GWM Cannon Alpha vs GWM Steed 6

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 Steed 6 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 Steed 6 in South Africa

GWM Steed 6

2.0T Double Cab 4x4 Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 419,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 105 kW 🔧 310 Nm ⛽ 8.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon Alpha
Fuel Economy Cannon Alpha
🛡 Safety Cannon Alpha
📦 Practicality Cannon Alpha
🔑 Ownership Cannon Alpha
Recorded price context Cannon Alpha: last listed from ZAR 699,900 · Steed 6: last listed from ZAR 329,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Alpha Steed 6
Maximum Power 135 kW @ 3600 rpm 105 kW
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 310 Nm
Engine Size 2378 cc 1996 cc
Claimed Mileage 10.2 km/l 8.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 220 mm 200 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed Not confirmed
Airbags 6 2
Kerb Weight 2125 kg 1720 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed Not confirmed
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 3 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

Cannon Alpha holds a noticeable edge over Steed 6, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon Alpha +20 pts
Efficiency Cannon Alpha +5 pts
Safety Cannon Alpha +36 pts
Practicality Cannon Alpha +7 pts
Ownership Cannon Alpha +19 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon Alpha

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Steed 6

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
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
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Steed 6

  • 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 Steed 6
Model Introduced Year 2024 2013
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. Single generation in South Africa from 2013 to 2023, derived from Great Wall's mid-2010s bakkie platform. Discontinued in favour of the P Series and Cannon, which use the more modern POER platform.
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. Steed 6 received minor updates through its decade on sale — a 2017 specification refresh added the 6-speed automatic option and improved safety equipment levels, and a 2020 update added a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth to upper trims.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 2020
Body Type Cab Double Cab Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 2125 kg 1720 kg
Spec Cannon Alpha Steed 6
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Four Wheel Drive Not confirmed
LSD Available No Yes — Rear
Transfer Case Yes Yes — 2-Speed 4WD
Differential Lock Yes Yes — Rear Manual Lock
Paddle Shifters Yes Not Applicable
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Not confirmed
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic 6-Speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 4.78:1
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 3.8
Number of Gears 9 6
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic 6-Speed
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not confirmed
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD 4x4 AWD
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range Yes Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range Yes Not confirmed
Differential Type Front Open Not confirmed
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds 9 6
Gear Shift Type Automatic Not confirmed
Clutch Type Not confirmed Torque Converter Automatic

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Cannon Alpha leads by 18 points

Cannon Alpha holds a noticeable edge over Steed 6, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 18 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 18 points
54
#2

Steed 6

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 75 Check Efficiency 37
Performance 49
Efficiency 37
Safety 58
Practicality 75
Ownership 46
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cannon Alpha +20 Efficiency Cannon Alpha +5 Safety Cannon Alpha +36 Practicality Cannon Alpha +7 Ownership Cannon Alpha +19

Moderate difference between the models.

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

Steed 6

Performance 49/100
Efficiency 37/100
Safety 58/100
Practicality 75/100
Ownership 46/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Cannon Alpha wins with 72 pts vs 54 pts for Steed 6

In structured scoring, Cannon Alpha emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Steed 6 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 Steed 6 37. 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, Steed 6 58. 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, Steed 6 46. 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, Steed 6 75. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon Alpha 69, Steed 6 49. 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 Steed 6 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon Alpha scores 69 vs 49.

Efficiency: Cannon Alpha scores 42 vs 37.

Safety: Cannon Alpha scores 94 vs 58.

Practicality: Cannon Alpha scores 82 vs 75.

Ownership: Cannon Alpha scores 65 vs 46.

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