GWM Cannon Alpha, Tank 500 3.0-litre diesel to use less fuel, despite power bump

GWM's new 3.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel will be more fuel-efficient than the engine it replaces, despite its class-leading torque figure.

Due in local GWM showrooms in September, the new diesel engine for the Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 has been confirmed to use 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle in the Cannon Alpha.

It compares with the 8.9L/100km rating for the 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine it will replace in the Cannon Alpha ute range.

Meanwhile, the new engine in the Tank 500 – bringing diesel power to the off-road SUV for the first time in Australia – has been rated at 7.1L/100km combined, less than an equivalent Isuzu MU-X (7.6L/100km).

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The Cannon Alpha, which has a larger footprint than an Isuzu D-Max, also uses less fuel than an X-Terrain four-wheel-drive dual-cab pick-up (7.8L/100km).

As first detailed to Australian media in China in April 2026, its new diesel engine develops 170kW and 620Nm, making it more powerful than a four-cylinder diesel Ford Ranger (125kW), Toyota HiLux (150kW) and Isuzu D-Max (140kW).

Its 620Nm torque output also surpasses the 600Nm offered by the 3.0-litre diesel V6 in the Ford Ranger and Everest, as well as the 2.8-litre four-cylinder in the Toyota HiLux and LandCruiser Prado (500Nm).

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Compared with the 2.4-litre diesel – which will remain available in the smaller Cannon ute and Tank 300 SUV – the 3.0-litre diesel brings an additional 35kW and 140Nm.

A 20 per cent performance improvement during 0-100km/h acceleration is claimed, while the 3500-kilogram braked towing capacity has been retained.

GWM has yet to announce Australian pricing and specifications for the updated Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 with its new diesel engine, but they are expected to undercut the plug-in hybrid versions.

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Set to launch in Australia ahead of other markets such as South Africa, the company says "more than six months of local engineering and validation" has been completed "across Australia's diverse roads and environmental conditions".

"Testing has focused on performance, durability, drivability, towing capability and powertrain calibration, ensuring it delivers the refinement, reliability and confidence Australian customers expect," GWM Australia said in a media release.

More details on the 2026 GWM Cannon Alpha and 2026 GWM Tank 500 3.0-litre diesels will be confirmed closer to their local showroom arrivals, due in the coming weeks.