China is shifting into the 4×4 market.
As soon as the unique area of the likes of Jeep and Land Rover, GWM is getting in on the motion with its rough-and-ready Tank sub-brand – beginning with the 2023 GWM Tank 300 you see right here.
Trying like a lovechild between a Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the GWM Tank 300 is the primary of the Tank-branded merchandise to make it to Australia, more likely to be adopted by the bigger Tank 500 which is able to provide a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
The Tank 300 was initially meant to launch with a segment-first hybrid, however transport delays meant the turbocharged petrol model has made it to our shores first – and that’s the automotive now we have on check.
Priced from $50,990 drive-away in high-spec Extremely specification as examined, the Tank 300 shapes up as a hell of lots metallic for the cash.
It’s bigger, extra highly effective and extra luxurious than one thing like a Suzuki Jimny which isn’t all that less expensive in right now’s market, whereas it’s considerably extra inexpensive than one thing like a Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover Defender.
So, is GWM onto a winner?
How a lot does the GWM Tank 300 value?
Costs begin from $46,990 drive-away for the entry-level Tank 300 Lux, climbing to $60,990 drive-away for the flagship Tank 300 Extremely Hybrid.
Our Extremely petrol tester is $50,990 drive-away, which means the Hybrid instructions a hefty $10,000 premium over its petrol-only counterpart.
The Tank 300 occupies an attention-grabbing house available in the market, sitting above the most costly Suzuki Jimny GLX ($33,490), and properly under the likes of the Jeep Wrangler Limitless (from $81,450). Be aware these costs exclude on-road prices.
In the meantime, the Tank 300 is positioned in the identical value bracket as diesel-powered ute-based 4×4 SUVs just like the Ford Everest 4WD (from $57,990), Isuzu MU-X 4×4 (from $54,900) and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 4×4 (from $49,940).
Given the options and engine efficiency on provide, the Tank 300 stacks up as very compelling on paper. Whereas the Tank 300 Hybrid instructions a hefty premium over the equal petrol, there’s nothing else prefer it within the section.
2023 GWM Tank 300 pricing:
- GWM Tank 300 Lux: $46,990
- GWM Tank 300 Extremely: $50,990
- GWM Tank 300 Lux Hybrid: $55,990
- GWM Tank 300 Extremely Hybrid: $60,990
Costs are drive-away
What’s the GWM Tank 300 like on the within?
There’s a really clear Mercedes affect within the cabin of the Tank 300.
From the bluff, upright dashboard to the conjoined 12.3-inch shows and round air vents, it’s clear the place GWM has drawn inspiration from Germany’s iconic retro-modern off-roader.
The cabin of the Extremely grade now we have on check is mighty spectacular, from the Nappa leather-lined seats to the quilted leatherette door inserts and the clear decision of the digital screens. It does have fairly a little bit of ‘wow’ issue.
Perceived construct high quality is fairly strong, particularly for the section. The Jimny and Wrangler are fairly utilitarian by comparability.
Storage is fairly respectable too, with quantity of cubbies and cabinets to go away your odds and ends, although I want the entrance door pockets had been slightly extra substantial.
Within the Extremely variations, the motive force is handled to an electrically-adjustable seat which is neat, with each entrance seats additionally that includes each heating and cooling features.
The steering wheel additionally affords attain and rake adjustment, however as you’ll discover in most automobiles within the 4×4 segments you usually end up sitting fairly excessive within the cabin, and kind of wanting down into the instrument binnacle.
The GWM Tank 300’s digital driver’s show will get high marks for color and readability, however a ‘wants enchancment’ for structure and configurability.
The menus and structure apes what we’ve seen within the GWM Haval H6, with a Tank 300 for numerous graphics and a few further off-road menus thrown in – color matched to the car although, which is cute. I’d like to see digital dials put in, which little question could be fascinating when off-roading.
Shifting over to the left you’ve the enormous 12.3-inch central touchscreen, which you’ll discover favours left-hand drive markets like China given the touch-based shortcuts on the display are on the passenger’s facet.
Like the motive force’s show, the infotainment system is a Tank model of what we’ve seen in GWM Haval merchandise, with the identical menus, fonts and layouts with pretty minimal differentiation.
