Gwm Cannon vs Hyundai Kona

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
Hyundai Kona in South Africa

Hyundai Kona

1.0T DCT Executive Petrol Automatic
ZAR 565,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 88 kW 🔧 172 Nm ⛽ 15.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon
Fuel Economy Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Kona
🔑 Ownership Tie
Kona starts ZAR 484900 cheaper Cannon from ZAR 484,900 · Kona from ZAR 459,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Kona
Engine Power 110 88
Torque 480 172
Engine Size 1996 998
Claimed Mileage 9.8 15.5
Ground Clearance 210 165
Boot Space - 466
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2035 1460
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Cannon

60
/ 100
+2
pts
#2

Kona

58
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon +6 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Kona +4 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

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

Kona

Performance 8/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 12/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Kona

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
Best suited to: Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power

Kona

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon Kona
Body Type Pickup SUV
Daytime Running Lamps Yes LED
DRL Yes Yes
LED Headlamps Yes Full LED
Fog Lights Yes Yes
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Body Cladding Yes Wheel Arch & Skid Plate Cladding
Roof Rails Yes Yes
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lamps Yes LED
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Yes
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy 18-inch Alloy
Rear Wiper No Yes
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Chrome Exterior Accents
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Body Coloured
Roof Type Metal Roof Available
Rear Spoiler No Yes
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Power Adjustable
Exterior Colour Options 5 Available
Spec Cannon Kona
Number of Doors 4 Available
Seats 5 5
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5380 4355
Width 1920 1825
Height 1835 1570
Wheelbase 3180 2660
Ground Clearance 210 165
Kerb Weight 2035 1460
Towing Capacity 3500 1000 kg (Unbraked)
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 Available
Load Bed Length 1505 Not Applicable
Load Bed Width 1545 Not Applicable
Doors 4 5
Front Overhang 980 Available
Rear Overhang 1160 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1561 mm
Rear Track Width 1560 1556 mm
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 1850 kg
Boot Volume 0 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 Available
Turning Radius 13.6 5.5 m
Max Payload 900 Available
Boot Space - 466

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Cannon wins with 60 pts vs 58 pts for Kona

In structured scoring, Cannon emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Kona 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 0 vs Kona 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, Kona 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, Kona 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, Kona 12. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon 14, Kona 8. 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 Kona in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon scores 14 vs 8.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Cannon scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Cannon scores 8 vs 12.

Ownership: Cannon scores 20 vs 20.

Final structured scoring gives Cannon the advantage in this comparison.