2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR Review

There’s no getting around how popular Utes have become in Australia, with the country’s top two best selling vehicles consistently being utes. Chinese manufacturers have also wanted a slice of the ute pie, with GWM launching its rather aptly named GWM Ute to take on the class best sellers. With every ute manufacturer bringing out more and more rugged-looking variants, GWM has launched the range topping 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR we tested here.

The GWM Ute Cannon-XSR features the same amount of power as the rest of the GWM Ute Cannon range and apart from styling tweaks to make it look more imposing such a snorkel, steel front and rear bumpers and blacked out chrome design elements, it has a different four-wheel drive system, along with extra tech designed to make off-roading easier.

So how does the Cannon XSR fare? Is it good enough to take on the HiLux and Ranger, or will it forever be considered a budget ute? There’s only one way to find out.

How much does the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR cost to buy? 

The 2023 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR arrived in mid-2023 as the top of the range variant in the lineup and is priced at $52,990 drive-away, making it $6,500 more than the former range topper: the Cannon Vanta.

That keen pricing makes the Cannon-XSR much cheaper than other more focused off-road variants from rival ute lineups. At 73,990 plus on-road costs, the 2023 Toyota HiLux GR Sport is a whopping $21,000 more than the Cannon XSR, closely matching the Mazda BT-50 Thunder price from $73,945 before on-roads. On paper, the Cannon-XSR looks to be impeccable value, as its pricing really only aligns with a base dual-cab 4×4 version of a Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux.

2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR standard equipment:

• Cargo ladder
• Automatic dusk-sensing LED headlights
• Front fog lights with cornering function
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
• Paddle shifters
• 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• Leatherette upholstery
• 6-way power driver’s seat
• 4-way power passenger seat
• Heated front seats
• Keyless entry and start
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Single-zone automatic climate control

Equipment which is exclusive to the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR:

• Part-time 4×4
• Locking front and rear differentials
• Crawl mode
• Turn assist
• Full underbody chassis guards
• Snorkel
• Passive front stabiliser bar
• 18-inch black alloy wheels
• 256/65 all-terrain tyres
• Steel bumpers
• Sunroof

2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR safety equipment:

• Auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Seven airbags including a front-centre unit
• 360-degree camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Lane centre assistance
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic sign recognition
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Safe exit assist

The 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2021 with scores of 86 per cent for adult protection, 87 per cent for child protection, 67 per cent for vulnerable road use protection and 73 per cent for safety assistance. While the Cannon-XSR does feature door open warning, it doesn’t feature blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert.

How fuel efficient is the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR?

The Cannon-XSR features a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel under its bonnet producing 120kW of power at 3600rpm and 400Nm of torque between 1500 and 2500rpm, which it shares with the rest of the Ute Cannon range. Those outputs lag comfortably behind the Ranger and HiLux, which punch out 500Nm of torque for better pulling power.

Power is transmitted through an eight-speed automatic transmission to a part-time four-wheel-drive system, a departure from the full-time setup found in less expensive Cannons. The ute offers selectable 2H, 4H, and 4L modes, along with locking front and rear differentials, a crawl mode, and a system that brakes the inside wheels to facilitate tighter turns on loose surfaces.

The official combined cycle claim for fuel efficiency stands at 9.4L/100km, mirroring other four-wheel-drive variants in the Cannon range. We were able to come close to this figure with a mix of inner-Melbourne, suburban, and some freeway driving giving an average fuel consumption average of around 10.0L/100km. With a 78-litre fuel tank, the Cannon-XSR is an accomplished servo avoider and will have around 1,000km of range on the open road.

How good is the GWM Ute Cannon like for towing? Well, despite the industry standard for utes broadly able to offer 3,500kg of towing capacity, the braked towing capacity for the Cannon-XSR remains at 3000kg. A HiLux and Ranger both remain the better towing options.

What is the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR like to drive?

On the open road, the Cannon-XSR feels a little slow, with a 0-100km/h time of around 13 seconds in our testing. Quite simply, the engine feels like an old-school diesel with an asthmatic feel, accompanied by a loud, clattery sound track.

Sure, the engine and gearbox work perfectly fine when tasked with light acceleration around town, but asking for any levels of even moderate acceleration reveals a drivetrain which lags behind the class leaders, even the also slow HiLux.

There’s quite a bit of turbo lag and the low end is characterised by a lack of grunt, while revving the engine out reveals a lack of shove up top. The engine has a very small window of decent shove in the mid-range, and that’s it.

At least the transmission shifts smoothly, and shuffles through the gears nice and freely, making for an acceptable driving experience.

While the Cannon-XSR doesn’t feature any trick springs or dampers, compared to the rest of the Cannon range, a new underbody bash plate has been introduced to shield engine components during bush-bashing and the front suspension has received a passive stabiliser bar.

The 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR boasts a steering system with three selectable modes, conveniently accessed through a button on the centre console. Not commonly found in this segment, this allows drivers to tailor the level of steering assist on offer. The Light mode, in particular, offers a nimble and less pronounced steering feel. However, we opted for Comfort, even though it may feel a tad heavy during low-speed maneuvers.

