17 hours ago
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The GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV has gained a smaller sibling, with official details on plug-in Hi4-T tech for the standard Cannon confirmed.
The 2026 GWM Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid ute has debuted at the Beijing motor show, ahead of Australian showroom arrivals expected between July and September this year.
Australian pricing and specifications are yet to be confirmed, but it will be more affordable than the larger Cannon Alpha Hi4-T PHEV, which currently starts from $57,490 drive-away, excluding special offers.
The Cannon is similar in size to a Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger, and will offer plug-in hybrid ute customers a narrower and lower option than the larger Cannon Alpha.
For context, the BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV – which are closer in size to the standard GWM Cannon – start from $57,900 and $71,990 before on-road costs, respectively.
The Cannon Hi4-T features a 33.1kWh lithium-ion battery, according to overseas specifications, down from 37.1kWh in the Cannon Alpha, Tank 300 and Tank 500.
It is matched with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
An 100-kilometre electric-only range and a 900-kilometre combined range are rated based on the WTLC lab-test standard, which is more reflective of real-world conditions.
Earlier this year, GWM Australia confirmed the Cannon PHEV will include a full-size spare wheel mounted under the rear tub – unlike the tub-mounted spare wheel of the Cannon Alpha PHEV, impeding usable space.
A GWM Australia representative told Drive the spare wheel is mounted lower than the Cannon diesel due to its PHEV system.
Specifications listed for the Cannon PHEV include 6kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, "nearly" 700mm ground clearance, mechanical four-wheel-drive, and a rear axle differential lock.
It includes GWM’s latest Coffee OS infotainment software on a larger 15.6-inch touchscreen, which has also been added to the 2026 diesel model in China.
More details on the 2026 GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV, including Australian pricing and specifications, will be announced closer to showroom arrivals later this year.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
