China’s plug-in Ford Ranger challenger (GWM Cannon Alpha XSR PHEV 2024 Review)

GWM’s big daddy pick-up, the Cannon Alpha, is a newcomer to the Aussie market, having been offered in petrol-electric hybrid and diesel forms to date. But now a new plug-in hybrid, with 110 kilometres of claimed electric-only driving range, appears to be a possible inclusion to the local lineup.

Chasing Cars contributor Iain Curry takes a spin on and off road in a Chinese left-hook version of the new PHEV ute, a vehicle that could take on the likes of the forthcoming BYD Shark and Ford Ranger plug-in pickups.

Our test car is the ultimate XSR grade, a trim currently not offered in the Aussie diesel and self-charging hybrid Cannon Alpha lineup. It packs 300kW and 750Nm of combined petrol-electric output.

With its off-road tweaks, premium spec list and plug-in heartbeat, this could be the GWM ute to sail beyond $70K if it does come to Oz.



Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Goldilocks sizing
1:00 - PHEV benefits
1:30 - XSR trim
2:26 - Split tailgate
2:57 - Towing and payload
3:35 - Interior
3:55 - Tech
5:20 - Build quality
5:54 - Row two
6:43 - Off road EV mode
8:15 - Seats
8:50 - Camera system
9:28 - Wading depth
10:05 - Sand and rocky terrain
10:54 - On ‘road’ (track)
11:10 - Efficiency
12:07 - Ride comfort
12:37 - Electric top speed
13:14 - Coming to Australia?
13:34 - Final thoughts




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