2025 GWM Cannon First Look: Putting The Segment On Notice

In a sea of numerous Chinese automakers in the Philippines serving a ton of crossover SUVs left and right, GWM Philippines aims to stand out by banking on its off-road heritage. In China, the GWM Cannon is the best-selling pickup in their market, and the automaker is betting on this vehicle to make a mark in the Philippines.

Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve been in the Cannon, having been a passenger in numerous press cars, so at least I have a better understanding of how much it has improved, and how it fares versus the competition. The question now is, does it have the goods to make its mark in the Philippines? Let’s find out.

Boldly Aggressive

The 2025 GWM Cannon also represents the mid-cycle facelift of China’s best-selling pickup. A new front end has been grafted onto its familiar silhouette, featuring a more angular and bolder gray grille in the Lux or a black grille in the S-Lux this time around. It’s a refreshing change from the pre-facelift model’s chrome finish, whose thick bars made the grille look too flashy to our eyes. This is complemented by sportier front bumpers as well.

Onto the sides, the new Cannon comes with either body-colored fenders in the Lux variant or black ones in the S-Lux, with the latter coming in with black door handles and an actual, functional rear sports bar for the bed. Personally, I prefer the more elegant side profile of the Lux, especially with its two-tone 18-inch wheels versus the black-painted ones in the S-Lux.

Finally, towards the rear end, there’s a new rear bumper and a new tailgate with the GWM logo stamped on it. That tailgate is noteworthy because of the step board that’s hidden from behind. If you recall full-size pickups like the Ford F-150, the one in the GWM Cannon is pretty similar. Looks-wise, GWM has done a good job updating the Cannon’s looks, and to my personal preferences, the Lux variant and its more elegant looks is what I’d go for.

Rugged Sophistication 

But perhaps the biggest visual upgrade to the 2025 GWM Cannon occurs in the cabin. Unlike most interior facelifts that are often limited to improved trims and materials, GWM actually ripped out the dashboard of the pre-facelift model in favor of a completely new dash. The dash is all-new, and it contains a generous amount of leatherette and stitched surfaces, as well as patterned decorative trims. It’s a far cry from the low-rent and utilitarian interiors of most of its Japanese competitors. Drivers are also greeted with a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a large 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Ergonomics, however, is mixed. Yes, there is a large screen, and thankfully, there’s an array of physical controls, though they’re not as diverse as I would like. You can change the fan speed right off the bat, but anything more comprehensive, such as changing the temperature, has to be done through the infotainment and outside any of your smartphone mirroring features. You also don’t have a volume knob, weirdly enough, so adjusting the volume has to be done through the steering wheel.

On the upside, the driving position is perfectly sound with plenty of adjustment in the steering and seats. Speaking of which, premium features abound in the new Cannon as you get premium amenities like power-adjustable front seats with heating and cooling, wireless charging, and a full suite of advanced driver-assistance systems. This includes the usual automatic emergency braking, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane centering, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system.

Improved On Most Fronts

I wouldn’t be able to fully comment on the aforementioned driver-assistance systems, since we were only on a closed track at R33 in Pampanga, but what I can tell you is my first impression on what has tangibly improved–its driving dynamics. First and foremost, you now get a 2.4-liter turbo diesel engine, which is quite an upgrade from the previous model’s 2.0-liter unit. As a result, you now get 181 horsepower (a 13 percent improvement) and 480 Nm of torque (a 20 percent improvement). This is mated to an in-house nine-speed automatic that replaces the previous ZF eight-speed auto (yes, a similar ZF-made transmission found in many European luxury cars).

From the get-go, the new 2.4-liter turbo diesel unit is quieter and more refined upon startup. Credit the increased sound insulation and the new engine itself. From there, there’s plenty of power right off the bat, delivered in a (mostly) linear fashion all the way to the mid-RPM ranges. The nine-speed automatic is well suited to the new engine and seems to be a better match since both components are now in-house developed by GWM. In terms of outright pull, a 2.8-liter Hilux or the 2.4-liter twin-turbo diesel of the Triton feels punchier, whereas the GWM Cannon falls somewhere in the middle of the pickup segment.

Now, the reason I say it has a “mostly” linear power delivery is because the engine’s initial tip-in throttle response can be quite jumpy and overeager. Basically, during the first 5-10 percent of your throttle input, it can feel like it’s delivering too much power than you are asking for. Great for quick acceleration bursts, but not so much when you want to crawl smoothly in traffic. Perhaps a week-long, real-world driving experience should give me a better impression of this, as I seek to examine this throttle behavior with the new Cannon put into Eco mode.

Grippy Where It Matters

Unlike most four-wheel drive (4WD) pickups out there that come with an electronic switch to change from 2WD to 4WD H or 4WD L, the 2025 GWM Cannon opts for a permanent electronic 4WD system instead. Yes, it’s still technically a 4WD system, but one that is able to determine, based on your terrain mode, drive mode, or real-time road conditions, how it should distribute its power. Opting for the S-Lux also adds a rear locking differential that should prove helpful when the need for more grip arises.

This is called their Torque On Demand (TOD) Intelligent Permanent 4×4 system, and it does all the thinking for you. Putting the vehicle in Eco mode also puts it in 2WD automatically to save fuel. What you can expect, however, from the Cannon is reassuring handling and grip when driven on paved roads, thanks to the permanent 4WD system. The electric power steering, though light and offers little road feel, has a degree of control and precision. The brakes provide a strong bite, while the reworked suspension helps the Cannon have more predictable handling. This is not a sports car, but its handling prowess is one of the nicest and easiest to manage in the class.

Notable Ride Improvements

Lastly, pickups aren’t known for their supple ride (with a few exceptions), but in the pre-facelift Cannon, this was a sore point. Its ride was outright jiggly and firm, perhaps even firmer than the Hilux. Thankfully, GWM has rectified that in the new Cannon, offering it improved leaf springs at the rear. Granted, the roads at R33 are smooth, but the previous Cannon managed to find bumps on even the smoothest roads.

This one, however, though it’s still firm, it’s more on what’s considered acceptable for daily use rather than downright stiff. On the upside, with a little over 1,000 kg of payload capacity, the 2025 GWM Cannon is great at hauling your life’s needs. Speaking of which, the new Cannon has wiring provisions for those who plan to modify their pickups for Overlanding or camping.

Ultimately, Value Wins

All-in-all, based on our first impressions, the 2025 GWM Cannon is improved where it matters the most–the driving experience and value proposition. This pickup with a unique permanent 4WD system is reassuringly grippy and composed, whilst also addressing our concerns with the previous model. If anything, that’s testament to how GWM listens to both consumers and the motoring media on how they should improve their vehicle.

But the biggest win that the GWM Cannon offers is its sheer value. Priced from P1,348,000 for the Lux (which is what I even prefer based on looks) and P1,498,000 for the S-Lux, the new Cannon undercuts the Japanese competition by a wide margin. However, whereas Chinese cars, especially non-electrified ones, are often good enough “considering the price”, the Cannon is good, period.

That’s because the 2025 GWM Cannon has true unique selling points, such as its premium interior, its refined and heavily-improved drivetrain, as well as its unique permanent 4WD system. We can’t wait to put the new Cannon through a week-long review, evaluating this pickup based on its merits when living with it on a daily basis, but for now, here’s the new GWM Cannon, improved on aspects that matter the most to pickup buyers, and more.