Overview
IF YOU suppose it’s exhausting to establish a dual-cab ute by make and mannequin, there’s a excellent motive, and it’s embodied within the (Oscar Wilde-sourced) saying “imitation is the sincerest type of flattery”.
Testing the surprisingly succesful, and inexpensive, GWM Cannon ute in XSR guise turned a recreation of clones, with its silhouette and frontal facet and blue paint nearly an identical to that trotted out by Toyota’s HiLux, the Isuzu D-Max, LDV T90 and to a lesser diploma the Ford Ranger (its operating lights set it apart).
The Cannon is subsequently a chameleon of kinds, in a position to soak up into the suburban dual-cab set with out calling an excessive amount of consideration to itself. That’s excellent for any proprietor not wishing to argue the case for the acquisition of a Chinese language ute…
And neither he, or she, ought to. Return a decade and the (then) Nice Wall Motor ute was a non-threatening hauler with an inexpensive worth, primary trim, a Nineteen Eighties petrol engine and brakes {that a} bicycle would reject.
Right this moment the Nice Wall Motor, reworked into GWM as slick as Kentucky Fried Rooster adopted its acronym and deserted any hyperlink with unhealthy fried meals, is asking for respect.
Is the top-drawer Cannon XSR – piled excessive with equipment, a eager $52,990 drive-away worth and searching able to run down Jeeps on the Rubicon – deserving?
Right here’s the query with the multi-choice reply: What would you like from a 4×4 ute?
Tradies will have a look at value efficiencies, payload, gear, model and the drive expertise. Throw in ‘worth for cash’ if the workload is slowing underneath the strain of a sinking financial system.
Leisure patrons, particularly those that plan to make use of the 4WD button, need engine efficiency and chassis traction, options, cabin consolation and tray house – and a bit of favor.
The GWM delivers on all these, though the extent might in some circumstances not be as excessive as some main ute makers. However you then didn’t pay $70,000 plus, did you?
Outwardly, the Cannon guarantees to ship rugged service, from the extensive metal steps in hammertone black to the spray-lined tray, sturdy entrance and rear bumpers and daring sports activities bar.
It’s 5400mm lengthy so within the bracket together with rivals, on a 3230mm wheelbase and a 1520mm sq. metal tub.
The XSR will tow 3000kg (braked) and has a payload of 875kg, down on the 1050kg supplied on the opposite Cannon 4×4 fashions.
The boot liner and sports activities bar improve its load-carrying whereas the easy-lift tailgate is appreciated and made much more engaging due to its slide-out, folding steps. Intelligent.
Inside, the faux-leather upholstery of the seat facings – and quilted fake leather-based on the door playing cards – provides a splash of favor to set it aside from most rivals, with a easy, user-friendly dashboard and tech-drenched infotainment centre behind the 9.0-inch touchscreen.
Welcome for winter is the heated entrance seats, though the controls are buried within the touchscreen, whereas electrical seats are normal for each entrance occupants.
The infotainment has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and has a radio with six audio system (up from the opposite grades with 4 audio system).
There’s lodging for 5 adults and tethers for 2 child seats, fortunately with anchors instantly behind the seats and never by way of a convoluted and transverse seat-belt route that by no means appears safe and all the time is a ache to attach and take away.
Cabin construct and perceived high quality is excessive, actually on par and past – in a number of circumstances – to what some others are delivering. I can’t see anybody within the dual-cab market legitimately grizzling about what GWM has dished up.
Cupboard space is nice, with a big, lidded centre console, respectable glove field, cupholders after which bottle holders within the 4 doorways. Wi-fi charging is obtainable for smartphones.
Nothing is excessive in design or operate and that ought to be what the work-biassed and leisure-seeking purchaser needs in such a car.
It’s additionally effectively marketed and offered and simple to see why many first-time off-road patrons have been attracted by the excellent goodie record, good styling, competent experience traits and lengthy guarantee with an inexpensive service program.
