GWM unveils all-new ute range

Great Wall Motors has rebadged itself as GWM Ute and launched a new dual cab ute range.

Described as all-new from the ground up and “conceived to break the mould of conventional dual cab utilities with a combination of style, safety, comfort, capability and value, ” the new GWM Ute is called ‘Cannon’ and available in three model grades – base, L and X.

Drive and Trans

All three Cannon grades are powered by a 2.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder engine that’s familiar from the existing Great Wall range, but upgraded, with more power (120kW and 400Nm) and improved fuel efficiency (9.4lt/100km) compared to the Great Wall Steed. New additions include a Variable Geometry Turbo and variable turbo inlet, plus an upgraded air intake throttle and camshaft.

An all-new feature in Great Wall terms - and what sets the GWM Ute apart from most other dual cab ute offerings - is a ZF 8-speed automatic, which is the only transmission available.

An on-demand four-wheel drive system and rear diff lock are standard across the range, as are four-wheel disc brakes, 18-inch alloys, keyless entry, four selectable driving modes, LED lighting and more.

Safety Spec

An extensive safety package starts with Vehicle Stability Control, Secondary Collision Mitigation, Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Hydraulic Brake Assist, Lane Keep Assist/Lane Change Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Active Cruise Control, Hill Start Assist, reversing camera, rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and front/front centre/side/curtain airbags.

Over the base Cannon, the Cannon L and X add front parking sensors and a 360-degree camera, while the Cannon X goes further with a door-open warning and three-mode adjustable power assisted steering.

While untested at this stage, the GWM Ute Cannon seems likely to receive a 5-star ANCAP rating.

Interior Spec

Black interior trim is classed as ‘standard’ in the Cannon and Cannon L, while the Cannon X gets ‘luxury’ trim. The main difference is Comfort-Tek artificial leather seats on the former and real leather seats on the latter, but a 9-inch centre console touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, paddle shifters and power windows are common to all grades.

The L and X add a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat, power mirrors, an upgraded stereo and privacy glass, plus a different alloy wheel design, chromed finish for the grille, mirror caps and door handles, a sports bar, easy-close tailgate and a handy cargo ladder.

Items exclusive to the Cannon X include a power-adjustable front passenger seat, tilt/slide steering column, 60:40 split rear seats, a 7-inch colour instrument display (3.5-inch on the other grades) and voice recognition.

Local Pricing

The GWM Ute Cannon is priced from $33,990 driveaway for the entry-level model, but pricing for the Cannon L and X had not been revealed at time of writing. That starting price is a premium of $8,000 over the Great Wall Steed that the Cannon essentially replaces, but the Steed ran a manual transmission, less powerful engine and much less standard spec and safety tech.

All GWM Utes come with a 7-year/unlimited km warranty and 5-year roadside assist.

See your Great Wall/GWM Ute dealer for further details.