GWM Cannon Alpha vs Kia EV5

The GWM Cannon Alpha starts from $52,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia EV5 opens at $49,770. That makes the Kia EV5 the more affordable entry point by $3,220.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $58,289 and $54,747 respectively.

The Kia EV5 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The GWM Cannon Alpha, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the GWM Cannon Alpha and Kia EV5 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 84% for the GWM Cannon Alpha and 88% for the Kia EV5.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the GWM Cannon Alpha and 7 in the Kia EV5.

The GWM Cannon Alpha features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Kia EV5 gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The GWM Cannon Alpha stands out with Apple CarPlay that you will not find on the Kia EV5. The Kia EV5 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and wireless charging. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The GWM Cannon Alpha uses a 2.4L 4-cylinder Turbo Diesel producing 135kW and 480Nm of torque, sent through a 9-speed automatic to a 4WD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.5 seconds.

The Kia EV5 responds with a Electric making 160kW and 310Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.2 seconds.

The Kia EV5 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 135kW. In the real-world sprint, the Kia EV5 is 3.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The GWM Cannon Alpha measures 5,445mm long on a 3,350mm wheelbase, 830mm longer than the Kia EV5 at 4,615mm (2,750mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the GWM Cannon Alpha generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the GWM Cannon Alpha leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 2,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 7 years / 999,999km (GWM Cannon Alpha) vs 7 years / 999,999km (Kia EV5). Both match on warranty length.