Scheduled to launch in South Africa in the first quarter of 2027, we take a closer look at how the Chery Grootman stacks up against two new-energy double-cab bakkie rivals, the BYD Shark 6 and GWM P300 PHEV.
In February 2026, Chery officially revealed the ‘KP31’, with the Chinese automaker’s local arm confirming its new double-cab bakkie, which will go by the name ‘Grootman’ in our market, will arrive in South Africa in the first quarter of 2027. We’ve detailed the Grootman’s powertrain, off-road capability, and specs, but how does it compare against the likes of the BYD Shark 6 and GWM P300 PHEV? We take a closer look…
2027 Chery Grootman vs rivals: powertrain specifications
Compared to the Shark 6 and P300 featured here, the internal combustion engine (ICE) component of the Chery’s plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain comes in the shape of a turbodiesel, as opposed to a turbocharged petrol unit. The Grootman’s 2.5-litre, four-cylinder oil-burner churns out 140 kW and 450 N.m, with the electric motor lifting the PHEV arrangement’s peak power and torque outputs to 350 kW and 800 N.m. Power is delivered to all four corners via a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). The Grootman sports 4H, 4L, and a selection of 4WD settings.
The Shark 6 is available with the choice of two PHEV powertrain configurations. While both the Premium and Performance models’ DMO (Dual Mode Off-road) setups incorporate two electric motors, in the former and latter, the electric motors are coupled with a 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol ICE, respectively. The Premium derivative’s 1.5-litre ICE produces 135 kW and 260 N.m, with the front and rear electric motors producing 170 kW/310 N.m and 150 kW/340 N.m, respectively. The combined power output is 321 kW, with 650 N.m delivered to the road via all four corners. The Performance derivative’s 2.0-litre ICE produces 180 kW and 380 N.m, with its front electric motor uprated to produce 200 kW and 360 N.m. The Performance derivative’s peak power and torque outputs come in at 350 kW and 700 N.m.
The flagship GWM P300’s PHEV setup pairs a 180 kW/380 N.m 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol ICE with a single electric motor — the latter producing 130 kW and 495 N.m, and integrated into the nine-speed automatic transmission — for a combined system output of 310 kW and 750 N.m. A four-wheel drivetrain, replete with low range, is also present here.
2027 Chery Grootman vs rivals: fuel consumption and electric range
The Chery’s PHEV setup incorporates a 34 kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery serving up a WLTP operating range of 96 km on a single, full charge. The Wuhu brand claims a combined average fuel consumption of 1.1 L/100 km, though has yet to confirm a figure for when the LFP item is depleted, and 31.1 kWh energy consumption. The Grootman is equipped with an 80-litre fuel tank.
Both the Shark 6 Premium and Performance are equipped with a 29.6 kWh battery pack and 60-litre fuel tank. BYD claims 2.0 and 1.3 L/100 km consumption figures for the Premium and Performance, respectively, when the battery is charged. The combined average fuel consumption figures for the Premium and Performance are 9.6 and 10.5 L/100 km, respectively. The Premium offers an electric-only range of 85 km, BYD says, with the Performance model offering 80 km.
The new-energy P300’s Hi4-T powertrain is coupled with a 33.1 kWh LFP battery, which offers an electric-only range of up to 115 km on the NEDC cycle, or approximately 98 km on the WLTP cycle. The Baoding marque claims a combined average fuel consumption of 2.4 L/100 km and an average of 7.9 L/100 km when the battery is discharged. The P300 PHEV features a 78-litre fuel tank.
2027 Chery Grootman vs rivals: dimensions, ground clearance and approach/departure angles
The Grootman is marginally shorter than the BYD, at 5 450 vs 5 457 mm. However, the Chery is 39 mm wider, at 2 010 vs 1 971 mm. The GWM measures 5 416 mm in length and 1 947 mm in width. Measuring 1 925 mm in height, the BYD is the tallest of the trio. The Chery and GWM stand 1 890 and 1 886 mm tall, respectively. In terms of wheelbase, the Shark 6 sports the longest wheelbase here — 3 260 mm vs the Chery’s 3 250 mm and P300 PHEV’s 3 230 mm.
Boasting a 247 mm ground clearance, the Chery has the most ground clearance of the bakkies featured here. The BYD and GWM sports a 230 and 200 mm ground clearance, respectively. In terms of approach/departure angles, the Grootman, Shark 6, and P300 PHEV’s are rated at 30/25, 31/19.3, and 26/23 degrees, respectively.
2027 Chery Grootman vs rivals: payload and towing capacity
In the payload capacity stakes, the GWM offers the highest payload, at 835 kg. The Chery and BYD offer 765 and 790 kg, respectively. All models have an unbraked towing capacity of 750 kg, with the Chery, Shark 6 Performance, and GWM offering a braked towing capacity of 3 500 kg. The Shark 6 Premium has a 2 500 kg braked towing capacity.
2027 Chery Grootman vs rivals: pricing in South Africa
While Chery has yet to confirm local pricing for the Grootman, along with the model lineup, we expect its pricing will align with the flagship P300 and BYD Shark 6’s. The P300 PHEV is priced from R914 900, with the Shark 6 Premium and Performance priced from R999 900 and R1 149 900, respectively.