Regrettably, ride quality falls immensely short of expectations and in many ways is this ute’s biggest bugbear. While the Cannon-XSR performs adequately on smoother roads, it becomes unsettled on patchier pavements, exhibiting an awkward response to bumps and proving somewhat tiresome on rural roads, especially when unladen. Although it exhibits decent body control at higher speeds, its performance in low-speed rides is mediocre. Speed bumps will send occupants bucking and heaving, which will ultimately make driving this ute, even around town, tiresome. Luckily, the handling around town or on the open road is rather decent. There’s adequate grip form the tyres on sealed bitumen, and the Cannon-GSR feels stable at higher speeds.

How is the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR off-road? Well, we’re pleased to say it actually shines in environments where the going gets a little rough.

The Cannon-XSR excels in rough terrain, demonstrating prowess in not only tackling light 4×4 tracks but also steeper, more challenging terrain. The inclusion of sand, mud, and snow modes, along with an off-road thermal management mode accessible via touchscreen, showcases its adaptability and readiness to go off-road. After some driving through muddy roads, the Cooper tyres showed just how much grip was on offer and helped us out on more than one occasion when stuck on a rocky hill.

Sadly, the driver assist systems work poorly and haven’t been well calibrated for Australia. The adaptive cruise control system seems to have a mind of its own, and fails to maintain the right distance behind cars and seems to slow the ute for no reason. Luckily, the lane centring system works well, ensuring the Cannon-XSR generally remains steadfast within its lane.

The surround-view camera, featuring a 3D view, is truly superb quality, although the frequent and random pop-ups, such as at the traffic lights, are certainly an inconvenience.

What is the interior of the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon XSR like?

With a solid 5439mm of overall length and a wheelbase of 3230mm, the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR is one of the biggest utes in the segment, putting it very close dimensionally to the Ford Ranger.

Those dimensions bode well for a spacious interior and the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR offers a comfortable and well-built environment for tackling the inner city, worksites and the great outdoors. The front seats, adorned with a diamond-quilted pattern on faux-leather upholstery, provide six directions of electric adjustment for the driver, while the front passenger enjoys four directions. They’re a little on the flat side, but should do the job even on longer journeys. The driving position isn’t the best however, with the impression of sitting on the seat, rather than in it. A Ranger offers a much better driving position.

What is evident however, is that the GWM Ute Cannon-XSR has one of the best, and plushest interiors in the segment. Heck, it’s a world away from the barren and bland environment found in the Toyota HiLux. Just take a look at the high-quality, soft-touch dashtop with intricate stitching and the soft-touch trim on the front door cards and on the sides of the centre console. The quilted leather-look upholstery on the doors complements the seat inserts, showing just how supple this interior is.

The interior design itself might not be super flamboyant, but we’re glad the Cannon-XSR offers ample physical switchgear, including climate control functions, rather than relying solely on a touchscreen interface. Although some buttons may have small pictograms, the presence of proper knobs is appreciated.

The cabin does incorporate both silver plastic and gloss black trims, with distinctive patterned and textured metal-look trim along the dashboard providing a welcomed touch. This interior truly stands out for a ute and is the highlight of the Cannon-XSR.

Up front, amenities abound with two USB power outlets, a single 12V plug, and a wireless charging pad. The well-organised centre console includes a sliding nook for hidden cupholders and a spacious storage bin.

The 9.0-inch infotainment display, while not exactly filled with features, covers the basics with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and overall the screen feels responsive and bright. Unfortunately, the digital instrument cluster is a little difficult to use and suffers from lag, and is characterised by some rather primitive graphics.

In the second row, Cannon-XSR’s rear seats feature a clever folding function for additional storage and offer ample legroom and headroom is satisfactory. Amenities include air vents, a USB power outlet, 220V household plug, and a fold-down armrest adding to the rear passenger experience.

The tub of the Cannon-XSR, though lacking a locking functionality, offers practical features such as a step in the rear bumper and a pop-out step in the tailgate. These, along with a tub liner and tie-down points really show how thoughtful GWM has been with the Cannon-XSR.

What warranty is offered with the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR?

Along with all GWM vehicles in Australia the GWM Ute Cannon-XSR is backed by a seven-year/ unlimited-kilometre warranty, with five years of roadside assistance.

What’s servicing the Cannon-XSR like? The ute will need a visit every 10,000km and 12 months, but GWM says the first service will need to occur at half of that: six months and 5000km for the price of $260.

After that point, and up to four-and-a-half years (or 45,000km), each visit costs $360. This puts the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR on the cheaper end of servicing with a combined price of $1,700 for five years of servicing. Having said that, a Toyota HiLux will only cost $1,300 to service over five years, though it has more inconvenient six-month intervals for that whole period.

Should I buy a 2024 GWM Ute Cannon-XSR?

Make no mistake, the 2024 GWM Ute Cannon XSR is actually a decent ute for those seeking something a little more off-road focussed and butch. Off-road enthusiasts will love the sophisticated tech on board and the solid 4WD system for venturing off the beaten track, while all buyers will appreciate the plush and specious interior. Throw in a pricetag that is considerably lower than its rivals, and many will find it hard to look past the Cannon-XSR.

Sadly, the Cannon-XSR is let down by its wooden and stiff ride around town, and harks back to the utes of old which bucked up and down like on pogo sticks. The engine isn’t the last word in performance either, even if it is relatively frugal.

Ultimately, the more affordable models of the Ute Cannon range will prove to be all the ute people need, and cost even less, making the Cannon-XSR the model for those really intending to go off-road. One thing is for sure however, with their keen pricing and ever increasing capabilities, Chinese utes will only continue to surge in popularity, making sure the established players remain light on their feet.