What you are looking at is new for 2026, and currently Australia’s cheapest 4x4 PHEV ute; the MY27 GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV. It arrives from $48,990 driveaway in base Lux spec, which is a whopping $10,000 cheaper than the plug-in BYD Shark 6 1.5T Premium.
On test here, though, is the more upmarket Ultra variant, which starts from $52,990 driveaway for private buyers – including a quite limited ‘launch’ $2000 discount offer – which is around eight grand less than the 2.0L Shark 6 Performance.
For many, this GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV might be able to tick boxes previous iterations of PHEV-powered utes couldn’t or haven’t yet. And judging off specs and inclusions alone, it feels like an important ute with an increasingly relevant powertrain option.
You get loads of output, with a combined claimed output figure of 310kW and 750Nm, via an actual mechanical drivetrain rather than one with full or partial electric direct drive.
Key mechanical inclusions revolve around nine-speed automatic transmission, low-range reduction gearing via a conventional transfer case, and a rear electronic-selectable differential lock: making it a different beast to MGU9 EV, JAC Hunteror BYD Shark.
So, for around $50,000 you are getting a lot of tried-and-true ute underpinnings for your money.
The key focal point of this review is the GWM’s off-road capabilities: whether it can keep up with the likes of the Toyota Hilux; whether the traction control system is up to the task; and whether the leaf-sprung rear suspension offers much suspension travel?
But it also needs to prove its all-rounder quality, so we’ll assess its manners and claimed EV range of 115km on a test loop running from inner-city Sydney to the Blue Mountains. Outside of drivability, we’ll also assess how long it takes to charge the battery back up using the hybrid system.
So what are some inclusions for the 2026 GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV Ultra:
- Sunroof
- Heated steering wheel
- Red brake calipers
- Leather accented seats
- Front seats heated and ventilated
- Driver six-way adjustable, passenger four-way adjustable electric seats
- Auto-folding mirrors
- 360-degree camera system
- Front parking sensors
- Ambient lighting
- Front footwell lamp
How does the GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV drive?
While we are going to focus more on off-road performance, you still need to make it to the tracks.
Taking off, we wanted to run the 33.1kWh battery down to see if the claimed 115km EV range (NEDC) was realistic. We’re happy to report that we achieved this result, even heading up the hilly Great Western Highway to the Blue Mountains.
Using the GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV in self-charging hybrid mode heading back down the mountain, we were able to increase the SOC (state of charge) from 27 to 72 percent in 75km and an hour of highway driving.
However, fuel consumption in this petrol-electric mode reduced available range from 800km to 530km in this period, as the engine worked hard to bring max charge back to the battery. With its 75-litre tank, GWM claims 1037km of range (again, by the lenient NEDC measure).
It’s not slow. With ample charge aboard and 310kW and 750Nm of petrol-electric drive fully deployed, it’s claimed the Cannon PEHV will hit 100km/h from a standstill in 6.4 seconds.
There’s a fairly typical amount (for an EV) of throttle run on when lifting off the go pedal after periods of acceleration, which is an annoying niggle – however, it’s the lag on take-off followed by a rapid surge of acceleration when the vehicle works out what to do which is most annoying.
Some better calibration of throttle control would genuinely improve the user and driver experience greatly, which is overall quite good. For a ute.
On road, the suspension definitely rides on the firm and bumpy side when unladen. A degree of firmness you’d expect, but this was noticeable. As you’d want to hear, the brakes – painted red for…reasons – are nice and predictable on-and off-road, and pull the big ute up well.
Steering feel is also quite good, with three stages of feel adjustment offered via the touchscreen. The steering wheel is on the thin side dimension wise, but that is a personal preference.
Off-road ability is good, and only hampered noticeably by the front bumper, which hangs quite low – it nearly came into contact with our familiar test track. The approach angle for this vehicle is 26 degrees, with a departure angle of 23 degrees.
If we compare angles with a Hilux, which has long been an industry standard 4x4 ute, it shows the GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV sits a little low, with 200mm of ground clearence. A 2026 Hilux 4x4 has an approach angle of 29 degrees and departure angle of 25 degrees.