By way of options, you get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which look nice on the high-resolution show, in addition to DAB+. There’s no embedded satellite tv for pc navigation, which implies for those who frequent regional areas with minimal service you may run into points with mapping for those who miss a flip off a pre-downloaded route, for instance.
In any other case, it’s pretty fast to answer inputs and cargo menus, even when a few of these menus are slightly convoluted. Hopefully with updates we’ll see extra simplified menu buildings and cleaner textual content, in addition to a digital shortcut bar on the right-hand facet for right-hand drive markets.
The nine-speaker Infinity-branded audio system within the Extremely is fairly respectable for audio high quality and depth.
Area within the again is sweet, due to the Tank 300’s boxy dimensions.
At 6’1 I had good head-, knee- and toe room, although the high-ish flooring means you’ve a little bit of a knees-up seating place which is pretty frequent for ladder-frame platforms.
Rear facilities embrace directional air vents, USB energy shops, map pockets behind each entrance seats, bottle holders within the doorways, and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders.
The second-row seats fold just about fully flat in a 60:40 break up, and kiddies are catered for due to top-tether factors throughout all three positions in addition to ISOFIX anchors on the outboard positions.
GWM nonetheless doesn’t quote a baggage capability for the Tank 300 in any of its official documentation.
Accessed through a heavy side-hinged tailgate, we will let you know the sq., extensive and flat load space is greater than you’ll discover in a Suzuki Jimny, and isn’t far off one thing like a Jeep Wrangler or Land Rover Defender 90.
There’s a full-sized spare wheel is mounted on the tailgate, for those who hadn’t already seen.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The Tank 300 makes use of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 162kW of energy and 380Nm of torque, mated with an eight-speed computerized transmission.
Petrol fashions use a part-time four-wheel drive system with low-range, and have a locking rear differential and a Tank Flip perform to cut back the turning circle.
The Tank 300 Hybrid makes use of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 180kW of energy at 5500-6000rpm and 380Nm of torque at 1700-4000rpm, paired with a 78kW/268Nm electrical motor. System outputs are 258kW and 615Nm.
Hybrid fashions use a nine-speed ‘Hybrid Computerized Transmission’ and a torque-on-demand full-time four-wheel drive system. It options electronically-controlled mechanical entrance and rear differential locks, a Tank Flip perform to cut back the turning circle on gravel, and a crawl mode.
The Tank 300 makes use of 9.5L/100km on the mixed cycle, whereas the Tank 300 Hybrid quotes 8.4L/100km. All fashions are rated to run on 91 RON common unleaded.
How does the GWM Tank 300 drive?
This driving part can be in two components: on-road and off-road.
I spent just a few hours behind the wheel of the Tank 300 on the Hume Freeway driving to and from the GR Corolla Morizo Version launch in Broadford proper after choosing it up.
I used to be fairly impressed with the 300’s turbocharged efficiency, with punchy response proper via the rev vary. Paul did a 0-100 check which you’ll be able to view within the Paul’s video evaluation, and managed 8.95 seconds – which is about 2.0-3.0s faster than most four-cylinder diesel 4×4 SUV.
At 100 and 110km/h the Tank is pleasantly refined and steady, with the drivetrain settling right into a quiet background hum in eighth gear – spinning at just below 2000rpm – with acceptable insulation from street and wind noise relative to 4×4 rivals.
There’s a little bit of whirring and wind whistle to deal with, however it’s in any other case a helpful tourer. Plus, the tender trip takes the sting off sharper imperfections you’ll usually discover on nation highways, although the physique can transfer round a bit.
I had loads of time to mess around with the Tank 300’s driver help techniques, together with the Freeway Help perform that encompasses all-speed adaptive cruise management with site visitors jam help, in addition to energetic lane centring.
GWM’s assists have come a good distance in comparison with when the model initially launched its present vary of merchandise, with a much more user-friendly stage of response and help, significantly with lane help features.
