GWM's Cannon Alpha Ultra takes aim at the BYD Shark and Ford Ranger PHEV.
We're going to need a bigger boat.
Originally established by BYD's Shark in 2024, the new class of plug-in hybrid utes has grown to include Ford's Ranger PHEV and the new GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV.
China's GWM promises to split the difference between the affordable, road-biased Shark and Ford's deeply impressive (but similarly expensive) Ranger.
Priced from $59,990 plus on-roads (about $63,000 drive-away) for the entry-level version, or $66,990 (about $70,000 drive-away) for the well-appointed Ultra, the Cannon takes the middle ground.
Like for like, a GWM with a nice stereo and heated seats costs about $11,000 more than a similarly-specced Shark, or $20,000 less than a loaded Ranger Stormtrak hybrid.
First impressions of the Cannon Alpha is that this is a big car – easily a size larger than the Ranger, particularly in the cabin.
It looks a little odd, with a long wheelbase that lends unfamiliar proportions. That sense of the strange is amplified by a spare wheel mounted vertically within the tray, as the GWM's underfloor battery means there is no room for a conventional spare wheel. So you can lug it in the tray or leave it at home.
But it's luxuriantly spacious on the inside, particularly in a back seat with plenty of legroom.
High-end Cannons have a digital dash and head-up display augmented by a 14.6-inch central touchscreen.
It has a 10-speaker stereo, wireless charging in the front and rear, and a 360 degree camera with 'see through' tech originally introduced by Land Rover for off-roading.
The Cannon is loaded for bear on the luxury front, serving up heated and ventilated seats with a massaging function in the front, along with heated and vented seats with electric adjustment in the rear.
While the list of features is extensive, some of the design choices – slabs of shiny fake wood, and a small analog clock – look out of place in 2025.
Other head-scratchers include the spare wheel we've already mentioned, and a lack of power points in the cabin or tray.
Instead, you have to buy a $230 power board with a special connection that goes into the car's charging port, then plug laptops or power tools into that.
It also lacks easily accessible, clearly labelled controls for the hybrid system – most plug-in hybrids make it easier to go EV-only, preserve existing range or add to the battery's charge.
More thought went into the Cannon's off-road hardware, which includes separately locking front, rear and centre differentials as well as a nine-speed automatic transmission with a low-range function.
That's a great start for an off-roader.
Then there's the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, a 180kW/380Nm unit that pairs with a 120kW and 400Nm electric motor to make a combined total of 300kW and 750 Nm.
Again, those are good numbers.
Having driven all three, it feels faster than the Ranger but not as zippy as the Shark – which drives more like a punchy electric vehicle than a hybrid-assisted machine.
Other key numbers include a claimed 115km of electric driving range from a 37.1kWh battery that extends to a claimed 1060km of overall range if you fill the petrol tank.
GWM claims official fuel use of 1.7L/100km, a figure that – like most plug-in hybrids – is almost impossible to match on the road.
Budget on using about 10L/100km in the real world unless towing or off-roading.
The Cannon looks set to do a better job of both than the Shark, which can't match its 3.5 tonne towing capacity or off-road hardware.
GWM's 800mm of water wading depth and 210mm ground clearance promise decent off-roading performance, though it falls short of the payload claims of its hybrid rivals.
Out on the road, GWM's big pickup feels as large as it looks, with relaxed steering and a long wheelbase that lend stability, but make it feel a little unwieldy in town.
Soft suspension rides well while returning more roll than you might expect, and there's an occasional delay in throttle responses that can frustrate from time to time.
Verdict
GWM's Cannon Alpha is an impressive machine that will have people think twice about a conventional ute, but it lacks the star factor of the more affordable Shark or more polished Ranger.
GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV
WARRANTY: Seven-year, unlimited km
THIRST: 1.7L/100km
PAYLOAD: 685kg
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"This is not a compliance play, it's a portfolio of options," Mr Baumbick told Australian media at the international launch of the Ranger PHEV. "At Ford, we want to let the customers choose so they can pick the right tool for the job. "The regulatory requirements in Australia have changed very rapidly, faster than normal process. But we already had this in development, and we'll continue to enhance the portfolio. "We're launching it now, but we didn't do this because of the new requirements. It's part of our overall mission to offer a portfolio of options." Despite his insistence that the plug-in hybrid version of the Ranger wasn't an emissions-led project, Mr Baumbick admitted that Ford was caught on the back foot by tightening regulations across the globe. The ink officially dried on the Australian Government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) at the start of this year, bringing with it regulations designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the Australian car market. 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