GWM Cannon Alpha vs Nissan Navara Double Cab

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.

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
Nissan Navara Double Cab in South Africa

Nissan Navara Double Cab

2.5D LE Plus Double Cab 4x4 AT Diesel Current
ZAR 785,700 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 450 Nm ⛽ 13.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Navara Double Cab
Fuel Economy Navara Double Cab
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Navara Double Cab
🔑 Ownership Cannon Alpha
Recorded price context Cannon Alpha: last listed from ZAR 699,900 · Navara Double Cab: current from ZAR 493,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Alpha Navara Double Cab
Maximum Power 135 kW @ 3600 rpm 140 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 450 Nm @ 2000 rpm
Engine Size 2378 cc 2488 cc
Claimed Mileage 10.2 km/l 13.9 km/l
Ground Clearance 220 mm 221 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 1161 l
Airbags 6 Driver and front passenger airbags, side, curtain and driver knee airbags
Kerb Weight 2125 kg 2023 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 6 years / 150,000 km

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

Both Cannon Alpha and Navara Double Cab are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Navara Double Cab +6 pts
Efficiency Navara Double Cab +16 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Navara Double Cab +8 pts
Ownership Cannon Alpha +12 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Cannon Alpha

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Navara Double Cab

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon Alpha

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Navara Double Cab

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

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 Navara Double Cab
Model Introduced Year 2024 1997
Generation First generation, derived from GWM's premium pickup platform launched in China in 2023. Local specification leans toward higher equipment loading and softer suspension calibration versus the Chinese-domestic version, with adjustments for South African fuel quality and aftersales support requirements. Current Navara generation focuses on improved comfort and stronger safety credentials
Facelift History First-generation Cannon Alpha — launched in South Africa in mid-2024 with no model-year facelift to date. Software updates have refined the driver-assistance calibration for South African driving conditions and improved the 9-speed automatic shift mapping based on local fleet feedback. Updated in recent years with improved styling, safety upgrades, and suspension refinement
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Original current-generation version
Body Type Cab Double Cab Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name
Tare Mass Kg 2125 kg 2023 kg
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed Double Cab
Color Note Not confirmed White, Silver, Black, Grey, Red, Blue
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.5D LE Plus Double Cab 4x4 AT
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed Active
Segment Not confirmed Double-cab bakkie
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Double Cab
Spec Cannon Alpha Navara Double Cab
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Four Wheel Drive 4WD
LSD Available No Not Available
Transfer Case Yes 4WD transfer case
Differential Lock Yes Not Available
Paddle Shifters Yes Not Available
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 -
Number of Gears 9 7
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not Applicable
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD 4WD
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Selectable 4WD
4WD Hi Range Yes Standard
4WD Lo Range Yes Standard
Differential Type Front Open -
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable -
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Transmission Speeds 9 7
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Standard
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Not Available
Drive Mode Selector Not confirmed 4WD/off-road drive mode support
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Available
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Available
Low Range Not confirmed Standard
Axle Layout Not confirmed 4WD
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Available

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Navara Double Cab leads by 4 points

Both Cannon Alpha and Navara Double Cab are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 76 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 83% confidence
76
#1 Winner

Navara Double Cab

83% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Ownership 53
Performance 75
Efficiency 58
Safety 94
Practicality 90
Ownership 53
Leads by 4 points
72
#2

Cannon Alpha

94% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 42
Performance 69
Efficiency 42
Safety 94
Practicality 82
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Navara Double Cab +6 Efficiency Navara Double Cab +16 Safety Level Practicality Navara Double Cab +8 Ownership Cannon Alpha +12

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Navara Double Cab

Performance 75/100
Efficiency 58/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 90/100
Ownership 53/100

Cannon Alpha

Performance 69/100
Efficiency 42/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 82/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Nissan Navara Double Cab wins with 76 pts vs 72 pts for Cannon Alpha

In structured scoring, Navara Double Cab emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Cannon Alpha 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 Navara Double Cab 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: Cannon Alpha 42 vs Navara Double Cab 58. 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: Cannon Alpha 94, Navara Double Cab 94. 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: Cannon Alpha 65, Navara Double Cab 53. 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: Cannon Alpha 82, Navara Double Cab 90. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon Alpha 69, Navara Double Cab 75. 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 Navara Double Cab edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Navara Double Cab 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 Cannon Alpha and Navara Double Cab in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon Alpha scores 69 vs 75.

Efficiency: Cannon Alpha scores 42 vs 58.

Safety: Cannon Alpha scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: Cannon Alpha scores 82 vs 90.

Ownership: Cannon Alpha scores 65 vs 53.

Final structured scoring gives Navara Double Cab the advantage in this comparison.