2023 GWM Cannon 2.0 SLux 4×4 | Car Review | The most value-packed pickup truck you can buy

Pickup trucks are one of the most popular type of vehicles in the Philippines. They are generally more affordable than their SUV counterparts, and offer similar, if not the same, amount of equipment. 

When the Great Wall Motor brand, or GWM for short, entered the Philippine market a couple of months ago, one of their initial models was the Cannon midsize pickup truck, showing that they really want a piece of that market. Does it have what it takes to rival seasoned nameplates that have been dominating the segment for decades? We find out.

I actually did not expect to test out the Cannon but a last minute change in schedules allowed me to get this opportunity to try the top-spec 2.0 SLux 4×4 variant for a week. It also came at the right time as I had to drive out to Pampanga the night after it was delivered. A diesel truck on a long drive is always a good idea!

Exterior

The first thing that came to my mind when GWM delivered the Cannon to my place was how big it is. In fact, at 5,410mm in length, it’s 29mm longer than a Ford Ranger Raptor, while the rest of its dimensions are similar, making it one of the largest in the segment. Another contributing factor to that large feeling is the huge front grille which looks like it can or would eat you.

What I like about the Cannon’s design though is how it went for a rather elegant look as opposed to the rugged and aggressive appearance that its rivals go for. Chrome dominates the front fascia, specifically the front grille, matched with full LED headlights and halogen fog lights which also act as cornering lights when turning.

The side profile looks very bulky with the tall beltline and minimal body lines which give a clean overall look. I also really like the design of the 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels which look classy, even giving me a bit of Mercedes-Benz vibes for reasons I do not know. Moving towards the rear, it’s a typical pickup truck. Full LED taillights are present while the tailgate is assisted making it easy to open and close. Cargo space on the bed is pretty standard, largely what you would expect from its rivals.

Interior

Getting inside the cabin of the Cannon reveals a surprisingly plush interior. The design won’t be turning heads with its rather simple appearance but I will say that this surpassed all my expectations. For one thing, materials are excellent with loads of soft-touch plastics and stitched padded leather all around. Build quality is also really good with everything feeling very solid like you would expect at a higher price point.

Technology isn’t left behind either as the Cannon is equipped with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the latter being a rarity in vehicles from China. Other modern stuff include a wireless phone charger, electronic gear selector, and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold function.

I also really appreciate the fact that we have a complete set of physical buttons for the automatic climate control system which just improves the overall user experience. I have to say that this is probably one of, if not the most ergonomic interiors I’ve seen in a Chinese car. Everything is well-placed where you’d expect them to be, and easy to understand. Nothing is complicated which is a huge plus.

The Cannon is not short on storage space either as cleverly placed cubby holes are dotted around the cabin. The cupholders are also large enough to hold reusable water bottles.

Driving Experience

The GWM Cannon SLux 4×4, despite being of the largest in its class, does not get the most powerful or the largest powertrain. Under its hood is a 2.0-liter Inline 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 161 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. That puts it in between the lower variants of the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger which get similar outputs.

And to get it out of the way, let’s start with the stuff I did not exactly enjoy while driving the Cannon, just two anyway. First is the ride quality which while expected from a pickup truck, was simply too harsh, probably even compared to the Toyota Hilux which is known for such. I felt my body fats constantly bouncing around. A miscalculation with the height of a hump even led to my whole body being thrown off my seat for a moment. Next is the transmission which noticeably holds the lower gear too long, a case of gear-hunting. Not to worry though as the Cannon shines in all other aspects.

Despite the engine not being the most powerful, it’s actually very competent with good amounts of power and responsiveness. Push the accelerator and it gives you all the power and torque you’ll need. Not once did I feel the lack of power in any condition that I brought it to, be it on flat surfaces or steep inclines, whether in eco, normal, or sport driving modes.

Steering is one thing that surprised me as it was really light, similar to the Ford Ranger. The best part is that, just like many other Chinese cars, there are selectable steering modes which give you either a lighter or heavier feel. I chose the latter which still remained light enough for city driving, but well-weighted for more confidence.

Handling is also excellent with the steering very responsive to inputs, and the vehicle itself remaining very planted even on tight corners. You’ll have to thank the full-time 4WD system for that as it was definitely helping manage which wheels the power goes to. Also, the stiff suspension allowed for very minimal body roll, providing a more confident drive.

What could be improved in terms of driving is the turning radius. I found it a bit too wide that parking in tight spaces ended up being a bit more difficult than it should be. Thankfully, a 360-degree around-view monitor is standard. Also, road noise insulation might not be enough as I found it a bit too loud for my taste, especially considering how plush the interior felt. It’s somewhat not much of a surprise though given that we had all-terrain tires which do usually emit more noise. Other than that, wind noise and vibrations are very limited which is good.

Fully-equipped Safety

Despite some buyers these days being skeptical on the amount of safety technologies put in many vehicles these days, many also look at these as deal-breakers, especially when not equipped. The Cannon has you with that as it is fully-equipped with various advanced driver-assist tech, including but not limited to adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blindspot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning, among others.

The adaptive cruise control system here was surprisingly very well implemented. I felt that I could really trust the vehicle to do the acceleration and braking on its own while driving on the highway. The autonomous emergency braking is also not overly sensitive, giving me peace of mind that I won’t just suddenly stop in the middle of the road.

What could be improved is the lane keeping assist which didn’t keep the steering wheel as straight as I would like, even on straight and properly marked roads. I’m not really complaining though as the Cannon is quite affordable and having all these features at its price point is uncommon.

The most value-packed pickup truck you can buy

At its price of just Php 1,498,000, the GWM Cannon SLux 4×4 is probably the most value-packed pickup truck you can buy in the market today. At that price, you get an impressive feature list with its full suite of advanced safety tech, creature comforts, and loads of space matched with a very competent turbodiesel engine and a full-time 4WD system. We weren’t able to try it off-road but we have to admit that these will stay on paved roads 99% of the time.

So if you’re looking for a fully-equipped lifestyle pickup truck that is equally as capable for when you need it to do some hard work, the GWM Cannon SLux 4×4 is definitely for you.