10 THINGS YOU'LL HATE ABOUT THE CHINESE GWM CANNON ALPHA PHEV UTE

EV Channels Review

John Cadogan delivers a critical, yet thorough, assessment of the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV ute, focusing on ten aspects he detested. While acknowledging the brand's effort to include a spare tire and the premium feel of the cabin, Cadogan highlights significant drawbacks. He criticizes the steel spare wheel, the vulnerable placement of the battery pack, and the stark contrast between the luxurious interior and the basic tray finish, noting the lack of a protective hoop and a secure roll-top cover. The vehicle's extreme complexity, combining combustion and electric systems, is flagged as a potential long-term reliability concern, with owners potentially becoming 'lab rats'. Furthermore, the low payload capacity (685kg) is deemed a major limitation for heavy towing or fully loaded trips, and the ADAS system is described as overly intrusive and prone to false positives. The reviewer also points out the lack of direct HVAC controls on the touchscreen and the basic Gitty tires as areas for improvement. Despite these criticisms, Cadogan praises the vehicle's overall engineering and build quality, which he finds surprisingly high for a Chinese-manufactured vehicle.