Gwm Cannon vs Volkswagen T-Roc

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
Volkswagen T-Roc in South Africa

Volkswagen T-Roc

2.0 TSI 4Motion R-Line DSG Petrol Automatic
ZAR 760,100 ex-showroom
⚡ 110 kW 🔧 250 Nm ⛽ 14.0 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Cannon
Fuel Economy T-Roc
🛡 Safety T-Roc
📦 Practicality T-Roc
🔑 Ownership Cannon
Cannon starts ZAR 589900 cheaper Cannon from ZAR 484,900 · T-Roc from ZAR 589,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon T-Roc
Engine Power 110 110
Torque 480 250
Engine Size 1996 1395
Claimed Mileage 9.8 14.0
Ground Clearance 210 168
Boot Space - 392
Airbags 6 7
Kerb Weight 2035 1400
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 3

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

T-Roc

61
/ 100
+1
pts
#2

Cannon

60
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Cannon +4 pts
Efficiency T-Roc +8 pts
Safety T-Roc +2 pts
Practicality T-Roc +3 pts
Ownership Cannon +8 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

T-Roc

Performance 10/20
Efficiency 8/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 11/20
Ownership 12/20

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
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

T-Roc

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon

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

T-Roc

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Cannon T-Roc
Body Type Pickup Available
Daytime Running Lamps Yes LED
DRL Yes Available
LED Headlamps Yes Full LED
Fog Lights Yes Available
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Body Cladding Yes Standard
Roof Rails Yes Standard
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lamps Yes LED
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Available
Alloy Wheel Design Multi-Spoke Alloy 18-inch Alloy
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 Rear Spoiler
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Available
Exterior Colour Options 5 Pearl White
Spec Cannon T-Roc
Number of Doors 4 5
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5380 4234
Width 1920 1819
Height 1835 1573
Wheelbase 3180 2630
Ground Clearance 210 168
Kerb Weight 2035 1400
Towing Capacity 3500 1200
Fuel Tank Capacity 75 Available
Load Bed Length 1505 Available
Load Bed Width 1545 Available
Doors 4 Available
Front Overhang 980 Available
Rear Overhang 1160 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1569
Rear Track Width 1560 1546
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 1880
Boot Volume 0 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 0 1500
Turning Radius 13.6 5.4
Max Payload 900 Available
Boot Space - 392

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Volkswagen T-Roc wins with 61 pts vs 60 pts for Cannon

In structured scoring, T-Roc 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 T-Roc 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 T-Roc 8. 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, T-Roc 20. 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, T-Roc 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, T-Roc 11. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

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

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

Performance: Cannon scores 14 vs 10.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 0 vs 8.

Safety: Cannon scores 18 vs 20.

Practicality: Cannon scores 8 vs 11.

Ownership: Cannon scores 20 vs 12.

Final structured scoring gives T-Roc the advantage in this comparison.