Gwm Cannon vs Isuzu D-Max

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 in South Africa

Gwm Cannon

2.0T Double Cab LX 4x4 Diesel Automatic
ZAR 634,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
VS
Isuzu D-Max in South Africa

Isuzu D-Max

3.0 DDi Double Cab 4x4 LSE AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 887,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 450 Nm ⛽ 12.9 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance D-Max
Fuel Economy D-Max
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality D-Max
🔑 Ownership Tie
D-Max starts ZAR 484900 cheaper Cannon from ZAR 484,900 · D-Max from ZAR 373,750

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon D-Max
Engine Power 110 140
Torque 480 450
Engine Size 1996 2999
Claimed Mileage 9.8 12.9
Ground Clearance 210 240
Boot Space - 0
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2035 2050
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

D-Max

69
/ 100
+9
pts
#2

Cannon

60
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance D-Max +1 pts
Efficiency D-Max +7 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality D-Max +1 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

D-Max

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 9/20
Ownership 20/20

Cannon

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Cannon

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
🏆 Overall Winner

D-Max

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

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

D-Max

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

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon D-Max
Body Type Pickup Available
Daytime Running Lamps Yes LED
DRL Yes Available
LED Headlamps Yes LED Projector
Fog Lights Yes Available
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Body Cladding Yes Yes
Roof Rails Yes Standard
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lamps Yes Standard
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Available
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy 18-inch Alloy
Rear Wiper No Available
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Available
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Chrome Finish
Roof Type Metal Roof Available
Rear Spoiler No Available
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Available
Exterior Colour Options 5 Pearl White
Spec Cannon D-Max
Number of Doors 4 5
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5380 5310
Width 1920 1870
Height 1835 1810
Wheelbase 3180 3125
Ground Clearance 210 240
Kerb Weight 2035 2050
Towing Capacity 3500 3500
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 Available
Load Bed Length 1505 Available
Load Bed Width 1545 Available
Doors 4 Available
Front Overhang 980 Available
Rear Overhang 1160 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1550
Rear Track Width 1560 1540
Front Headroom 1020 Available
Rear Headroom 975 Available
Front Legroom 1070 Available
Rear Legroom 880 Available
Front Shoulder Room 1440 Available
Rear Shoulder Room 1420 Available
Gross Vehicle Weight 3000 3100
Boot Volume 0 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 1500
Turning Radius 13.6 Available
Max Payload 900 Available
Boot Space - 0

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Isuzu D-Max wins with 69 pts vs 60 pts for Cannon

In structured scoring, D-Max emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Cannon 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 D-Max 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 0 vs D-Max 7. 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 18, D-Max 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 20, D-Max 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 8, D-Max 9. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon 14, D-Max 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 D-Max edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Cannon scores 14 vs 15.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 0 vs 7.

Safety: Cannon scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Cannon scores 8 vs 9.

Ownership: Cannon scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives D-Max the advantage in this comparison.