Gwm Cannon vs Nissan NP300 Hardbody

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
Nissan NP300 Hardbody in South Africa

Nissan NP300 Hardbody

2.5 TDi Double Cab Hi-Rider 4x4 Automatic Diesel Automatic
ZAR 529,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 98 kW 🔧 304 Nm ⛽ 11.4 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon
Fuel Economy NP300 Hardbody
🛡 Safety Cannon
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Cannon
NP300 Hardbody starts ZAR 484900 cheaper Cannon from ZAR 484,900 · NP300 Hardbody from ZAR 349,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon NP300 Hardbody
Engine Power 110 98
Torque 480 304
Engine Size 1996 2488
Claimed Mileage 9.8 11.4
Ground Clearance 210 215
Boot Space - Not Applicable
Airbags 6 4
Kerb Weight 2035 1395
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Cannon

60
/ 100
+11
pts
#2

NP300 Hardbody

49
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Cannon has a slight advantage, but NP300 Hardbody remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon +4 pts
Efficiency NP300 Hardbody +7 pts
Safety Cannon +6 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership Cannon +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

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

NP300 Hardbody

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 7/20
Safety 12/20
Practicality 8/20
Ownership 12/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving

NP300 Hardbody

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

NP300 Hardbody

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon NP300 Hardbody
Body Type Pickup Available
Daytime Running Lamps Yes Not Available
DRL Yes Available
LED Headlamps Yes Halogen
Fog Lights Yes Available
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Body Cladding Yes Not Available
Roof Rails Yes Not Available
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lamps Yes Standard
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Available
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy Steel Wheels
Rear Wiper No Available
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Not Available
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Chrome Finish
Roof Type Metal Roof Available
Rear Spoiler No Not Available
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Available
Exterior Colour Options 5 Pearl White
Spec Cannon NP300 Hardbody
Number of Doors 4 5
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5380 4875
Width 1920 1760
Height 1835 1655
Wheelbase 3180 2500
Ground Clearance 210 215
Kerb Weight 2035 1395
Towing Capacity 3500 2500
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 Available
Load Bed Length 1505 1907
Load Bed Width 1545 1454
Doors 4 Available
Front Overhang 980 Available
Rear Overhang 1160 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1495
Rear Track Width 1560 1490
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 2400
Boot Volume 0 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 1500
Turning Radius 13.6 5.8
Max Payload 900 Available
Boot Space - Not Applicable

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Cannon wins with 60 pts vs 49 pts for NP300 Hardbody

In structured scoring, Cannon emerges as the stronger overall package. However, NP300 Hardbody 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 NP300 Hardbody 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, NP300 Hardbody 12. 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, NP300 Hardbody 12. 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, NP300 Hardbody 8. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon 14, NP300 Hardbody 10. 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 NP300 Hardbody in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon scores 14 vs 10.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 0 vs 7.

Safety: Cannon scores 18 vs 12.

Practicality: Cannon scores 8 vs 8.

Ownership: Cannon scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives Cannon the advantage in this comparison.