GWM Cannon vs KIA Tasman

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.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

GWM Cannon 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
KIA Tasman in South Africa

KIA Tasman

2.2D X-Pro 4x4 Double Cab Colour Coded Diesel 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,004,999 ex-showroom
⚡ 147 kW 🔧 440 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tasman
Fuel Economy Tasman
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tasman
🔑 Ownership Tasman
Recorded price context Cannon: last listed from ZAR 484,900 · Tasman: current from ZAR 679,995

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Cannon Tasman
Maximum Power 110 kW 147 kW @ 3800 rpm
Maximum Torque 480 Nm 440 Nm @ 1750 rpm
Engine Size 1996 cc 2151 cc
Claimed Mileage 9.8 km/l 11.8 km/l
Ground Clearance 210 mm 231 mm
Boot / Load Bay Not confirmed 1115 l
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 2035 kg 2085 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 5 Years / 100,000 km 7 Years / 150,000 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

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tasman +11 pts
Efficiency Tasman +6 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Tasman +11 pts
Ownership Tasman +6 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Cannon

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

Tasman

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • 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

Which One's Right for You?

Cannon

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Tasman

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

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 Tasman
Model Introduced Year 2021 2025
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. First generation; global launch 2024; SA launch 2025
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. First generation; no facelift yet
Facelift Launched Since 2025 Original current-generation version
Body Type Cab Double Cab Single/extended/double cab as per derivative name
Tare Mass Kg 2035 kg 2085 kg
Body Style Not confirmed Pickup
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed Pickup
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Pickup
Drivetrain Note Not confirmed Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.2D X-Pro 4x4 Double Cab Colour Coded
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note Not confirmed Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Steel Grey, Gravity Blue, Tasman Orange, X-Pro Matte Green
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Spec Cannon Tasman
Drivetrain Layout Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive 4WD
LSD Available No Yes
Transfer Case Yes Part-Time 4WD with Low Range
Differential Lock Yes Yes
Paddle Shifters No No
Engine Position Front Longitudinal Front Transverse
Gearbox 8-Speed Automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.54 3.94
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 16.5:1 15.2:1
Number of Gears 8 8
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic Transmission
Gear Shift Indicator Yes No
Drivetrain 4x4 AWD 4WD
4WD Engagement Electronic rotary dial Available
4WD Hi Range Yes Available
4WD Lo Range Yes Not Applicable
Differential Type Front Open -
Differential Type Rear Open / Lockable -
Gearbox Type Automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Reverse Gear Warning Yes -
Transmission Speeds 8 8
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Not confirmed Torque Converter
Axle Layout Not confirmed 4WD
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed No
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tasman leads by 7 points

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

Winner 77 /100
Lead 7 points
Data 100% confidence
77
#1 Winner

Tasman

100% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 47
Performance 72
Efficiency 47
Safety 94
Practicality 92
Ownership 71
Leads by 7 points
70
#2

Cannon

94% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 41
Performance 61
Efficiency 41
Safety 94
Practicality 81
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tasman +11 Efficiency Tasman +6 Safety Level Practicality Tasman +11 Ownership Tasman +6

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tasman

Performance 72/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 92/100
Ownership 71/100

Cannon

Performance 61/100
Efficiency 41/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 81/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 KIA Tasman wins with 77 pts vs 70 pts for Cannon

In structured scoring, Tasman 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 Tasman 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 Tasman 47. 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, Tasman 94. 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, Tasman 71. 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, Tasman 92. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Cannon 61, Tasman 72. 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 Tasman edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

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

Performance: Cannon scores 61 vs 72.

Efficiency: Cannon scores 41 vs 47.

Safety: Cannon scores 94 vs 94.

Practicality: Cannon scores 81 vs 92.

Ownership: Cannon scores 65 vs 71.

Final structured scoring gives Tasman the advantage in this comparison.