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.

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
Gwm P Series in South Africa

Gwm P Series

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel Automatic
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon Alpha
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Tie
P Series starts ZAR 699900 cheaper Cannon Alpha from ZAR 699,900 · P Series from ZAR 444,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Alpha P Series
Engine Power 150 110
Torque 600 480
Engine Size 2378 1996
Claimed Mileage 10.2 9.8
Ground Clearance 220 210
Boot Space - -
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2125 1985
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Cannon Alpha

64
/ 100
+4
pts
#2

P Series

60
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

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 +4 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Equal
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon Alpha

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

P Series

Performance 14/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon Alpha

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving

P Series

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon Alpha

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

P Series

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon Alpha P Series
Body Type Pickup Pickup
Daytime Running Lamps Yes Yes
DRL Yes Yes
LED Headlamps Yes Yes
Led Taillights Yes Yes
Fog Lights Yes Yes
Rear Fog Lights Yes Yes
Body Cladding Yes Yes
Roof Rails Yes Yes
Fog Lamps Yes Yes
Led Headlights Yes Yes
Front Fog Lights Yes Yes
Alloy Wheel Design Diamond Cut Alloy Multi-Spoke Alloy
Rear Wiper No No
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Yes
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Body Coloured
Roof Type Metal Roof Metal Roof
Rear Spoiler No No
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Electric Adjustable
Exterior Colour Options 5 5
Spec Cannon Alpha P Series
Number of Doors 4 4
Seats 5 5
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5410 5360
Width 1935 1900
Height 1865 1815
Wheelbase 3220 3220
Ground Clearance 220 210
Kerb Weight 2125 1985
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 75
Load Bed Length 1520 1520
Load Bed Width 1560 1560
Doors 4 4
Front Overhang 980 980
Rear Overhang 1160 1160
Front Track Width 1560 1560
Rear Track Width 1560 1560
Front Headroom 1020 1020
Rear Headroom 975 975
Front Legroom 1070 1070
Rear Legroom 880 880
Front Shoulder Room 1440 1440
Rear Shoulder Room 1420 1420
Gross Vehicle Weight 3000 3000
Boot Volume 0 0
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 0
Turning Radius 13.6 13.6
Max Payload 900 900

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Cannon Alpha wins with 64 pts vs 60 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 0 vs P Series 0. 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, P Series 18. 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, P Series 20. 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, P Series 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon Alpha 18, P Series 14. 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 18 vs 14.

Efficiency: Cannon Alpha scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Cannon Alpha scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Cannon Alpha scores 8 vs 8.

Ownership: Cannon Alpha scores 20 vs 20.

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