Gwm Cannon Alpha vs Nissan NP300 Hardbody

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 NP300 Hardbody in South Africa

Nissan NP300 Hardbody

2.5 TDi Double Cab Hi-Rider 4x4 Automatic Diesel Automatic
ZAR 529,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 98 kW 🔧 304 Nm ⛽ 11.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon Alpha
Fuel Economy NP300 Hardbody
🛡 Safety Cannon Alpha
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Cannon Alpha
NP300 Hardbody starts ZAR 699900 cheaper Cannon Alpha from ZAR 699,900 · NP300 Hardbody from ZAR 349,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Alpha NP300 Hardbody
Engine Power 150 98
Torque 600 304
Engine Size 2378 2488
Claimed Mileage 10.2 11.4
Ground Clearance 220 215
Boot Space - Not Applicable
Airbags 6 4
Kerb Weight 2125 1395
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
+15
pts
#2

NP300 Hardbody

49
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Cannon Alpha holds a noticeable edge over NP300 Hardbody, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon Alpha +8 pts
Efficiency NP300 Hardbody +7 pts
Safety Cannon Alpha +6 pts
Practicality Equal
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

NP300 Hardbody

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 12/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon Alpha

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

NP300 Hardbody

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • 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
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

NP300 Hardbody

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon Alpha NP300 Hardbody
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 Standard
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 NP300 Hardbody
Number of Doors 4 5
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5410 4875
Width 1935 1760
Height 1865 1655
Wheelbase 3220 2500
Ground Clearance 220 215
Kerb Weight 2125 1395
Towing Capacity 3500 2500
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 Available
Load Bed Length 1520 1907
Load Bed Width 1560 1454
Doors 4 Available
Front Overhang 980 Available
Rear Overhang 1160 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1495
Rear Track Width 1560 1490
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 2400
Boot Volume 0 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 1500
Turning Radius 13.6 5.8
Max Payload 900 Available
Boot Space - Not Applicable

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Cannon Alpha wins with 64 pts vs 49 pts for NP300 Hardbody

In structured scoring, Cannon Alpha emerges as the stronger overall package. However, NP300 Hardbody 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 NP300 Hardbody 7. 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, NP300 Hardbody 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, NP300 Hardbody 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, NP300 Hardbody 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon Alpha 18, NP300 Hardbody 10. 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 NP300 Hardbody in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon Alpha scores 18 vs 10.

Efficiency: Cannon Alpha scores 0 vs 7.

Safety: Cannon Alpha scores 18 vs 12.

Practicality: Cannon Alpha scores 8 vs 8.

Ownership: Cannon Alpha scores 20 vs 12.

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