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Big gun: 2021 GWM P-Series Passenger LT d/c 4x4

a.k.a. Pao, Poer and Cannon in other markets

Sixteen reasons

Posted: April 9, 2021

The numbers
Price: R544 900
Engine: 1996 cc, DOHC, 16-valve, four-cylinder, turbodiesel
Power: 120 kW at 3600 rpm
Torque: 400 Nm between 1500 – 2600 rpm
Zero to 100 km/h: 11.4 seconds
Maximum speed: 170 km/h (estimated)
Car magazine fuel index: 11.4 l/100 km
Tank: 78 litres
Ground clearance, max/min: 232 - 194 mm
Approach/departure/rampover angles: 27.0/25.0/21.1 degrees
Wading depth: 500 mm
Turning circle: 13.1 metres
Payload: 1050 kg
Maximum towing capacity, unbraked/braked: 750/3000 kg
Standard tyre: 265/60R18 Cooper Discoverer M+S
Spare: Full size on steel rim
Warranty: 5 years/100 000 km; with 5 years’ AA roadside assistance
Service plan: 5 years/100 000 km

We never saw the 2018-on Steed 7 in South Africa. It was a facelifted version of Steed 6, with a few electronic enhancements, but GWM SA elected to wait a while and move directly to its eventual replacement, the P-Series.

This range’s nomenclature gets a little complicated. In its home country they call it Pao, pronounced “Pow-u”, that translates either as Run, or Gun / Cannon / Artillery Piece. The Kiwis and Aussies dubbed it Cannon. GWM SA chose to back off from the bafflement and name it P-Series.

Apart from styling changes, most noticeably an aggressive-looking face, is its size. Although only 65 mm longer than Steed 6, P-Series pickups are significantly wider and taller, now measuring 5410 x 1934 x 1886 mm. That’s a touch bigger than SA-spec’ Ford Rangers.

The local, 16-model range shares one engine, an uprated version of the 2.0-litre VGT diesel we came to know in Steeds 5 and 6. This one ups the outputs to 120 kilowatts and 400 Newton-metres for a notable increase in pulling power.

Differentiation is fairly simple. First up are four workhorse-style, single cab, Commercial versions with six-speed manual transmission, hydraulic power steering, mechanical parking brake and choice of two trim grades, SX and DLX, in 4x2 or 4x4.
 
Then come eight double-cab Commercials - same trim grades; six-speed manual or eight-speed ZF automatic; 4x2 and 4x4.

For the leisure market there are four dual-cab Passenger models in LS or LT trim, eight-speed automatic and 4x2 or 4x4.

Even the lowliest, SX grade, Commercial 4x2 offers some interesting kit: Double wishbone front suspension with leaf springs at the back; 17-inch alloy wheels; side steps; remote controllers on the steering wheel; USB and power sockets; Bluetooth hands-free; cruise control; height-adjustable driver’s seat; ESP, braking assistance and traction control; hill start assistance; rear parking sensors; automatic locking; powered front windows with one-touch for the driver; rear fog lights; DRLs and air conditioning (manual in this case).

By the time one graduates to our test vehicle, a Passenger LT 4x4, the nice-to-haves include 18-inch alloys; electric power steering; electric windows with one-touch all around; ventilated rear disc brakes; gently-down tailgate; seven-inch instrument cluster; nine-inch touchscreen; adjustable steering sensitivity; plastic bin liner; choice of driving modes; rearview camera with guidelines; electric parking brake; torque-on-demand awd with difflock and low range; adaptive cruise control; lane keeping aids; forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and leather seats with electric adjusters in front.

Other equipment includes seven airbags rather than two, electronic brakeforce distribution, roll-over mitigation, descent control, tyre pressure monitoring, keyless entry and starting, automatic LED headlights, front fog lamps with cornering mode, powered and folding mirrors, and automatic aircon with rear vents.

It’s very well put together inside, with softish-touch plastic surfaces for those who don’t believe that big, tough 4x4s need to look rough ‘n ready. Head- and knee space is plentiful for six-foot riders, and there are climb-in handles and panic grips for all passengers. The driver has to fend for him- or herself although, as compensation, there is a personal sunspecs box.

Not all is Utopian however. Certain “safety” features, road sign recognition and lane keeping assist, default back on each time the vehicle is restarted. It’s irritating. Further, GWM could make the trip meter and fuel computer less mysterious to get at.  

But the ride on dirt roads is about as good as you can get with a leaf spring back end; ride quality was very acceptable over ripples, embedded stones and minor potholes. There were no signs of skittishness.

The ZF eight-speed, torque converter gearbox behaved well. As they always do. Manual override requires that you pull the stick back to the M position and shift by means of the paddles. Although the motor appears to be down on power when doing an on-paper comparison against rivals, it’s actually rather vigorous. We had fun with it.

This is altogether a very nice vehicle, although perhaps a bit heavy on features for our humbler needs. We’d get the equivalent Commercial version instead.  

Test unit courtesy of GWM Pietermaritzburg

What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that every car reviewed is given my personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every test car goes through real world driving; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads or goat tracks as well. As a result, my test cars do occasionally get dirty. It's all part of the reviewing process.

I do my best to include relevant information like real life fuel economy or a close mathematical calculation, boot size or luggage space, whether the space is both usable and accessible, whether life-sized people can use the back seat (where that applies), basic specs of the vehicle and performance figures if they are published. In the case of clearly identified launch reports, fuel figures are of necessity the laboratory numbers provided with the release material.

If ever I place an article that doesn't cover most things, it's probably because I have dealt with a very similar vehicle already, so you will be able to find what you want in another report under the same manufacturer's heading in the menu on the left.

Hope you like what you see, because there are no commercial interests at work here. There are no advertisers and no “editorial policy” rules. I add bylines to acknowledge sponsored launch functions and the manufacturers or dealerships that provide the test vehicles.  And, as quite a few readers have found, I answer every serious enquiry from my home email address, with my phone numbers attached, so you can see I do actually exist.

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