How quickly Chinese vehicles have improved in perceived quality has caught the motoring establishment unawares, and GWM is one of the brands whose latest products are almost unrecognisable from their cheap-feeling forebears.
Step inside the new GWM Tank 300 4x4 and you’ll be hard pressed to discern any of the cost-cutting that characterised Chinese cars of yore. The lush leather and metallic flourishes inside this SUV feel as premium as some brands with 100-year reputations — on first sight, anyway. The jury’s still out on how the smart-looking materials will stand up to the rigours of extended use, and how classy the cabin might look in a few years’ time.
One old habit the Chinese haven’t shaken off is their propensity for copycat designs, and the Tank 300’s American-flavoured styling is an unashamed mash-up of vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. The boxy shape and chunky wheel arches make the Tank 300 look poised to take on hard off-road trails, and the macho design doesn’t hold false promise.
This is not a soft roader but a hard-core 4x4 that is equipped for all-terrain travels with its rugged body-on-frame chassis, elevated 224mm ground clearance, all-wheel drive, low-range transfer case, electronic rear diff lock and fat off-road tyres.
There are modes for various off-road scenarios including mud and sand, selectable by a rotary dial between the front seats. The same dial gives access to Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes.
The Tank’s ride quality is exceptional, with its multilink suspension and pothole-eating high-profile tyres soaking up stones and craters on gravel roads. It has old-school SUV handling, feeling a little top heavy in fast bends without feeling overly clumsy.
The Tank 300 hits the mark as a family adventure vehicle with its spacious cabin, which has stretch-out room for four or five adults, and a spacious boot that expands to accept bulky objects when the rear seats are folded down. Access to the cargo hold is via a sideways-opening tailgate door that feels vault-like with a heavy full-sized spare wheel mounted on it — younger family members may struggle to open it.
Inside, the smart cabin vibe is complemented by robust grab handles with exposed allen head bolts to give it an adventurous character, and a joystick-like automatic gearshifter. The analogue clock in the dashboard is a charming and unusual touch.
There are convenient quick-access buttons for the climate control system and the infotainment is a touchscreen. There are a lot of functions and digging into the digital labyrinth takes some getting used to, but no more so than most modern cars these days. There are USB ports and a wireless pad to keep smartphones charged.
At 4,760mm in length it is a large vehicle and the Tank name is not unjustified, so I was grateful for the presence of surround view cameras that showed hidden obstacles on the infotainment screen. The hi-tech help is handy when off-roading or parking the car, though the surround view also came on every time an intersection or sharp corner was approached, which I failed to see the purpose of. I had to switch off the surround view if I wanted to use the infotainment system when stopped at an intersection, which was annoying.
One hi-tech aid I did like was the digital instrument panel which showed a real-time radar view of the car and surrounding vehicles on the road while driving, which could prove useful in driving conditions with restricted visibility.
The range-topping Tank 300 2.0T HEV Super Luxury 4x4 is powered by a hybrid powertrain combining a 2.0l turbo engine with an electric motor, making this GWM’s most powerful model.
With a heavy 2.3 tonnes to lug the 255kW drivetrain has a lot of work to do and feels a little lazy in Eco and Normal driving modes. It livens up in Sport mode and feels satisfyingly responsive, delivering easy-overtaking power and, with a strapping 648Nm of torque, it tackles steep hills effortlessly. It’s a refined engine and adds to the vehicle’s all-round quietness. It feels sturdily built and, as with the premium interior trappings, initial impressions point to a vehicle of substance.
Less impressive, especially for a hybrid, is the test vehicle’s greedy fuel consumption which varied between 12.5l and 18l/100km depending on driving conditions, and averaged 14.3l. This was considerably worse than the factory-claimed 8.4l and more than double what we achieved in a rival Toyota Rav4 hybrid (6.4l) we road tested. Choosing one of the two non-hybrid Tank 300 models will presumably serve no better on the frugality front; they have outputs of 162kW and 380Nm and a claimed 9.5l/100km.
The high fuel thirst is a sticking point in a vehicle that otherwise has a lot to offer adventure-seeking families, including its macho image, proper off-road ability, interior luxury and comfortable ride. Then again, the Tank 300’s relatively competitive price may help offset the pain at the fuel pumps.
Tech specs
POWERTRAIN
Type: Four-cylinder petrol engine, electric motor
Capacity: 2.0l
Power: 255kW
Torque: 648Nm
TRANSMISSION
Type: Nine-speed automatic, selectable low range
DRIVETRAIN
Type: All-wheel drive
PERFORMANCE
Top speed: n/a
0-100km/h: n/a
Fuel consumption: 8.4l/100km (claimed); 14.3l/100km (as tested)
Emissions: 196g/km
STANDARD FEATURES
Electronic stability control, ABS brakes, seven airbags, remote central locking, artificial leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, infotainment system wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, electric windows, electrically adjustable front seats, parking camera with surround view, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, auto on-off lights, LED daytime running lights, lane keeping assist
COST OF OWNERSHIP
Warranty: Seven years/200,000km
Service plan: Five years/75,000km
Price: R851,950
Lease: R18,939 a month
*at 11.75% interest over 60 months no deposit
GWM Tank 300 2.0T HEV Super Luxury 4x4
WE LIKE: Styling, off road ability, comfortable ride
WE DISLIKE: Fuel consumption
VERDICT: A capable adventurer with American-style flair
Motor News star rating
Design *****
Performance ****
Economy **
Ride *****
Handling ***
Safety *****
Value For Money ****
Overall ****
COMPETITION
* Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 2.4DI-D 4x4 Exceed, 133kW/430Nm — R904,990
* Toyota Fortuner 2.8GD-6 48V 4x4 VX, 150kW/500Nm — R961,800
* Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 3.6 Rubicon, 209kW/347Nm — R1,121,900
* Ford Everest 3.0 TD V6 4WD Wildtrak, 184kW/600Nm — R1,162,700
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.