Why the GWM Cannon Hi4-T Is the Smart Default Choice
A plug-in hybrid ute is a pickup that pairs a combustion engine with a rechargeable battery and electric motor so you can tow, haul and drive off-road while still doing most daily trips on electric power alone, without the range anxiety or charging limitations of a full battery-electric truck.
For most buyers, the GWM Cannon Hi4-T is the plug-in hybrid ute to buy. It combines a 2.0‑litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor for a strong 310kW and 750Nm, routed through GWM’s Hi4‑T drivetrain that keeps a conventional transmission and mechanical four-wheel drive. This matters: you get familiar truck behaviour and proper low‑speed control rather than depending only on axle-mounted electric motors. A 33.1kWh battery delivers a claimed 115km of electric-only range, with combined fuel use of 2.4L/100km on the NEDC cycle. According to one source, “a 33.1kWh battery provides a claimed 115km of electric-only driving range (NEDC)”. For most commutes, that means near-silent electric running, yet you still have the petrol backup for long trips.
Electric Range, Towing and Real-World Work Capability
The Cannon Hi4-T is built to tow and work hard while delivering meaningful electric range. Its 33.1kWh battery enables that 115km electric-only range (NEDC), so many owners can cover weekday commuting or local site visits without using any fuel. When the battery and petrol engine work together, GWM claims a total driving range of 1037km on the same test cycle. That makes it far easier to plan long highway runs than with a pure electric pickup, where towing can cut range sharply.
Crucially, this mid-size PHEV pickup keeps a serious 3500kg braked towing capacity and a traditional four-wheel-drive system that is meant to preserve off-road ability in tough terrain. This blend is exactly where plug-in hybrid utes shine: they bridge the gap between diesel workhorses and full EV trucks by giving you electric-only commuting plus a combustion safety net for towing and long journeys. If your working life involves regular trailers or unsealed tracks, that mix of electric range and towing strength is more practical than either a pure diesel or a first-generation EV ute.
| Key spec | GWM Cannon Hi4-T |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2.0L turbo petrol + electric motor (Hi4-T) |
| Combined power | 310kW |
| Combined torque | 750Nm |
| Battery size | 33.1kWh |
| Electric-only range (NEDC) | 115km |
| Combined fuel use (NEDC) | 2.4L/100km |
| Braked towing capacity | 3500kg |
| Drivetrain | Conventional transmission + mechanical 4WD |
How GWM’s PHEV Utes Compare to Gas and Full-Electric Trucks
Traditional diesel or petrol utes still set the benchmark for simple, go-anywhere towing, but they burn fuel on every trip and feel dated if you spend most of your time in traffic. Full-electric pickups promise zero tailpipe emissions and smooth torque, yet their range drops under heavy loads and they depend on timely charging stops. Plug-in hybrid utes like the GWM Cannon Hi4-T are a middle path, giving you local electric running and long-distance flexibility without changing how you tow or drive off-road.
Within this plug-in space, GWM is unusual in offering more than one PHEV ute. The Cannon Hi4-T joins the larger Cannon Alpha Hi4‑T, making the brand the only manufacturer currently listing two plug-in hybrid utes in its local lineup. That depth matters in a PHEV truck comparison because it shows a commitment to electrified commercial vehicles rather than a single niche model. GWM also states that the Cannon Hi4-T will sit among the more affordable plug-in hybrid utes when pricing is finalised, positioning it as a budget-conscious alternative to premium truck badges.
Where the Tank 500 Ultra Hi4-T Fits and Who Should Buy GWM’s PHEVs
GWM is extending its Hi4-T plug-in hybrid powertrain beyond work-focused utes into its flagship off-road SUV, the Tank 500 Ultra Hi4-T. That model targets buyers who want plug-in performance and off-road credibility in a more luxurious, wagon-style body rather than a traditional pickup tub. Its arrival alongside the Cannon Hi4-T underlines how GWM sees plug-in hybrid tech as central to its future family and adventure vehicles, not just an experimental ute variant.
For most people cross-shopping a plug-in hybrid ute against pure gas trucks and early electric pickups, the Cannon Hi4-T is the clearer, work-ready choice. It offers strong combined outputs, genuine electric-only commuting, a serious 3500kg towing rating and a conventional four-wheel-drive system in a package the brand intends to price among more affordable PHEV utes. If you mainly tow and tour, this balance of electric range, towing ability and expected value makes more sense than gambling on a thirstier diesel or a full EV truck that may struggle with range under load.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the GWM Cannon Hi4-T if you want a plug-in hybrid ute with strong 310kW/750Nm performance and proper 4WD for towing and work.
- Skip the GWM Cannon Hi4-T if you never tow, rarely leave the city and would prefer a smaller, lighter vehicle instead of a ute.
- Buy the GWM Cannon Hi4-T if you need up to 3500kg braked towing capacity but still want an estimated 115km of electric-only commuting range.
- Skip the GWM Cannon Hi4-T if you prefer a full-electric pickup and are willing to plan charging stops around your towing and travel.
- Buy the GWM Cannon Hi4-T if you care about long-distance flexibility, with a claimed 1037km total range helping avoid range anxiety on longer trips.
- Skip the GWM Cannon Hi4-T if you want a premium-badge truck and are happy to pay extra rather than choosing a more budget-conscious alternative.
