GWM adds powerful 3.0-litre turbo diesel to Cannon Alpha and Tank 500

Back in the days when internal combustion was the only game in town motoring enthusiasts, particularly V8 fans, had a saying ‘there’s no substitute for cubic capacity’.

The idiom still holds true to some extent but the increased application of turbochargers to extract more power from smaller capacity engines has diluted its meaning, as has the arrival of powerful battery electric and hybrid powertrains.

Why engine capacity still matters

But dual cab 4x4 utes and their wagon-based equivalents are among the segments where cubic capacity is still celebrated, with the likes of the Isuzu D-Max and Ford Ranger making much of the fact they offer 3.0-litre four-cylinder and V6 turbodiesel respectively, where most rivals deliver engine capacities beginning with a ‘two’.

GWM is the latest brand to recognise the marketing advantages of offering a larger capacity engine, announcing the addition of a new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel to its Cannon Alpha ute and Tank 500 wagon lineup.

More torque than key rivals

The new engine delivers impressive outputs of 170kW/620Nm versus 140kW/450Nm for the same capacity engine fitted to Isuzu’s D-Max and M-UX models, and 184kW/600Nm from the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel fitted to Ford’s Ranger and Everest.

The GMW engine’s torque advantage over both rival engines will no doubt pique the interest of the towing brigade, who value that metric over just about all others.

The GWM Cannon Alpha ute.

Sharp pricing proposition

The Chinese car maker is also driving home its pricing advantage over these and other rivals, with the new engine available in two well-equipped Cannon Alpha variants, the Lux priced at $58,990 driveaway, and the range-topping Vanta priced at $63,990 driveaway.

By way of comparison, the cheapest 3.0-litre powered Isuzu D-Max 4x4 dual cab is the basic SX which costs $54,200 plus on-road costs, rising to $80,900 (MRLP) for the off-road enhanced Blade variant.

Over at the Blue Oval, the 3.0-litre V6-powered dual cab 4x4 ute range starts at $57,900 for the workhorse XL and rises all the way to $80,890 for the fully-loaded Platinum variant.

GWM’s seven-seat Tank 500, meanwhile, lines up against the likes of the Isuzu MU-X, Ford Everest and a range of other 4x4 wagons with pricing that also looks razor sharp at $65,990 driveaway for the Tank 500 Lux, and $71,990 driveaway for the Tank 500 Vanta.

While Isuzu and Ford have lower priced entry-level variants, both GWM models come standard with a level of kit that makes them more comparable with the higher-grade variants of its rivals, underscoring the brand’s price and features advantage.

Vanta styling and efficiency gains

Styling upgrades on the Vanta variant includes a distinctive black styling treatment, with the Cannon Alpha Vanta gaining an eye-catching black-out treatment on its grille, door handles, mirrors, side steps and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The new engine replaces the outgoing 2.4-litre turbo-diesel in the Cannon Alpha and offers a big bump in power and torque over that engine’s 135kW/480Nm, while combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.3L/100km is improved by 1.6L/100km.

Consumption is slightly better again in the Tank 500 at 7.1L/100km, although that model has previously only been available with a 2.0-Litre turbo-petrol hybrid powertrain, so the same comparisons can’t be drawn.

In both the new Cannon Alpha and the new Tank 500, drive is channelled through GWM’s in-house nine-speed automatic transmission and dual-range four-wheel-drive system.

The GWM Tank 500 wagon.

Australian engineering focus

In another sign that GWM is moving to counter some of its rivals perceived strategic advantages, notably Ford Australia’s extensive local design and development of Ranger and Everest, the company confirmed its new powertrain has undergone more than six months of local engineering and validation.

GWM made a splash in early 2025 when it confirmed the appointment of former Holden chief chassis engineer Rob Trubiani to lead its Australian tuning and development efforts.

The company says Trubiani, along with its Australian and Chinese engineering teams, have put both models through an extensive development program focused on optimising ride and handling, engine and transmission calibration, towing performance and software.

Towing and off-road credentials

The car maker claims its engineers have focused heavily on enhanced towing integration including brake controller functionality, cruise control while towing, and transmission calibration specifically optimised for heavy-load towing.

As a result, the Cannon Alpha retains its 3,500kg braked towing capacity, while the Tank 500 sees its towing capacity increase from 3,000kg to 3,500kg.

In addition to their towing credentials, both GWM models also boast serious off-road capability courtesy of good ground clearance and wading height, a dual-range transfer case, plus front, centre and rear differential locks.

This and the fact the Tank 500 Vanta boasts a standard 131-litre long-range fuel tank, versus the Lux’s 78-litre capacity, may mean the former has particular appeal to long-distance 4x4 adventurers, with the top-spec Tank capable of a theoretical 1800km-plus touring range.

Neither the Cannon Alpha nor Tank 500 require AdBlue diesel exhaust fluid.

GWM Tank 500 interior.

New infotainment and connectivity technology

Front and centre inside both GWM’s new ute and wagon is a larger 14.6-inch central touchscreen, up from 12.3 inches, with superior resolution and full-colour HD display technology promising a clearer interface.

The screen is underpinned by a new operating system dubbed ‘Coffee OS’ which GWM says is designed to deliver simpler operation and easier access to key vehicle functions like navigation, entertainment and connectivity features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The new operating system also supports over-the-air software updates, allowing GWM to remotely introduce software improvements, new functionality and system updates to the vehicle.

Arrival timing and launch incentives

The new 3.0-litre turbodiesel powered GWM Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 variants are due to arrive at GWM dealerships from mid-September, with GWM further baiting the hook with a $2,000 driveaway cash bonus or $2,000 fuel card until October 30, 2026.