All-new GWM Ute: Full pricing and specs

Full pricing and specifications have been announced for the all-new GWM Ute, which replaces the Great Wall Steed next month.

Sharp entry-level pricing and the three-variant line-up was announced last month, following confirmation in October that the dual-cab 4x4 diesel model will simply be known as the GWM Ute here.

Now Great Wall Motors Australia has announced the full 2021 GWM Ute line-up, backed by low drive-away pricing, extensive standard safety, multimedia and convenience features, and a seven-year warranty with five years of roadside assist – up from three years/100,000km and, since April 2019, five years/150,000km with three years of roadside assist.

The GWM Ute comprises the entry-level Cannon ($33,990 drive-away), the mid-range Cannon-L ($37,990 drive-away) and the flagship Cannon-X ($40,990 drive-away).

The base price is a long way north of the $19,990 drive-away price with which GWM Australia is running out the old Great Wall Steed single-cab diesel or dual-cab petrol manual model.

Nor does it match Australia’s cheapest dual-cab 4x4 diesel utes, including the LDV T60 Pro (currently $28,990 drive-away with free auto) and Mahindra Pik-Up S10+ ($32,990 drive-away), both of which have shorter warranties, although the SsangYong Musso ELX matches GWM on price and warranty.

However, the GWM Utes are positioned at least $5000 to $10,000 lower than Australia’s most popular utes (most of which have been upgraded or renewed in recent months), are claimed to bring up to $15,000 worth of extra value and offer a longer warranty.

And, in time, GWM will release cheaper manual, 4x2 and single-cab derivatives of its new ute, along with an off-road Adventure hero grade and even EV and FCEV versions.

For now, all GWM Utes come with an upgraded 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel offering a modest 129kW of power but 400Nm of torque, matched exclusively to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and 4x4 drivetrain with Torque On Demand.

Also standard is a rear differential lock, four-wheel disc brakes, an electric parking brake with Auto Hold, 18-inch alloy wheels, independent double-wishbone front suspension and a live leaf-spring rear axle.

As it stands, the new Chinese ute’s towing capacity is just 2250kg, but GWM Australia says it’s in the final phase stages of durability testing to increase that to a still-sub-par 3000kg, with a 300kg downball weight. No payload figure has been announced.

Fuel consumption is listed at a mediocre 9.4L/100km and the new GWM Ute is yet to receive an independent ANCAP crash rating, but it will be better than the grim two-star score achieved by the Steed in 2016.

Indeed, all examples come standard with a high level of safety technology (including the front centre airbag now required for a maximum five-star safety rating), plenty of connectivity and convenience equipment, and some unique features – as follows.

GWM Ute Cannon standard equipment:

Safety
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
• Lane Change Assist
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Traffic Sign Recognition & Overspeed Alert
• Vehicle Stability Control
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
• Reverse camera
• Kerbside camera (passenger side)
• Rear parking sensors
• Seven airbags including front centre airbag
• Collision automatic unlock function
• Collision automatic fuel cut function
• Hill Start Assist
• Hill Decent Control

Exterior
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Body-coloured bumpers, wheel-arches & mirrors
• Power-adjustable door mirrors
• LED headlights with auto on/off
• Daytime Running Lights
• Fog lights with auto steering function
• Side steps
• Shark fin antenna

Interior
• Keyless entry
• Push-button start
• Comfort-Tek Eco Leather seat trim
• Air-conditioning
• Steering wheel controls
• Paddle shifters
• 9.0-inch LCD touch-screen
• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• 3.5-inch colour instrument cluster
• Power outlet for dash camera
• 12-volt power outlet
• 2 front USB ports & 1 rear USB port
• Driver’s side sunglasses storage

GWM Ute Cannon-L extra equipment:

• Sports bar
• Premium 18-inch alloy wheels
• Spray-in tub-liner
• Easy up/down tailgate
• Cargo ladder
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Six-way power adjustable driver’s seat
• Automatic climate control with rear outlets
• Front parking sensors
• 360-degree view camera
• Chrome front grille, door handles and mirrors
• Electric folding door mirrors
• Roof rack
• Privacy glass
• Electric anti-glare rear-view mirror
• 220-volt power output

GWM Ute Cannon-X extra equipment:

• Luxury interior with leather seats
• Tilt and slide adjustable steering wheel
• 7.0-inch colour instrument cluster
• Wireless charging
• Four-way power adjustable passenger seat
• Power assist steering modes
• Door open warning
• 60/40-split rear seat
• Voice recognition

Widely regarded as the most advanced utility yet to emerge from China, the GWM Ute measures 5410mm long, 1886mm wide and 1934mm high, making it much bigger than the Steed.

Wheelbase is 3230mm, ground clearance 194mm (laden), approach angle 27 degrees, departure angle 25 degrees and ramp breakover angle 21.1 degrees (unladen).

Upgrades to the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel include a variable-geometry turbo, variable turbo inlet and upgraded air throttle intake and camshaft, increasing output, response and efficiency.

The new GWM Ute is expected to “spur the next phase of growth” for the GWM Group, which has sold four million vehicles globally across four brands – Great Wall, Haval, Wey and Ora – over the past three decades.

GWM established the Haval brand in Australia in 2015, a year before it took control of the Great Wall brand Down Under following a two-year conflict with independent distributor Ateco Automotive, which introduced the first GWM ute here in 2008.

Great Wall has been the top-selling ute brand in China for 21 consecutive years, while GWM is China’s largest SUV and pick-up manufacturer and its second biggest privately owned automotive company with six global R&D centres.

How much does the 2021 GWM Ute cost?
Cannon – $33,990
Cannon-L – $37,990
Cannon-X – $40,990
* All prices are drive-away (including on-road costs)