OGR Mount Gambier has rocketed big things into the region in recent weeks, with the GWM Cannon fired into the utility market.
Balancing toughness with a touch of sophistication, the utility is feature packed at an unbelievable price point.
There is absolutely no hiding the fact that when it comes to tradies or avid offroaders purchasing a brute ute there are a couple of major factors buyers look for – plenty of power and torque, dual range 4×4 and a hefty towing capacity – and straight off the bat I can tell you the Cannon is ticking all the boxes in the specifications department.
Packed under the bonnet of the beast is a 2.4-litre turbo diesel powerplant delivering 135kw and 480Nm of torque paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission to take care of all terrains and provide a smooth and powerful driving experience, no matter if you’re hauling a light load on the way to the worksite or towing a caravan on your next adventure.
There’s also a number of drive modes to help you on your way and from the factory the GWM Cannon is equipped with a rear differential lock to ensure maximum grip when heading off the bitumen and out into the wilderness, while a towing capacity of 3500kg braked puts it among the rivals more than twice it’s price point.
On the outside the styling is also pretty sleek! With slimline LED headlights up front, a wide grill maximising airflow to the turbo engine and chunky guard flares offering protection, while the factory side steps help make entry and exit into the cab a breeze.
There’s a solid range of colour options across the Cannon range too, with the Crystal Black looking incredible in the sunlight, but for those wanting something a little different there’s also Pittsburgh Silver, Pearl White, Scarlet Red, Sapphire Blue and Stealth Grey available to order.
A polished sports roll bar out back complements the chrome badging on the front, back and side of the vehicle, while black and machined 18-inch alloy wheels also look the business.
Another nifty addition is the tough coating that graces the rear tub of the GWM Cannon, meaning there’s no need to worry about scratching up the paintwork or needing to purchase a plastic liner, making it good to go straight off the showroom floor.
Something else that is often an aftermarket accessory purchase for offroad enthusiasts is a soft closing tailgate kit and bonnet struts, and GWM has taken care of that for you too with the Cannon coming factory equipped with these items already!
While utes are primarily known as ‘tradie vehicles’, there’s no denying manufacturers have been working overtime in recent years to make the cabins of these vehicles more luxurious, and GWM has excelled in this department to combine the perfect blend of functionality, style and comfort for owners to enjoy each drive.
Housed neatly in the centre of the dash is a 12.3-inch infotainment unit with Apple Carplay and Android Auto functionality as well as broadcasting what’s happening behind the utility in clear real time through a high-quality reverse camera.
There’s also nifty cameras that show what’s going on around you when indicating to help increase safety when merging lanes.
Add to this adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings and lane keeping assistance, autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control as just some of the safety features and you have got yourself a ute with the highest possible 5-star ANCAP safety rating as tested in 2021.
While the cruise control buttons are housed on their own stalk off the main steering column – which was a little different to the normal steering wheel mounted controls – it does not take long to get use to their position and locking your speed in becomes as easy as flicking your pinky finger up or down on the lever.
The Comfort-Tek seating is also of a premium comfort level and look the business, a fancy embellishment with the outline of the Cannon across the passenger side of the dash is also a nice touch.
With peace of mind that you’re going to be safe inside the cabin, you can also rest assured knowing each GWM Cannon sold comes with a 7-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, 5-year roadside assist and 5-year capped price servicing.
On paper we have ticked the boxes buyers are looking for when purchasing a new ute, but how does it perform in real world conditions?
Well, a quick tour around the city and a trip to Eastern Landscape Supplies to ‘make an effort’ to tick off a couple of jobs on that long list we never seem to be able to shorten proved to be the perfect test for the GWM Cannon.
There is no shortage of power under the bonnet and it was on demand with the right foot to get up and go when needed.
There’s also plenty of space in the rear tub for all your supplies and the low profile wheel arches take up minimal room to fit in larger items.
It was also refreshing to experience the ute at highway speeds, with a near silent drive blocking out the howling wind last week while cruising along with the ute planted firmly on the road at 110kph.
There’s also a tonne of factory accessories available to enhance your GWM Cannon even further, from bonnet protectors and bike carriers to factory e-brake controller assemblies, LED light bars, snorkels and ute tub lamps, or you can speak to the team at OGR 4×4 to add a swag of Ironman 4×4 accessories to your new utility.
So with all this in mind, just ‘how good’ is that unbelievable price point we mentioned earlier, keeping in mind you’re getting a brand new utility packed full of tech and the previously mentioned 5-Star ANCAP safety rating, 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty and 5-year roadside assistance? How does $41,490 driveaway sound plus premium paint?!
If the starting price is not incentive enough, a recent Drive report has put the GWM Cannon at the top of the list for holding its resale value after 5 years.
If you’re in the market for a new utility you best pop down and see the team at OGR GWM in Mount Gambier at 132 Jubilee Highway West or contact the dealership on 8724 1111 to find out more or book a time to launch yourself into a new Cannon ute today.
