Last week, we joined the launch of the GWM Tank 300 HEV which we grabbed with both hands. Why? Because nobody is going to say no to a dusty trail and a rocky terrain especially while using a luxury 4×4 to tackle it – particularly, with a hybrid.
I say luxury 4×4 because this is GWM’s answer to the likes of the Toyota Fortuner or the Ford Everest alongside a few others in this category known for their comfort and capability. The bonus is this is all delivered as a hybrid SUV.
GWM’s Tank comes well-equipped, a trend seen in the other vehicles from the Chinese market as of late. This gives them a good competitive edge when choosing between the variety of SUVs in the market as it comes in at a competitive price range that won’t break the bank at under R1 million.
The design is fascinating, many holding the sentiment that it shares its masculine looks with the Jeep Wrangler. Rather, I think this gives us what we could have had if the Ford Bronco made its way to our shores.
Most of the car is boxy with bulky trims coming through the bumpers and skirts. These feature a beautiful piano black fascia that adorns the Tank Logo nested on the grill. The aggressive look is accompanied by 18-inch alloy wheels and completed with a spare wheel situated at the swing door.
The Tank 300 shows off how its luxury upon entering. It is reminiscent of the Mercedes G-class and Chery vehicles with a flat screen split into an infotainment alongside a main information cluster. Just below that are the USB connections – both type C and USB. aWhat would a modern luxury vehicle be without a wireless charging pad, of course?
I loved the fact that the interior is mostly wrapped in soft-touch materials, excluding areas for bottles and the gear lever. Other comforts can be found under the armrest as you can shift a key tray forward to present a cooling system for beverages. It shows how GWM is mixing practicality with innovative systems.
This practical side, however, does not range all the way to the back. Even with the spare wheel located on the boot itself, not much is available for storage. There is only 400 litres of luggage space due to the extra tech required for the hybrid.
Regardless, over the past few years, SUVs leapt forward from the harsh, sturdy and wobbly rides of yesteryear and the same can be said for GWM’s new offering. I can assure you that the ride in the TANK 300 was comfortable on both tar and gravel, providing a joyous drive to Limpopo and back while taking on both these travel surfaces.
When we took off at dawn, our first challenge was some light gravel, and a chance to learn how to work through the easy-to-navigate settings. Switching over to sand mode allows you to gain some extra torque on the throttle as you navigate the lumps and bumps you could encounter on the trail.
I had to be careful at times, however, as it seems to have a sharp shoot in torque that gets the vehicle moving much faster than expected and that could end up leaving you in a not so comfortable situation. It is best to watch your foot when dealing with a vehicle that has an electric motor assistance such as this one.
The drive modes also assist with getting past rough patches of land. Get stuck in mud? Even without the 4L (low-range four-wheel drive) activated, the vehicles are more than capable of squeezing out of these scenarios. Yet, there were moments where we needed to go into 4×4 mode to give assistance to the mud drive mode in manoeuvring out of there.
My greatest challenges came about when tackling rugged terrain. Something, I thought I would never do in my lifetime. Yet, I’m proud to say I bent that suspension in ways that would make most Jeep Wrangler lovers proud.
The Tank manages to tackle all this, because of its hybrid system. It offers a combined power output of 255 kW from a 180 kW 2.0 litre turbo motor. Even though the engine is equipped across the range, a 78 kW electric motor (found in the HEV version) gives this variant a healthy 648 Nm when both motors are working in harmony together.
During the entire experience we managed an 11l/100km consumption, which isn’t that bad considering it is a 2.0 litre turbo moving about such a heavy body. The full Tank of fuel shows a total range of 750km, which would be close to accurate if we were not having so much fun testing its mettle in the bush.
Now the real question is, out of the entire market, what would make one purchase a GWM Tank 300? It boils down to extra seats and preferences based on established reputations while GWM is just 15 years old in South Africa. Yet, put the entire range of competition up against it, the Tank wins when it comes to luxury and price!
What you will pay:
- Tank 300 2.0T 8AT 4×4 Super Luxury R725 950 (Available Late Q1)
- Tank 300 2.0T 8AT 4×4 Ultra Luxury R775 950 (Available Late Q1)
Specifications in both
variants:
Power: 162 kW @ 5 500 r/min
Torque: 380 Nm @ 1 800 r/min to 3 600 r/min
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Fuel consumption: 9.5 litre / 100 km
What you will pay for hybrid:
- Tank 300 2.0T 9HAT 4×4 Super Luxury R851 950
Specifications:
Combined power (petrol/electric): 255 kW (Petrol engine: 180 kW @ 5 500 r/min – 6 000 r/min and electric motor 78kW)
Combined torque (petrol/electric): 648 Nm (Petrol engine: 380 Nm @ 1 700 r/min – 4 000 r/min and electric motor 268Nm)
Transmission: 9-speed Hydraulic automatic
Fuel consumption: 8.4 litre/100 km in a combined cycle
Read more MasterTests
