2025 GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV review (video)

The plug-in hybrid ute scene in Australia is heating up, and GWM’s all-new Cannon Alpha PHEV storms in with bold promises; class-leading electric range, serious power, and proper 4WD hardware.

Add in a ladder-frame chassis, 3500kg towing, and an attractive price point and you’ve got a package that might make some consumers rethink their next workhorse purchase. What’s the catch?

2025 GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra PHEV: Specifications

Engine: 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder plug-in hybrid
Electrical: 37.1kWh battery, 115km range
Output: 300kW / 750Nm
Gearbox: Nine-speed auto
Drive type: Four-wheel drive
Wheels: F & R: 18×8.0, 265/60
ANCAP: Five stars
Kerb weight: 2810kg
Power-to-weight: 9.36:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 1.7L/100km

Our consumption: 12.4L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 75L/91 RON
Power efficiency: 176.4kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.21 seconds*
0-100km/h: 7.05 seconds*
60-110km/h: 5.19 seconds*
1/4 mile: 15.21 seconds at 148.4km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.726g*
100-0km/h braking: 41.97 in 3.28 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.082g*
Starting price: $66,990

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2025 GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra PHEV: How much does it cost?

There are two variants on sale in Australia, with the Lux and Ultra. Prices start from $59,990 and $66,990, respectively. But, GWM is offering sharp drive-away prices for the launch period, bringing it down to $62,990 and $69,490, depending on the state and territory.

That means it is significantly cheaper than the Ford Ranger XLT PHEV (from $71,990), but a bit more than the BYD Shark 6 (from $57,900) – the Shark only comes in one high-spec trim. Decisions. It seems the GWM does provide a good blend of either rival yet it is priced right in the middle. We’re checking out the Ultra in this test.

2025 GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra PHEV: Interior & packaging

Step inside the Cannon Alpha PHEV and you’ll be surprised at how premium it feels. There’s an obvious leap in refinement here over GWM’s previous utes. Soft-touch surfaces across the dash and doors, metallic switchgear with polish-alloy look, and a refined dash and console design all give off a modern, high-tech vibe.

The fit and finish are tidy yet robust, although some areas might be a bit too plush for some buyers. Particularly if you’re planning to use this as a genuine workhorse, to throw tools and big muddy boots in the back. For example, the steering wheel feels nice and soft but with heavy use with gritty hands I reckon it would start to show signs of wear compared with some rivals that offer thicker leather.

In the top-spec Ultra model you get heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats (yep, imagine those after a long week), more leather accents, a panoramic sunroof (rare for the ute class), and rear seat recline with heating and ventilation. Some of this stuff is a huge leap for the segment.

A large part of the user interface lives inside the 14.6-inch touch-screen (12.3 in the Lux), and while it’s sharp and feature-rich, the occasional absence of a permanent home button and physical controls may frustrate some on the move. Climate controls are especially absent, with no obvious temp controls readily presented.

That said, having wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and voice command capability is a bonus. I’d still prefer to adjust things myself compared with pausing an on-board conversations to talk to a computer.
A 10-speaker Infinity sound system, ambient lighting, and head-up display in the Ultra makes it more worth while.

There’s ample space in both rows as the Alpha is slightly larger than the common rivals, with decent storage throughout the cabin, and even the second row gets some love with its own wireless charger in the Ultra grade. It’s more passenger SUV than utilitarian cab, put it that way.

In the back the tray area is accessible via a barn-style split tailgate, although it can operate like a conventional tailgate and drop down in one piece as well. The space is large and it comes with a spray-in bedliner, and, as you may have noticed, the spare wheel is in the back. This probably won’t go down well with tradies and those who actually use the tray area, but it might not be an issue for city folk.

2025 GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra PHEV: Powertrain & handling

At the heart of the Cannon Alpha PHEV is GWM’s ‘Hi4T’ plug-in hybrid system, which pairs a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor energised by a 37.1kWh battery. Combined outputs are a hefty 300kW and 750Nm, delivered through a nine-speed auto and full-time 4WD with front, centre, and rear diff locks — also a very rare combo in this class.

Charging can be done with a 50kW DC charger (class-leading) that allows for a quick top-up from 30–80 per cent in around 26 minutes, or just charge it overnight at home. The official fuel consumption figure of 1.7L/100km (NEDC) will depend entirely on how often you charge, but it is possible to drive with minimal fuel usage if your routine includes regular short trips and you have access to charging. We averaged 12.4L/100km during our week of testing, charging it once.

A full charge provides a class-leading electric range of 115km (NEDC), but we couldn’t match that in the real world as per typical of EV range indicators in our experience. The NEDC test seems less accurate than the WLTP cycle, in terms of reflecting potential real-world experiences.

On the road, the powertrain feels strong but it doesn’t surge ahead like a performance car, or like what you might expect from 300kW and 750Nm. But the torque is immediate and confident. The transition between electric and petrol is seamless, because the electric motor is housed right next to the nine-speed auto.

However, often it will take off with electric power and even initial kick-down, with the petrol firing up much later. You can feel and hear that process. It’s not necessarily a bad thing just something to note as being not as smooth or as consistent as a typical combustion-only vehicle.

Low-speed EV-only driving is smooth, though, and obviously very quiet. The system can operate in 4WD EV mode even off-road, and the same can said for highway speeds. Battery consumption does drop much quicker in EV mode at faster speeds, so it would make more sense to reserve this mode for city driving where fuel consumption tends to be higher.

Off the road, the triplet of locking differentials and low-range gearing, and the fact the engine power is sent directly to the wheels (unlike in the Shark 6), means this offers serious off-road capability. Up our usual hill climb this test vehicle had no trouble driving straight up in the default 4WD mode, without even touching the diff locks or low range. And that’s on the standard (pretty average) Giti tyres.

2025 GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra PHEV: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• PHEV tech: Class-leading electric range for a ute (110km) and impressive theoretical range of 880km total.
• Power: The hybrid package develops 300kW and 750Nm, making it the most torquey option in its class for a plug-in hybrid.
• True 4×4: With low range and front and rear diff locks, it’s about as good as it gets for this segment off road.
• Loaded with features: Heated, ventilated, massaging seats, panoramic sunroof, 14.6in touch-screen.

2025 GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra PHEV: Key considerations before you buy

• Payload: At 685kg, it is relatively low compared with most utes, even the Ford Ranger PHEV.
• No buttons: Some infotainment menus are unintuitive and the lack of physical buttons can be frustrating.
• Heavy: This weighs 2810kg, which may affect long-term efficiency and tyre wear.
• Spare wheel location: In the back. It’s not convenient and it means you can’t really lock the bed area.

2025 GWM Cannon Alpha Ultra PHEV: Video