Gwm Cannon vs Gwm Jolion GT

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
Gwm Jolion GT in South Africa

Gwm Jolion GT

2.0T Hybrid LT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 629,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 150 kW 🔧 380 Nm ⛽ 6.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Jolion GT
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Jolion GT
🔑 Ownership Tie
Cannon starts ZAR 579900 cheaper Cannon from ZAR 484,900 · Jolion GT from ZAR 579,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Jolion GT
Engine Power 110 150
Torque 480 380
Engine Size 1996 1999
Claimed Mileage 9.8 6.5
Ground Clearance 210 185
Boot Space - 298
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2035 1600
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Jolion GT

64
/ 100
+4
pts
#2

Cannon

60
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Cannon and Jolion GT are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Jolion GT +1 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Jolion GT +3 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Jolion GT

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 11/20
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
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Jolion GT

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Jolion GT

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon Jolion GT
Body Type Pickup SUV
Daytime Running Lamps Yes Yes
DRL Yes Yes
LED Headlamps Yes Yes
Fog Lights Yes Yes
Rear Fog Lights Yes Yes
Body Cladding Yes Yes
Roof Rails Yes No
Led Taillights Yes Yes
Fog Lamps Yes Yes
Led Headlights Yes Yes
Front Fog Lights Yes Yes
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy Multi-Spoke Alloy
Rear Wiper No Yes
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Yes
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Body Coloured
Roof Type Metal Roof Metal Roof
Rear Spoiler No Yes
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Electric Adjustable
Exterior Colour Options 5 6
Spec Cannon Jolion GT
Number of Doors 4 5
Seats 5 5
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5380 4500
Width 1920 1855
Height 1835 1615
Wheelbase 3180 2700
Ground Clearance 210 185
Kerb Weight 2035 1600
Towing Capacity 3500 1500
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 55
Load Bed Length 1505 -
Load Bed Width 1545 -
Doors 4 5
Front Overhang 980 880
Rear Overhang 1160 890
Front Track Width 1560 1560
Rear Track Width 1560 1570
Front Headroom 1020 960
Rear Headroom 975 960
Front Legroom 1070 1050
Rear Legroom 880 890
Front Shoulder Room 1440 1430
Rear Shoulder Room 1420 1390
Gross Vehicle Weight 3000 2200
Boot Volume 0 298
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 498
Turning Radius 13.6 11.6
Max Payload 900 -
Boot Space - 298

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Jolion GT wins with 64 pts vs 60 pts for Cannon

In structured scoring, Jolion GT 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 Jolion GT 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 Jolion GT 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 18, Jolion GT 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, Jolion GT 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, Jolion GT 11. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

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

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

Performance: Cannon scores 14 vs 15.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Cannon scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Cannon scores 8 vs 11.

Ownership: Cannon scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Jolion GT the advantage in this comparison.