GWM Cannon vs Isuzu D-Max

The two brands do not quote prices the same way, and you have to hold that in your head to read this fairly. GWM advertises the Cannon Premium 4x4 at $39,490 drive-away, which is the number you actually hand over. Isuzu advertises the D-Max SX Crew Cab 4x4 at $58,700 recommended retail before on-road costs, so stamp duty, registration and CTP still sit on top of that.

Compare the two on a like-for-like registered basis and the D-Max is somewhere in the region of $25,000 more expensive. Even taken naively at face value the gap is $19,210. Either way, this is no longer a comparison where the value ute shaves a couple of thousand off the benchmark. It is a different price bracket.

Worth noting from that table: if the 3,200kg tow limit is the Cannon Premium's deal-breaker for you, the Cannon Lux at $41,490 drive-away fixes it, adds 15kW and 80Nm, and still sits well over $17,000 under the D-Max SX before the Isuzu's on-road costs are counted.

Running costs lean to the Isuzu. Its 3.0-litre uses 7.1L/100km against the Cannon's 8.3, worth roughly $360 a year over 15,000km, or about $1,800 across five years. That is real money, but it is not going to close a five-figure purchase gap. Warranty favours GWM at seven years and unlimited kilometres against Isuzu's six years and 150,000km.

Resale remains the D-Max's quiet advantage. Isuzu utes hold value strongly among tradies, fleets and tourers, and the Cannon is newer to the market with residuals still establishing. Over a long ownership period that narrows the gap. It does not erase it.

Both are 5-star ANCAP, the Cannon dated 2021 and the D-Max 2022, with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and the rest of the active-safety suite standard. The D-Max in particular has been praised for the breadth of its standard safety tech. Both are heavy utes that carry a mass advantage in a crash. There's little to separate them on everyday safety.

The Cannon Premium is generously equipped for the money, with a big touchscreen, modern cabin tech and a comfortable, car-like interior that feels a step above its price. For buyers who want a well-appointed 4x4 ute without spending big, it makes a strong case.

The D-Max is the established workhorse: a tough, no-nonsense cabin, proven switchgear, and the deep dealer, parts and accessory support that comes from decades in the Australian market. For remote work and touring where reliability and parts availability are everything, that ecosystem carries real weight. Both clear about 232–235mm and have genuine low-range 4WD.

The D-Max's 3.0-litre turbo-diesel makes 140kW and 450Nm against the Cannon's 2.4-litre with 120kW and 400Nm. The Isuzu's extra power and torque make it the stronger tow vehicle, and it backs that with the full 3,500kg braked rating versus the Cannon's 3,200kg, a meaningful 300kg if you tow at the limit. It also carries more payload (1,065kg vs 995kg).

The Cannon's smaller diesel has less in reserve when loaded or towing near its limit, and its 3,200kg rating is the one hard capability gap in this comparison. Both use automatics and proper low-range 4WD systems. So the D-Max wins on outright capability and efficiency, and the Cannon wins on price by a margin that is now large enough to be the deciding factor for most buyers rather than a tiebreaker.