2026 Tank 700 targets Toyota LandCruiser

Better than the Toyota LandCruiser!

That’s the sales pitch GWM Australia is pushing for the plug-in hybrid Tank 700 4x4 SUV expected to arrive Down Under in 2026.

The Chinese brand’s local outpost believes the 2026 GWM Tank 700 will be able to coax upper large SUV buyers away from the LandCruiser 300 Series with its luxurious equipment levels, a lower price and a range of powerful and economic PHEV powertrains topped by a new turbocharged V8 that could boast a 4500kg braked towing capability.

So just how low could the Tank 700 go on price? Well, GWM hasn’t even confirmed the 700 for Australia yet – it’s odds-on though – but says pricing would be cut-throat, just like every other Tank, Haval, Cannon and Ora model it sells here.

So while the LandCruiser 300 Series range starts at $97,990 and progresses to $146,910 before on-road costs, it’s being mooted the Tank 700 range – including the V8 – could top out somewhere a lot closer to $100k… drive-away.

“You are essentially looking at a more luxurious version of [LandCruiser],” GWM Australia marketing chief Steve Maciver said when queried about the 700’s position in the market.

“Then if we can tie in that V8 plug-in hybrid technology you are going to have more power and more towing as well.”

The 300 Series LandCruiser tops out at 3500kg braked towing courtesy of its twin-turbo V6 diesel engine.

If the Tank 700 achieves 4500kg braked towing it would be the most capable SUV on the market ahead of the enormous GMC Yukon Denali which can tow 3628kg.

It would also rival the incoming Ford Ranger Super Duty and the full-size American pick-up trucks such as the Ram 1500 that are converted locally to right-hand drive.

A key argument pitched by GWM for the Tank 700 is that its PHEV system would allow zero and low emission running day-to-day to save fuel, while the V8 would kick in when required – like when towing.

The big US trucks, for reference, are claiming official fuel consumptions in the teens even without a load onboard.

The Tank 700’s V8 would also certainly have a heap of grunt to offer. The 3.0-litre twin-turbo (PHEV) version tested by carsales in China last year generated a combined 380kW/800Nm, so 400kW/1000Nm sounds reasonable for the V8.

But towing isn’t going to be the 700’s only asset as it seeks to burrow into the iconic Toyota’s market dominance.

Weapons in its off-road arsenal include triple locking diffs, air suspension, a nine-speed automatic transmission and low-range, while luxury elements like power-extending side steps, leather massaging seats front and rear, huge screens and a concert-grade 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio are also offered.

“That level of tech in any other brand would be well into the hundreds [of thousands of dollars],” Maciver said.

“But the GWM value equation – that we see in every model from Haval Jolion, through a Tank 500 and a Cannon Alpha PHEV – that stays.

“That DNA in terms of delivering value stays.”

Having said all that, the Tank 700 is yet to be confirmed for Australian in 2026 along with its V8 powertrain and 4500kg braked towing capability, but GWM Australia isn’t trying too hard to dampen down speculation.

“As with all improvements, GWM is always focused on setting itself apart from the competition and achieving a 4500kg towing capacity would be a clear example of that commitment,” Maciver said.

“However, when it comes to the broader market opportunity, we currently see limited demand for this capability.

“That said, we know that the future development of more powerful powertrain combinations, such as our recently unveiled V8 engine mated to out Hi4-T Plug-in Hybrid Technology, could make 4500kg towing a possibility.

“There’s nothing to confirm at this stage, but let's see."

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