Gwm Cannon Alpha vs Nissan NP200

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.

Gwm Cannon Alpha in South Africa

Gwm Cannon Alpha

2.4T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel Automatic
ZAR 829,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 600 Nm ⛽ 10.2 km/l
VS
Nissan NP200 in South Africa

Nissan NP200

1.6 Safety Pack Manual Petrol Manual
ZAR 284,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 65 kW 🔧 147 Nm ⛽ 12.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon Alpha
Fuel Economy NP200
🛡 Safety Cannon Alpha
📦 Practicality Cannon Alpha
🔑 Ownership Cannon Alpha
NP200 starts ZAR 699900 cheaper Cannon Alpha from ZAR 699,900 · NP200 from ZAR 224,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Alpha NP200
Engine Power 150 65
Torque 600 147
Engine Size 2378 1598
Claimed Mileage 10.2 12.5
Ground Clearance 220 185
Boot Space - Not Applicable
Airbags 6 4
Kerb Weight 2125 915
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Cannon Alpha

64
/ 100
+19
pts
#2

NP200

45
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Cannon Alpha holds a noticeable edge over NP200, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon Alpha +12 pts
Efficiency NP200 +8 pts
Safety Cannon Alpha +6 pts
Practicality Cannon Alpha +1 pts
Ownership Cannon Alpha +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon Alpha

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

NP200

Performance 6/20
Efficiency 8/20
Safety 12/20
Practicality 7/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon Alpha

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

NP200

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

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon Alpha

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

NP200

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon Alpha NP200
Body Type Pickup Available
Daytime Running Lamps Yes Not Available
DRL Yes Available
LED Headlamps Yes Halogen
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lights Yes Available
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Body Cladding Yes Not Available
Roof Rails Yes Not Available
Fog Lamps Yes Not Available
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Available
Alloy Wheel Design Diamond Cut Alloy Steel Wheels
Rear Wiper No Available
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Not Available
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Chrome Finish
Roof Type Metal Roof Available
Rear Spoiler No Not Available
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Available
Exterior Colour Options 5 Pearl White
Spec Cannon Alpha NP200
Number of Doors 4 5
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 2
Length 5410 4535
Width 1935 1615
Height 1865 1530
Wheelbase 3220 2400
Ground Clearance 220 185
Kerb Weight 2125 915
Towing Capacity 3500 500
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 Available
Load Bed Length 1520 1815
Load Bed Width 1560 1530
Doors 4 Available
Front Overhang 980 Available
Rear Overhang 1160 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1390
Rear Track Width 1560 1385
Front Headroom 1020 Available
Rear Headroom 975 Available
Front Legroom 1070 Available
Rear Legroom 880 Available
Front Shoulder Room 1440 Available
Rear Shoulder Room 1420 Available
Gross Vehicle Weight 3000 1570
Boot Volume 0 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 1500
Turning Radius 13.6 5.5
Max Payload 900 Available
Boot Space - Not Applicable

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Cannon Alpha wins with 64 pts vs 45 pts for NP200

In structured scoring, Cannon Alpha emerges as the stronger overall package. However, NP200 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 Alpha 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 0 vs NP200 8. 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 18, NP200 12. 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 20, NP200 12. 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 8, NP200 7. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon Alpha 18, NP200 6. 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 Alpha edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Cannon Alpha 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 NP200 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon Alpha scores 18 vs 6.

Efficiency: Cannon Alpha scores 0 vs 8.

Safety: Cannon Alpha scores 18 vs 12.

Practicality: Cannon Alpha scores 8 vs 7.

Ownership: Cannon Alpha scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Cannon Alpha the advantage in this comparison.