GWM Cannon vs GWM Steed 6

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.

Historical comparison

Every selected record is historical. Verified South African specifications and last-listed prices remain available for owners and used-car shoppers.

GWM Cannon Discontinued model GWM Steed 6 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
GWM Steed 6 in South Africa

GWM Steed 6

2.0T Double Cab 4x4 Diesel 6-Speed Automatic Discontinued model
ZAR 419,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 105 kW 🔧 310 Nm ⛽ 8.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon
Fuel Economy Cannon
🛡 Safety Cannon
📦 Practicality Cannon
🔑 Ownership Cannon
Recorded price context Cannon: last listed from ZAR 484,900 · Steed 6: last listed from ZAR 329,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Steed 6
Maximum Power 110 kW 105 kW
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 310 Nm
Engine Size 1996 cc 1996 cc
Claimed Mileage 9.8 km/l 8.5 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 200 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed Not confirmed
Airbags 6 2
Kerb Weight 2035 kg 1720 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed 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 holds a noticeable edge over Steed 6, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon +12 pts
Efficiency Cannon +4 pts
Safety Cannon +36 pts
Practicality Cannon +6 pts
Ownership Cannon +19 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Cannon

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Steed 6

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Steed 6

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

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 Steed 6
Model Introduced Year 2021 2013
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. Single generation in South Africa from 2013 to 2023, derived from Great Wall's mid-2010s bakkie platform. Discontinued in favour of the P Series and Cannon, which use the more modern POER platform.
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. Steed 6 received minor updates through its decade on sale — a 2017 specification refresh added the 6-speed automatic option and improved safety equipment levels, and a 2020 update added a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth to upper trims.
Facelift Launched Since 2025 2020
Body Type Cab Double Cab Not confirmed
Tare Mass Kg 2035 kg 1720 kg
Spec Cannon Steed 6
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive Not confirmed
LSD Available No Yes — Rear
Transfer Case Yes Yes — 2-Speed 4WD
Differential Lock Yes Yes — Rear Manual Lock
Paddle Shifters No Not Applicable
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Not confirmed
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic 6-Speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 4.78:1
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 3.8
Number of Gears 8 6
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic 6-Speed
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not confirmed
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD 4x4 AWD
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Not confirmed
4WD Hi Range Yes Not confirmed
4WD Lo Range Yes Not confirmed
Differential Type Front Open Not confirmed
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable Not confirmed
Gearbox Type Automatic Automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes Not confirmed
Transmission Speeds 8 6
Gear Shift Type Automatic Not confirmed
Clutch Type Not confirmed Torque Converter Automatic

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Cannon leads by 16 points

Cannon holds a noticeable edge over Steed 6, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 70 /100
Lead 16 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 16 points
54
#2

Steed 6

94% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Practicality 75 Check Efficiency 37
Performance 49
Efficiency 37
Safety 58
Practicality 75
Ownership 46
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Cannon +12 Efficiency Cannon +4 Safety Cannon +36 Practicality Cannon +6 Ownership Cannon +19

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

Steed 6

Performance 49/100
Efficiency 37/100
Safety 58/100
Practicality 75/100
Ownership 46/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Cannon wins with 70 pts vs 54 pts for Steed 6

In structured scoring, Cannon emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Steed 6 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 41 vs Steed 6 37. 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, Steed 6 58. 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, Steed 6 46. 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, Steed 6 75. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon 61, Steed 6 49. 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 Steed 6 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Cannon scores 61 vs 49.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 41 vs 37.

Safety: Cannon scores 94 vs 58.

Practicality: Cannon scores 81 vs 75.

Ownership: Cannon scores 65 vs 46.

Final structured scoring gives Cannon the advantage in this comparison.