Some should discover the centring possibility an excessive amount of; on numerous events I discovered it could let the 300 drift out of the lane which defeats the aim. In any other case, the adaptive cruise did job sustaining the set pace on hills, however would sometimes be too conservative with following distance.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are additionally helpful, given the Tank 300’s elevated trip peak and excessive shoulder line – you shouldn’t miss any lower-slung automobiles when negotiating gaps in site visitors.
On the town the Tank 300 doesn’t really feel cumbersome or heavy to drive, although it could sometimes really feel desperate to launch from the lights with idle cease/begin in play.
Tighter turns elicit a little bit of physique roll because of the trip peak and tender setup, so preserve that in thoughts if the top-heavy really feel is a deal-breaker. No less than the steering is fairly mild and correct, so that you’re not endlessly twirling the steering wheel or consistently correcting such as you may need to in another off-roaders.
It’s in any other case agreeable, and if pushed sedately it’s fairly an easy and opulent place to spend time. That tall physique and tender suspension means the Tank 300 eats pace humps for breakfast, and in contrast to some specialised off-roaders it’s much less prone to scuttle shake over pockmarked roads – although it’s not immune.
Parking this massive ol’ factor could also be daunting at first, given the lengthy bonnet and chunky wheel arches in addition to the excessive shoulder line. Fortunately, the encompass digicam system is superb, as we’ve come to anticipate from the Chinese language model, as are entrance and rear parking sensors along with rear cross-traffic help.
Throughout the brake check throughout filming, Paul famous the Tank 300 demonstrated an alarming stage of nostril dive beneath emergency cease situations, to the purpose the place one of many rear wheels nearly left the street and the car squirrelled about because it got here to a cease – not probably the most confidence-inspiring trait in these circumstances.
Paul Maric additionally took the Tank 300 off-road, to check out GWM’s claims of this new mannequin being a licensed 4×4.
Strategy and departure angles are 33.0 and 34.0 levels respectively, with floor clearance quoted at 224mm. There’s commonplace underbody safety, too.
Paul famous the simplicity of activating the rear differential lock, which helped the Tank 300 stroll over the offset mogul check.
He did additionally word, nonetheless, that the traction management wasn’t good sufficient to get the car out of low-traction eventualities with out the rear differential activated.
The Tank 300 had no such points on our hillclimb and dirt bogs, no matter whether or not the entrance and rear diffs had been locked.
It walked up when in 4L with the diffs open, and with the diffs locked was capable of cease halfway after which get going once more with no fuss.
Coming down the opposite facet, the Tank 300’s nifty ‘Clear Chassis Perform’ helps create a transparent view forward of the car over crests and on all sides to maximise visibility when off the crushed monitor.
Paul was additionally glad with the efficiency of the Tank 300’s hill-descent management perform, which maintained the set pace down a pointy decline.
The Tank 300 efficiently navigated the water crossing, which was at a comparatively excessive 650mm after latest heavy rain. GWM quotes a wading depth most of 700mm.
It went via with none points, and the usual tyres helped climb out of the pool no dramas.
Over the boulders set in Rock mode, the Tank 300 walked over comfortably with no touchdowns, with Paul highlighting total consolation as a key takeaway, and good throttle management.
To see Paul’s detailed off-road impressions in additional depth, take a look at the Paul’s video evaluation.
What do you get?
Tank 300 Lux + Lux Hybrid highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Auto-folding, heated exterior mirrors
- LED headlights and tail lights
- Daytime operating lights
- Sunroof
- Two-piece under-body guard
- Tyre stress monitoring
- Crawl Management
- Tank Flip
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Energy driver’s seat
- ‘Consolation-Tek’ leather-based upholstery
- Microfibre and leather-based steering wheel
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Entrance and rear USB ports
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 9-speaker audio system
- Ambient inside lighting
- DAB+ digital radio (hybrid solely)
- 12V energy shops (entrance and baggage cabin)
Tank 300 Extremely provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Nappa leather-based seats
- Heated and cooled entrance seats
- Powered driver seat incl. therapeutic massage perform
- Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Wi-fi telephone charging
- 9-speaker Infinity sound system
- Extra ambient lighting colors
Tank 300 Extremely Hybrid provides:
- Semi-autonomous parking help
- Driver’s seat and mirror reminiscence
- Auto reverse monitoring
Is the GWM Tank 300 secure?
