GWM Cannon vs Isuzu D-Max Extended Cab

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

GWM Cannon Discontinued model
GWM Cannon in South Africa

GWM Cannon

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 634,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
VS
Isuzu D-Max Extended Cab in South Africa

Isuzu D-Max Extended Cab

3.0 DDi Extended Cab LSE AT Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 700,760 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 350 Nm ⛽ 12.7 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon
Fuel Economy D-Max Extended Cab
🛡 Safety Cannon
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Cannon
Recorded price context Cannon: last listed from ZAR 484,900 · D-Max Extended Cab: current from ZAR 504,700

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon D-Max Extended Cab
Maximum Power 110 kW 110 kW @ 3600 rpm
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 350 Nm
Engine Size 1996 cc 3000 cc
Claimed Mileage 9.8 km/l 12.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 232 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed -
Airbags 6 3
Kerb Weight 2035 kg 1930 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 5 years / 120 000 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 has a slight advantage, but D-Max Extended Cab remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon +6 pts
Efficiency D-Max Extended Cab +9 pts
Safety Cannon +53 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership Cannon +17 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

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

D-Max Extended Cab

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

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

D-Max Extended Cab

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

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 D-Max Extended Cab
Model Introduced Year 2021 Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Cannon sold in South Africa is the first generation, derived from Great Wall's POER platform shared with the P Series but with bodywork, suspension calibration and cabin treatment positioned for the lifestyle segment rather than the work bakkie use case. Current South African D-Max Extended Cab listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Cannon received a mid-cycle update in 2023 that brought the 12.3-inch infotainment system to LS as standard, added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across the range, and revised front-bumper geometry to improve approach angle by 2 degrees. A 2025 specification update standardised the panoramic sunroof on the LX trim and added the 360-camera to LS spec. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Original current-generation version
Body Type Cab Double Cab Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name
Tare Mass Kg 2035 kg 1930 kg
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Body Style Not confirmed Extended Cab pickup
Color Note Not confirmed Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year Not confirmed MY26
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed Pickup
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Pickup
Gross Combined Mass Kg Not confirmed 6000 kg
Spec Cannon D-Max Extended Cab
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive Not Applicable
LSD Available No Not Applicable
Transfer Case Yes Not Applicable
Differential Lock Yes Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters No Not Applicable
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 Not Applicable
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 -
Number of Gears 8 6
Transmission Type Automatic 6 Speed Automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not Applicable
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD Not Applicable
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Yes Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Yes Not Applicable
Differential Type Front Open Not Available
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable Not Available
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Transmission Speeds 8 6
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Gear Ratio 1st Not confirmed 3.600
Gear Ratio 2nd Not confirmed 2.090
Gear Ratio 3rd Not confirmed 1.488
Gear Ratio 4th Not confirmed 1.000
Gear Ratio 5th Not confirmed 0.687
Gear Ratio 6th Not confirmed 0.580
Gear Ratio Reverse Not confirmed 3.732
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Axle Layout Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Standard
Transfer Case Guard Not confirmed Not Available

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Cannon leads by 14 points

Cannon has a slight advantage, but D-Max Extended Cab remains highly competitive.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 94% confidence
70
#1 Winner

Cannon

94% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 41
Performance 61
Efficiency 41
Safety 94
Practicality 81
Ownership 65
Leads by 14 points
56
#2

D-Max Extended Cab

85% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 81 Check Safety 41
Performance 55
Efficiency 50
Safety 41
Practicality 81
Ownership 48
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cannon +6 Efficiency D-Max Extended Cab +9 Safety Cannon +53 Practicality Level Ownership Cannon +17

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Cannon

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

D-Max Extended Cab

Performance 55/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 41/100
Practicality 81/100
Ownership 48/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Cannon wins with 70 pts vs 56 pts for D-Max Extended Cab

In structured scoring, Cannon emerges as the stronger overall package. However, D-Max Extended Cab 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 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 41 vs D-Max Extended Cab 50. 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 94, D-Max Extended Cab 41. 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 65, D-Max Extended Cab 48. 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 81, D-Max Extended Cab 81. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon 61, D-Max Extended Cab 55. 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 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Cannon 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 and D-Max Extended Cab in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon scores 61 vs 55.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 41 vs 50.

Safety: Cannon scores 94 vs 41.

Practicality: Cannon scores 81 vs 81.

Ownership: Cannon scores 65 vs 48.

Final structured scoring gives Cannon the advantage in this comparison.