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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