GWM Cannon vs Toyota Hilux Xtra 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 Xtra Cab in South Africa

Toyota Hilux Xtra Cab

2.8 GD-6 4X4 RAIDER X 6AT Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 842,200 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 500 Nm
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Hilux Xtra Cab
Fuel Economy Hilux Xtra Cab
🛡 Safety Cannon
📦 Practicality Cannon
🔑 Ownership Cannon
Recorded price context Cannon: last listed from ZAR 484,900 · Hilux Xtra Cab: current from ZAR 506,300

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Hilux Xtra Cab
Maximum Power 110 kW 150 kW
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 500 Nm
Engine Size 1996 cc Not Officially Disclosed
Claimed Mileage 9.8 km/l -
Ground Clearance 210 mm 312 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed -
Airbags 6 Side, Curtain, Driver, Passenger, Driver Knee
Kerb Weight 2035 kg 2080 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

Both Cannon and Hilux Xtra Cab are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Hilux Xtra Cab +19 pts
Efficiency Hilux Xtra Cab +24 pts
Safety Cannon +10 pts
Practicality Cannon +11 pts
Ownership Cannon +15 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

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
🏆 Overall Winner

Hilux Xtra 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 Xtra 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 Xtra 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 Xtra 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 2080 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 Xtra Cab
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive 4WD Part-Time
LSD Available No Standard
Transfer Case Yes -
Differential Lock Yes -
Paddle Shifters No -
Engine Position Front Longitudinal -
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic 6-speed automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 -
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 -
Number of Gears 8 6
Transmission Type Automatic 6-speed automatic
Gear Shift Indicator Yes -
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD 4WD Part-Time
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Part-time four-wheel drive
4WD Hi Range Yes -
4WD Lo Range Yes -
Differential Type Front Open -
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable -
Gearbox Type Automatic 6-speed automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Transmission Speeds 8 6
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
4WD Selector Not confirmed Standard Switch
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Rear

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Hilux Xtra Cab leads by 2 points

Both Cannon and Hilux Xtra Cab are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 72 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 58% confidence
72
#1 Winner

Hilux Xtra Cab

58% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Ownership 50
Performance 80
Efficiency 65
Safety 84
Practicality 70
Ownership 50
Leads by 2 points
70
#2

Cannon

94% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 41
Performance 61
Efficiency 41
Safety 94
Practicality 81
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Hilux Xtra Cab +19 Efficiency Hilux Xtra Cab +24 Safety Cannon +10 Practicality Cannon +11 Ownership Cannon +15

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Hilux Xtra Cab

Performance 80/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 70/100
Ownership 50/100

Cannon

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

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota Hilux Xtra Cab wins with 72 pts vs 70 pts for Cannon

In structured scoring, Hilux Xtra Cab 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 Hilux Xtra Cab 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 Xtra 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 Xtra Cab 84. 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 Xtra 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 Xtra Cab 70. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon 61, Hilux Xtra Cab 80. 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 Hilux Xtra Cab edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Cannon scores 61 vs 80.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 41 vs 65.

Safety: Cannon scores 94 vs 84.

Practicality: Cannon scores 81 vs 70.

Ownership: Cannon scores 65 vs 50.

Final structured scoring gives Hilux Xtra Cab the advantage in this comparison.