GWM Cannon Alpha vs GWM P Series

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.

Historical comparison

Every selected record is historical. Verified South African specifications and last-listed prices remain available for owners and used-car shoppers.

GWM Cannon Alpha Discontinued model GWM P Series 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
GWM P Series in South Africa

GWM P Series

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 599,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon Alpha
Fuel Economy Cannon Alpha
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Cannon Alpha
🔑 Ownership Tie
Recorded price context Cannon Alpha: last listed from ZAR 699,900 · P Series: last listed from ZAR 444,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Alpha P Series
Maximum Power 135 kW @ 3600 rpm 110 kW
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 480 Nm
Engine Size 2378 cc 1996 cc
Claimed Mileage 10.2 km/l 9.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 220 mm 210 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed Not confirmed
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2125 kg 1985 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed Not confirmed
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 5 Years / 100,000 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 P Series are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon Alpha +8 pts
Efficiency Cannon Alpha +1 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Cannon Alpha +1 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon Alpha

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

P Series

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon Alpha

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

P Series

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

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 P Series
Model Introduced Year 2024 2020
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. The P Series sold in South Africa is the first generation marketed under the GWM banner locally, derived from Great Wall's POER platform launched in China in 2019. Local specification differs from the Chinese-market POER in suspension calibration (firmer for higher payload), 4x4 system tuning (greater bias to load-carrying durability over technical off-road performance) and trim levels (the South African range is more equipment-loaded than the domestic Chinese equivalent at the same price point).
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. Since its 2020 South African launch, the P Series has received two notable updates. A 2022 mid-cycle refresh introduced the larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen on LS and above, updated driver-assistance calibration to reduce false lane-departure alerts on SA rural roads, and added wireless Apple CarPlay on the LT and LX. A 2024 specification update added the 360-degree camera as standard on LT trim, upgraded the rear-camera resolution across the range and revised the suspension damping after South African dealer feedback noted the original tune was firmer than ideal on Eastern Cape gravel.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 2024
Body Type Cab Double Cab Double Cab
Tare Mass Kg 2125 kg 1985 kg
Spec Cannon Alpha P Series
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Four Wheel Drive Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive
LSD Available No No
Transfer Case Yes Yes
Differential Lock Yes Yes
Paddle Shifters Yes No
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Front Longitudinal
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 3.54
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 16.5:1
Number of Gears 9 8
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Yes
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD 4x4 AWD
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Electronic rotary dial
4WD Hi Range Yes Yes
4WD Lo Range Yes Yes
Differential Type Front Open Open
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable Open / Lockable
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes Yes
Transmission Speeds 9 8
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Cannon Alpha leads by 2 points

Both Cannon Alpha and P Series are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 94% confidence
72
#1 Winner

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
Leads by 2 points
70
#2

P Series

94% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 41
Performance 61
Efficiency 41
Safety 94
Practicality 81
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cannon Alpha +8 Efficiency Cannon Alpha +1 Safety Level Practicality Cannon Alpha +1 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Cannon Alpha

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

P Series

Performance 61/100
Efficiency 41/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 81/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Cannon Alpha wins with 72 pts vs 70 pts for P Series

In structured scoring, Cannon Alpha emerges as the stronger overall package. However, P Series 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 42 vs P Series 41. 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, P Series 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, P Series 65. 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, P Series 81. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon Alpha 69, P Series 61. 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 P Series in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon Alpha scores 69 vs 61.

Efficiency: Cannon Alpha scores 42 vs 41.

Safety: Cannon Alpha scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: Cannon Alpha scores 82 vs 81.

Ownership: Cannon Alpha scores 65 vs 65.

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