GWM Cannon vs Mazda BT-50

The GWM Cannon starts from $39,490 before on-road costs, while the Mazda BT-50 opens at $36,400. That makes the Mazda BT-50 the more affordable entry point by $3,090.

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 $43,439 and $40,040 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mazda BT-50 by roughly $1,995 in fuel alone.

Both the GWM Cannon and Mazda BT-50 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The GWM Cannon packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Mazda BT-50.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the GWM Cannon and 6 in the Mazda BT-50.

The GWM Cannon features a 14.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Mazda BT-50 gets a 7-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The GWM Cannon stands out with power tailgate that you will not find on the Mazda BT-50. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the GWM Cannon gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Mazda BT-50 offers cloth.

The GWM Cannon uses a Diesel producing 120kW and 400Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a 4WD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.5 seconds.

The Mazda BT-50 responds with a Diesel making 120kW and 400Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.

Power output is identical on paper, so the difference comes down to tuning, weight distribution, and suspension. In the real-world sprint, the GWM Cannon is 0.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The GWM Cannon measures 5,416mm long on a 3,230mm wheelbase, 96mm longer than the Mazda BT-50 at 5,320mm (3,125mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the GWM Cannon generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the Mazda BT-50 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 3,200kg. That 300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,366/year for the GWM Cannon and $1,967/year for the Mazda BT-50. That is a $399 annual difference in favour of the Mazda BT-50.

Estimated annual total: $2,366 (GWM Cannon) vs $1,967 (Mazda BT-50). The Mazda BT-50 saves you roughly $399 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 7 years / 999,999km (GWM Cannon) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda BT-50). The GWM Cannon has longer coverage.