While leaf springs are found at the rear of this model Cannon, we must say they offer plenty of suspension down travel, helping to keep wheels on the ground over undulating terrain.
Low-range 4x4 is quick to engage and gearing reduction is nice and low, which is what you want to make smooth forward progression over the rough stuff or when tackling steep descents.
Traction control is effective, however it does take a little long to engage then suddenly pulls the vehicle where you are pointed – it’s not as seamless in operation as a Hilux, though it’s still very usable. But it deserves better tyres than the average Giti rubber it’s fitted with for serious off-roading.
If you need more traction, a rear selectable locker is fitted from the factory. There’s no front differential lock option at this stage offered on either of the available grades.
How is the GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV’s interior?
In terms of interior fit-and-finish, the 2026 GWM Cannon Hi4-T feels well screwed together with a touch of luxury - for a ute.
While there is some physical switchgear mounted on the centre console, the majority of features are operated via the large 15.6-inch touch screen. This is great for packaging, but we personally find it distracting when driving.
This really is a vehicle you need to set up before driving off. It’s also a vehicle I’d thoroughly recommend spending an afternoon familiarising yourself with the touch screen features, and operation before hitting the road.
There’s a lot of technology built into this thing, and you can adjust lots of options to suit your personal needs and wants.
In terms of negatives, the air conditioning struggled to keep the dark interior cool on a warm 32-degree day. This is something we’ve experienced before with Chinese manufactured vehicles in general, so this isn’t just a GWM criticism.
Lastly, the front seats are a tad flat when it comes to under thigh support. And the black faux leather trim sure lets you know when the summer months are approaching, too, given how much heat they trap.
This is quite a large vehicle inside, which is great for growing families. There’s loads of leg space for front and rear occupants, with seven airbags that includes curtain coverage across both rows.
Best of all, no squeaks, groans or rattles were noticed while driving on rough corrugated roads and over technical off-road obstacles. That’s a great indicator for interior longevity.
Payload wise, the (2585kg) Cannon PHEV is rated to 835kg, with a GVM of 3420kg. That’s down around 100kg on the Ford Ranger PHEV, which is the plug-in ute class leader at 934kg.
Speaking of capacities, the plug-in Cannon offers a fulsome 3500kg of braked towing, with a GCM rating of 6400kg.
What are the GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV’s ownership costs?
GWM claims combined consumption of 2.4L/100km..with a full battery charge. Of course, efficiency figures vary wildly depending on how often you choose to plug it in.
On charging, GWM quotes the battery back up from a claimed 30-80 percent takes under 20 mins at its 110kW DC fast charging peak. Using a more conventional 10-80 measure, it’s closer to 28mins, though these days DC fast charging isn’t necessarily standard issue in some PHEV vehicles.
Capped price servicing for the 2026 GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV costs $550 (including GST) for the first seven scheduled services. Service intervals for this model are after 10,000km or 12 months (whichever comes first) for the first service, and 15,000km or 12 months for remaining services.
The GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV is covered by a seven-year warranty, with seven years capped price servicing. GWM includes eight years of warranty coverage on the battery. Seven years of roadside assistance is also included in this package.
The honest verdict
Considering this is now the cheapest dual cab PHEV 4x4 ute on sale in Australia, you’d expect this to feel and drive a bit nasty. But it’s not the case. Sure the suspension and tyres could be better, and I’d recommend replacing them with aftermarket upgrades, as is the case with most utes.
The air-con could be more effective too, which struggled on a 32-degree test day. A little bit more under-thigh support in the front seats would also make long journeys more comfortable.
In saying that, this is a pretty easy ute to live with daily, and is genuinely capable off-road out-of-the-box. Then you start to look at the advantages offered by a PHEV ute, and the GWM Cannon Hi4-T becomes a very versatile option indeed.
An EV range of 115km is definitely attainable, which we achieved on this test. If you have the ability to charge at work during the day, it really does make for cheap yet practical motoring.
For around $50,000 for the entry Lux, we feel this is going to be a popular vehicle. And our as-tested Ultra also stacks up as good value for its upcharge.
And it’s safe to say it actually works in the real world of muddy off-road tracks, campsites and urban commuting.