GWM Cannon vs Toyota Hilux Single 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
Toyota Hilux Single Cab in South Africa

Toyota Hilux Single Cab

2.4 GD-6 4X4 RAIDER 6MT Diesel 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 636,300 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 400 Nm
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Hilux Single Cab
⛽ Fuel Economy Hilux Single Cab
🛡 Safety Cannon
📦 Practicality Cannon
🔑 Ownership Cannon
Recorded price context Cannon: last listed from ZAR 484,900 · Hilux Single Cab: current from ZAR 326,200

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Hilux Single Cab
Maximum Power 110 kW 110 kW @ 3400 rpm
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 400 Nm
Engine Size 1996 cc 2393 cc
Claimed Mileage 9.8 km/l -
Ground Clearance 210 mm 269 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed -
Airbags 6 Side, Curtain, Driver, Passenger, Driver Knee
Kerb Weight 2035 kg -
Seating Capacity 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 has a slight advantage, but Hilux Single Cab remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Hilux Single Cab +4 pts
Efficiency Hilux Single Cab +24 pts
Safety Cannon +47 pts
Practicality Cannon +9 pts
Ownership Cannon +15 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

Strengths
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Family Usage

Hilux Single Cab

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon

  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Hilux Single Cab

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • 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 Hilux Single Cab
Model Introduced Year 2021 -
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. Eighth-generation Hilux Single Cab in Toyota South Africa's current range
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. -
Facelift Launched Since 2025 -
Body Type Cab Double Cab -
Tare Mass Kg 2035 kg -
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current South African specification
Body Style Not confirmed Pickup
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed Bakkie
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Pickup
Spec Cannon Hilux Single Cab
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive 4WD Part-Time
LSD Available No Standard
Transfer Case Yes Part-time four-wheel drive
Differential Lock Yes Standard
Paddle Shifters No -
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic 6-speed manual
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 -
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 -
Number of Gears 8 6
Transmission Type Automatic 6-speed manual
Gear Shift Indicator Yes -
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD 4WD Part-Time
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Part-time four-wheel drive
4WD Hi Range Yes Standard
4WD Lo Range Yes Standard
Differential Type Front Open -
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable -
Gearbox Type Automatic 6-speed manual
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Transmission Speeds 8 6
Gear Shift Type Automatic Manual
4WD Selector Not confirmed Standard Switch
Low Range Not confirmed Standard
Axle Layout Not confirmed 4WD Part-Time
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Standard

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Cannon leads by 10 points

Cannon has a slight advantage, but Hilux Single Cab remains highly competitive.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 10 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 10 points
60
#2

Hilux Single Cab

61% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 72 Check Safety 47
Performance 65
Efficiency 65
Safety 47
Practicality 72
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Hilux Single Cab +4 Efficiency Hilux Single Cab +24 Safety Cannon +47 Practicality Cannon +9 Ownership Cannon +15

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

Hilux Single Cab

Performance 65/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 47/100
Practicality 72/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Cannon wins with 70 pts vs 60 pts for Hilux Single Cab

In structured scoring, Cannon emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Hilux Single Cab may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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See how similar cars go head-to-head — you might find a better fit than you expected.

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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 Hilux Single Cab 65. 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, Hilux Single Cab 47. 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, Hilux Single Cab 50. 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, Hilux Single Cab 72. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon 61, Hilux Single Cab 65. 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 Hilux Single Cab in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon scores 61 vs 65.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 41 vs 65.

Safety: Cannon scores 94 vs 47.

Practicality: Cannon scores 81 vs 72.

Ownership: Cannon scores 65 vs 50.

Final structured scoring gives Cannon the advantage in this comparison.