GWM offers a seven-year, limitless distance guarantee on the Cannon and gives a five-year capped-price service program and 5 years of roadside help.
The 5 companies lengthen for a most of 45,000km, which seems a bit in need of the 12,000km annual common mileage reputed for Australia’s automotive fleet. Nevertheless, the costs are very affordable.
GWM fees $260 for the primary service (six months); $360 every for the subsequent 4 companies that it expects to ship at 18 months, 30 months, 42 months and 54 months from the car’s first registration date.
Driving Impressions
Security is all the time paramount in new automobiles and any dual-cab shouldn’t escape scrutiny, despite the fact that there’s rumblings about questioning the roadholding prowess of those utes compared to different household automobiles.
The federal government, the one which rubber stamps car security requirements, hasn’t made any noises so I’m presuming all checks and balances have been achieved.
That stated, industrial automobiles of any form have all the time had a mild grip on security. It ought to be harassed that car-makers are addressing security and more and more boosting occupant and third social gathering security ranges.
GWM is correct in there with the Cannon’s security stock together with some must-haves, and a few niceties.
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is normal, as is lane departure warning, lane preserve help, lane centre preserve, adaptive cruise, site visitors signal recognition, tyre strain monitor, rear park sensors, a 360-degree digicam and 7 airbags, one among which is between the entrance seats.
It additionally will get an ANCAP five-star crash ranking.
There nonetheless some good stuff lacking – rear cross-traffic alert can be useful given the size of the ute and hefty C-pillar profiles – however it’s a very good begin.
There’s additionally an ensemble of visible and audible warning aids that may actually get in your wick. It’s hardly distinctive. Most car-makers are becoming distractive bells that let you know, firstly, you’re travelling at 2km/h over the posted pace restrict and secondly, it is best to have purchased a automotive with out these bells and whistles.
The Cannon’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is a reliable unit that has an affordable 120kW at 3600rpm and torque of 400Nm at 1500-2500rpm.
Some rivals have extra energy – and that might be useful for bigger masses – however the Cannon doesn’t miss out on a lot in efficiency, though progress is regular moderately than explosive.
There will also be a hesitancy underneath the appropriate pedal that offers an impression that it’s driving by means of a dual-clutch transmission. It’s not, with a ZF eight-speed torque converter sitting behind the diesel.
Gasoline consumption was anticipated, with a ten.6 litres per 100km common for suburban and a few freeway cruising, plus a busy off-road journey primarily at a sluggish tempo.
GWN quotes a 9.4L/100km common. The tank holds 78 litres (ought to be extra) which supplies a theoretical vary of 830km on the manufacturing unit’s claimed consumption determine.
The extras within the XSR embody front- and rear diff locks to boost the off-road expertise, together with a full underbody armour plate and the entrance and rear metal bumpers with tow hooks and entrance and rear ventilated disc brakes – a lot of that are nonetheless on the opponents’ dream lists.
Additionally aimed toward lifting its off-road prowess is the XSR’s normal crawl mode – discovered useful in gentle seaside sand in addition to steep inclines – and the 360-degree digicam.
Step up from one other diesel ute and the sights, sounds and smells are virtually an identical and there’s not lots totally different within the driving expertise.
Forgive the diesel engine’s complaints and pushing the ute exhausting leads to some respectable ahead movement. It solely will get a bit messy when the ute is aimed toward twisty roads the place the steering exhibits confidence-sapping vagueness and corners and patchy highway surfaces expose some suspension failings.
The experience consolation, damping really feel and resistance to bump-crash exhibits GWM has labored on its suspension tuning over the previous few years, and the XSR is now one of the best driving of its siblings. However there’s nonetheless work to do and greatest that it comes from the manufacturing unit, moderately than retrofitting random bits off a shelf.
For now, ute house owners are possible for use to the dealing with peculiarities of their alternative of car – however new drivers will realise they should sluggish their angle to corners.
