality 84/100
Ownership 43/100

Cannon Alpha

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

What the evidence means

Evidence index Toyota Fortuner leads the specification evidence index with 73 pts vs 72 pts for Cannon Alpha

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

Cannon Alpha vs Fortuner 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.