Gwm Cannon Alpha vs KIA Tasman

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
KIA Tasman in South Africa

KIA Tasman

2.2D X-Pro 4x4 Double Cab Colour Coded Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,004,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 147 kW 🔧 440 Nm Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon Alpha
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tasman
🔑 Ownership Tie
Tasman starts ZAR 699900 cheaper Cannon Alpha from ZAR 699,900 · Tasman from ZAR 679,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Alpha Tasman
Engine Power 150 147 kW
Torque 600 440 Nm
Engine Size 2378 2151
Claimed Mileage 10.2 11.8
Ground Clearance 220 231
Boot Space - 1115
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2125 2085
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 7

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Tasman

73
/ 100
+9
pts
#2

Cannon Alpha

64
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Tasman has a slight advantage, but Cannon Alpha remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon Alpha +3 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Tasman +12 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Tasman

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 20/20
Ownership 20/20

Cannon Alpha

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Cannon Alpha

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Tasman

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon Alpha

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Tasman

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon Alpha Tasman
Body Type Pickup Double Cab Bakkie
Daytime Running Lamps Yes Yes
DRL Yes Yes
LED Headlamps Yes Yes
Led Taillights Yes Yes
Fog Lights Yes Yes
Rear Fog Lights Yes No
Body Cladding Yes Yes
Roof Rails Yes No
Fog Lamps Yes Yes
Led Headlights Yes Yes
Front Fog Lights Yes Yes
Alloy Wheel Design Diamond Cut Alloy Alloy Alloy
Rear Wiper No No
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes No
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Body Colour
Roof Type Metal Roof Standard
Rear Spoiler No No
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Electric
Exterior Colour Options 5 Multiple
Spec Cannon Alpha Tasman
Number of Doors 4 4
Seats 5 5
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5410 5335
Width 1935 1930
Height 1865 1895
Wheelbase 3220 3200
Ground Clearance 220 231
Kerb Weight 2125 2085
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 80
Load Bed Length 1520 1520
Load Bed Width 1560 1165
Doors 4 4
Front Overhang 980 940
Rear Overhang 1160 1195
Front Track Width 1560 1619
Rear Track Width 1560 1625
Front Headroom 1020 1010
Rear Headroom 975 955
Front Legroom 1070 1040
Rear Legroom 880 855
Front Shoulder Room 1440 1405
Rear Shoulder Room 1420 1350
Gross Vehicle Weight 3000 3250
Boot Volume 0 1115
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 1115
Turning Radius 13.6 12.6
Max Payload 900 1100
Boot Space - 1115

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Tasman wins with 73 pts vs 64 pts for Cannon Alpha

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

Performance scores: Cannon Alpha 18, Tasman 15. 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 Tasman edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Cannon Alpha scores 18 vs 15.

Efficiency: Cannon Alpha scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Cannon Alpha scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Cannon Alpha scores 8 vs 20.

Ownership: Cannon Alpha scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Tasman the advantage in this comparison.