RELY R08 vs Toyota Hilux vs GWM Cannon
Export-ready RELY R08 from US$11,800 FOB*
The Hilux is the benchmark every diesel double-cab is measured against, and the GWM Cannon is the established Chinese challenger. The fleet question is simpler than brand loyalty: for a fixed budget, which truck puts the most compliant, working units on the ground?
Below is the spec-for-spec picture from the manufacturers' published figures, followed by an honest read of where each truck actually wins.
Spec for Spec
| RELY R08 | Toyota Hilux | GWM Cannon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel engine | 2.3T turbo-diesel | 2.4L / 2.8L turbo-diesel | 2.0T turbo-diesel |
| Max output | 120 kW | 110–150 kW | 120 kW |
| Peak torque | 420 N·m | 400–500 N·m | 400 N·m |
| Transmission | 6MT / 8AT | 6MT / 6AT | 8AT |
| Drive | 2WD / 4WD | 4×2 / 4×4 | 4×2 / 4×4 |
| Body | Double cab, body-on-frame | Double cab, body-on-frame | Double cab, body-on-frame |
| Cargo box options | Standard (1,530 mm) & long (1,810 mm) bed | Single bed per cab style | Single bed per cab style |
| Cabin | 15.6″ touchscreen · 8155 chip · OTA · L2 | Varies by trim | Varies by trim |
| Indicative price | From US$11,800 FOB China* | Check your local list price | Check your local list price |
Competitor figures are the manufacturers' published specifications for representative current export diesel variants (Toyota Hilux 2.4/2.8 GD; GWM Cannon 2.0TD). Variants differ by market and model year — verify the exact specification you are quoted. *R08 price: selected base configuration, confirmed per export VIN; freight, duty and taxes excluded.
Where the R08 wins
- Cost per unit — a from-US$11,800 FOB base against the segment's premium pricing; run your own market's Hilux or Cannon list price against it and do the fleet math.
- Cabin technology at work-truck money: 15.6-inch touchscreen on the Snapdragon 8155 chip, OTA updates and L2 driver assistance.
- Two factory cargo-box lengths (1,530 mm / 1,810 mm) instead of one bed per cab style.
Where the Hilux wins
- Unmatched resale value and decades of brand trust in nearly every export market.
- The densest dealer and parts network in the segment, everywhere.
- A higher-output 2.8L option (150 kW / 500 N·m) for buyers who need the extra pull.
Where the Cannon sits
- The established Chinese alternative with several export-market years behind it and a standard 8AT.
- Typically priced between the R08 and the Hilux — which is exactly the gap the R08's pricing attacks.
- Like the R08, it counts on GWM's growing network rather than Toyota's ubiquity.
Common Questions
Is the RELY R08 a real Hilux alternative?
For fleet and work duty, the spec sheet says yes: comparable diesel torque (420 N·m vs the Hilux 2.4's 400 N·m), body-on-frame construction and 2WD/4WD options. What the Hilux keeps is resale value and Toyota's parts ubiquity — if your fleet math is cost per working unit, the R08 argues for itself; if it is residual value, the Hilux still leads.
How does parts availability compare?
Honestly: Toyota's network is the best in the world and nothing matches it. The R08 draws on the Chery group's export network — two decades as China's largest passenger-vehicle exporter — which is established in many R08 target markets, and we support parts inquiries through the same WhatsApp line as sales.
Why is no Hilux or Cannon price shown?
Because their pricing varies by market, trim and dealer, and quoting a number we cannot stand behind would be marketing, not information. Check the list price in your market and set it against our published from-US$11,800 FOB — the per-unit gap is the real comparison.