2025 GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV REVIEW: Tough, Techy, and Plugged In

Once laughed off by politicians and pub experts alike, electrified utes are finally muscling their way onto Aussie job sites—and GWM’s 2025 Cannon Alpha PHEV might be the one to convert the sceptics. With 110km of EV range, triple diff locks, and a 3,500kg towing capacity, this plug-in hybrid means business.

Whether you’re laying decking during the week or dragging a camper up the Snowies on Friday, the Cannon Alpha PHEV blends dual-cab practicality with real-world hybrid tech. And yes, she’ll still roll through 800mm of water like a freshly waxed crocodile.

The gadgets work well, the smart cruise and lane control actually work, but the over-speed warning needs turning off every trip. Although there are fewer bongs and bings than in other Chinese cars there are still too many and they’re way too much of a kerfuffle to turn off. In the bin with them!

🚛 Powertrain Punch With a Green Heart
Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine teamed with a 37.1kWh ternary lithium battery, delivering a combined 300kW and 750Nm. That power is fed through a GWM-developed 9-speed auto and full-time 4WD, complete with centre, rear and (on Ultra) front diff locks, low-range gearing, and terrain modes that can handle anything short of a cyclone.

Best bit? You can use 4WD high-range while in EV mode, letting you go full-electric even off the bitumen. Combine that with 880km of claimed total range (NEDC), and you’ve got a ute that’ll make it to the bush and back without asking for a jerry can or charger.

Brochure HERE:

⚡️ Charging? Too Easy, Mate.
On a DC fast charger, the Cannon Alpha tops from 30–80% in just 26 minutes. At home, plug into a wallbox and you’ll be fully juiced in 6.5 hours. GWM also includes Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) with a 3.3kW output, so whether you’re running floodlights, power tools, or a NutriBullet in the bush, you’re sorted.

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review – 2025 GWM Cannon Alpha ULTRA PHEV Full Video Review – Alan Zurvas

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ABOVE: 2025 GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV kicks arse

🛻 Ultra or Lux? Either Way, You’re Winning
The Cannon Alpha PHEV comes in two spec levels: the Lux, and the plush, loaded Ultra, which is $64,490 drive-away until September (down from $68,990).

Lux Highlights Include:

18” alloy wheels, LED lighting, auto wipers
12.3-inch infotainment + 12.3-inch digital cluster
Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
Leatherette trim, keyless entry/start, 360° cameras
Full active safety suite: AEB, junction assist, lane keeping, and rear collision warning

Ultra Adds the Extras:

Massive 14.6-inch touchscreen, 10-speaker Infinity audio
Panoramic sunroof, head-up display, auto parking assist
Heated/ventilated/massage seats front and rear
Rear sliding window, ambient lighting, memory mirrors, and more

And then there’s the 60/40 split tailgate—brilliant on paper, slightly rebellious in reality. In our test car, the release button had a mood. One touch worked. Another didn’t. Sometimes it opened both gates, other times it ghosted us.

Travis described it best: “That button’s got more trust issues than my ex.”

Alan was more forgiving: “I still love the layout—just give it a better switch and she’s perfect.”

Still, the two-way tailgate is mega handy when it works, whether you’re reaching in for tools or using it as a makeshift bar during a bush doof.

⚙️ Spec Sheet Snapshot

Engine: 2.0L turbo-petrol
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Drive: Full-time 4WD
Combined Output: 300kW / 750Nm
Battery: 37.1kWh ternary lithium
EV Range: 110km (NEDC)
Total Range: 880km (NEDC)
DC Fast Charge: 30–80% in 26 mins (50kW)
AC Charge: 0–100% in 6.5 hrs (6.6kW)
Fuel Use: 1.7L/100km (NEDC)
GVM: 3,495kg | Kerb: 2,810kg
Payload: 685kg
Towing: 3,500kg (braked), 750kg (unbraked)
Water Wading: 800mm

🎤 Flash from The Boys

Luke: “Mate, this is no toy. I’d take it to Moreton in a heartbeat—quiet, comfy, and I can run my DJ gear off it!”

Raffy: “That massage seat had me questioning my relationship status. But that tailgate? She needs therapy.”

Charlie: “It’s about time we had a hybrid ute that can actually get dirty. I’d daily it. Seriously.”

Nico: “The interior is almost too nice for a tradie. But I’m not complaining. I’d glamp with it, hard.”

Hunter: “Still not convinced about the button, but the drivetrain? Absolute weapon. Quiet, fast, and clever.”

🏁 Final Thoughts
The 2025 GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV isn’t a gimmick. It’s not a greenwashing exercise. It’s a proper dual-cab ute with serious tech, real off-road hardware, and a plug that makes sense for modern Australia.

It’s proof that plug-in hybrids aren’t just for inner-city SUVs or smug school runs. This one’s ready to tow, bush bash, and power your camp setup—dodgy button or not.

So, is it the ute to convert the doubters? Maybe. But one thing’s certain: it’s a whole lot more than just a clever tailgate.

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