The Tank 300 wears a five-star ANCAP security score with 2022 datestamp, primarily based on native crash assessments – one thing the Jimny and Wrangler can not match. This score covers petrol and hybrid Tank 300 variants.
It scored 88 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 89 per cent for baby occupant safety, 81 per cent for susceptible street customers, and 85 per cent for security assists.
Whereas the Tank 300 scored properly throughout all key classes, ANCAP’s media launch famous a penalty for vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility.
“Full factors had been recorded for all 4 crucial physique areas of each the motive force and entrance seat passenger within the frontal offset check. This excessive rating was nonetheless offset by the utmost 4.00 level penalty for vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility because the entrance construction of the Tank 300 was proven to pose a excessive danger to the occupants of an oncoming car, if struck,” the unbiased crash tester mentioned.
“Comparable excessive scores had been seen for the Tank 300’s means to guard the motive force and entrance seat occupants within the vary of facet affect crash check eventualities.”
Additional, Weak efficiency was famous for defense of the top and chest of the rear passenger within the full-width frontal set, which ANCAP recommended might be addressed with “enhancements to the restraint system”.
Commonplace security tools contains:
- 7 airbags incl. front-centre
- Adaptive cruise management
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Lane preserve help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Encompass-view digicam incl. ‘Clear Chassis Perform’
- Visitors signal recognition
Tank 300 Hybrid provides:
- 6 parking sensors (up from 4)
- Entrance cross-traffic help
Colors
Commonplace: $NCO
Premium: $595
- Pearl White
- Crystal Black
- Nightfall Orange
- Lunar Crimson
How a lot does the GWM Tank 300 value to run?
The Tank 300 is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee and 5 years of roadside help.
GWM additionally affords 5 years of capped-price servicing for the Tank 300 like its wider line-up, with intervals of 12 months or 10,000km for the primary go to, after which 12 months or 15,000km after that.
Pricing for the primary 5 companies are quoted at $300, $300, $550, $550 and $300 – totalling $2000 over 5 years.
By way of real-world gas consumption we had been seeing 8-9.0L/100km on the freeway and 10-11L/100km on the town. That’s within the ballpark of GWM’s declare, however the petrol Tank 300 can’t match the effectivity of diesel-powered 4×4 rivals.
Be aware all Tank 300 fashions – together with the Tank 300 Hybrid – can run on 91 RON common unleaded gas.
CarExpert’s Tackle the GWM Tank 300
The Tank 300 is greater than only a copycat tackle a few of the world’s most iconic off-roaders.
Packing retro-inspired seems to be, a properly offered cabin, and a characteristic record that leaves you wanting for little, the Tank 300 will put manufacturers like Jeep on discover – you may just about two of those for the value of a Wrangler Limitless.
It additionally has a punchy turbocharged drivetrain and succesful 4×4 operating gear that handled our comparatively mild assessments with minimal fuss – for those who solely want gentle 4×4 means with options which are straightforward to make use of and interact, it’s fairly good.
Even higher, in contrast to the Suzuki Jimny or Jeep Wrangler, the Tank 300 is a reasonably snug and simple factor to dwell with each on the town and on the freeway, with all of the consolation and tech you’d anticipate out of a road-biased SUV.
That’s to not say it’s excellent, nonetheless. The convoluted structure of the infotainment interface that favours left-hand drive China is irritating, whereas the shortage of satellite tv for pc navigation and wi-fi smartphone mirroring are blanks within the spec sheet that ought to be included of a car at this value level launching in 2023.
The suspension additionally poses a difficulty in emergency braking conditions as demonstrated by Paul, although the Tank 300’s efficiency in ANCAP crash testing reveals that is removed from unsafe total. Having a full-time four-wheel drive system would even be improve for the petrol Tank 300 when it comes to all-weather on-road efficiency.
I’d be fairly eager to attempt the Tank 300 Hybrid when it arrives, given it’s a very distinctive providing relative to rival 4x4s, however even in commonplace petrol guise this new arrival makes a compelling case for itself for those who’re keen to take an opportunity on the GWM model – given the Chinese language producer’s minimal recognition amongst 4×4 motorists.
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