GWM Tank 300 – What you need to know

The Great Wall Motors (GWM) range was initially sold through a private distributor and became a factory-owned subsidiary in 2016.

The five-seat GWM Tank 300 looks like a mid-size SUV, but is actually classified by VFACTS as a large SUV, directly competing with the Ford Everest, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.

Rugged on the outside and plush inside, the Tank 300 is a fair dinkum off-roader with a ladder-frame chassis, dual-range gearing and locking diffs. But it’s just as home on the school run as it is playing in the bush. Two trim levels, Lux and Ultra, are available in both petrol and petrol hybrid guises and complete the four model range.

Driveaway prices range from $46,990 to $60,990, but there are often special offers on the go, so keep an eye out. All are autos and all have a part-time four-wheel drive system.

Want to know which is the right one for you? Let’s dive into the features and find out.

The GWM Tank 300 Lux is the entry model with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine, part-time AWD and an eight-speed auto transmission. It comes with the following standard features:

The only option is paint colour. There are five in the palette but only one, Fossil Grey, doesn’t cop the $595 premium.

There’s no shortage of safety features and driver assist tech in the GWM Tank 300, with front, side and curtain airbags, a front centre airbag, anti-lock brakes, traction and stability controls and ISOFIX child seat anchor points all standard across the lineup.

Range-wide driver assist tech includes hill start assist, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control, auto wipers and headlights with auto high-beam, front and rear collision warning, four front and four rear parking sensors, a 360-degree monitor, tyre pressure monitoring, assistants for lane departure, lane keeping, lane centring and lane changing, traffic sign recognition and rear cross traffic alert with autonomous braking.

If you settle on a Tank 300 Ultra, an auto-dimming rear view mirror comes standard.

Signing up for a Tank 300 Lux Hybrid sees the addition of front cross traffic alert with braking and highway assist. And if you opt for the top-spec Ultra Hybrid variant, you also get reverse and auto parking assist, plus a dozen parking sensors with six up front and six at the back.

Taking centre stage in the dash is the 12.3-inch colour infotainment touch-screen with Bluetooth phone and music streaming, Apple CarPlay and Android auto accessibility, plus an AM/FM/Digital radio played through nine speakers. Parked next to it is a 12.3-inch colour instrument cluster.

In addition to paddle shifts, there are steering wheel-mounted audio and phone controls, along with USB charging points in both rows and 12V power outlets up front and in the cargo section.

If you’re seeking a premium sound, shimmy over to the Tank 300 Ultra models with their nine Infinity speakers, but if the handiness of wireless Apple CarPlay is a must, you have to sign up for a Tank 300 Ultra Hybrid.

Every GWM Tank 300 variant has a manual tailgate, side steps, 60:40 split rear seat with an armrest, microfibre faux leather steering wheel with shift paddles, cargo area lights and load hooks, customisable ambient lighting, sunglass holder, sunshades with illuminated vanity mirrors, power windows, and cup and bottle holders.

Is leather seating on the wish list?
In the entry-level Lux petrol and Hybrid models you get faux leather trim, and if you aspire to the two Ultra variants it’s faux nappa leather trim greeting you.

Do you want the seats to be power adjustable?
In the Tank 300 Lux models a six-way powered driver seat and a four-way powered front passenger seat greets the front occupants. And if you take the step to the Ultra variants, both carry an eight-way powered driver seat with four-way powered lumbar support and four-way powered passenger seat.

Are heating and cooled front pews a deal maker?
The Tank 300 Ultra variants feature heated and cooled front seats with the driver pew also scoring massage functions, but only the hybrid variant has a position memory setting for the driver seat.

From the outside, every GWM Tank 300 has auto height adjustable LED headlights, LED tail lamps, front and rear fog lamps and day running lights. Roof rails and a shark fin antenna are fitted to all models, along with bash plates and a trailer power outlet. Setting each model apart are the wheels, with the petrol models riding on black 17-inch alloys and the hybrid pair boasting chrome 18-inch alloys.

The powered door mirrors are auto-folding with a heating function across the range, and while the Tank 300 Lux variants make do with seven ambient interior light colours, the Ultras offer 64 shades to choose from, along with reading lights.

How about privacy glass and a sunroof?
The GWM Tank 300 is kind to your budget with both these luxury features standard on all models.

Selectable drive modes?
It’s a bit of a smorgasbord here, with three steering modes: Sport, Comfort and Light. Helping you off road is an electric rear diff lock on all models and a front diff lock added to the Ultra variants.

Every GWM Tank 300 has all-terrain mode selection, crawl control, turning assist and transparent chassis function that helps create a clear view ahead over crests and on each side maximising visibility.

The GWM Tank 300 has a two-litre, four-cylinder intercooled turbo-petrol engine producing 162kW and 380Nm, and driving through an eight-speed automatic transmission, with an electric rear diff lock enhancing traction in adversity.

The Tank 300 hybrids also run a two-litre, four-cylinder, intercooled turbo-petrol engine, but paired with an electric motor for a combined 258kW and a substantial 648Nm. Both hybrids run a nine-speed auto transmission and gain an electric front diff lock.

The transmissions have both two and four-wheel drive settings, driving through a dual-range transfer (2H, 4H, 4L) for the on-demand four-wheel drive system.

The GWM Tank 300 is 4760mm long, 1930mm wide, 1903mm high, and it sits on a 2750mm wheelbase with a ground clearance of 224mm.

The maximum braked towing capacity is 2500kg with a townball download of 250kg. Cargo capacity in the five-seater Tank 300 is 400 litres with the 60/40 rear-split seat upright and the rear seats dropped it increases to 1635 litres.

Kerb weight is 2155kg for the petrol models and 2313kg for the hybrids with gross vehicle masses of 2552kg for the petrol models and 2753kg for the hybrids.

I like the retro look of the Tank 300 much more than the Merc G-wagon. And in the bright orange hue, you do get noticed. Normally I’d go straight to the hybrid for its better economy and performance but nine grand is a big ask. So in this case I’ll stick with the petrol version. And whether I was buying on a budget or not worrying too much about the sheckles, I’d take the Ultra petrol. You get all safety, tech and comfort features out the door for 50 grand.

You’ve won me.

How much does the 2024 GWM Tank 300 cost?
Lux Petrol – $46,990
Ultra Petrol – $50,990
Lux Hybrid – $55,990
Ultra Hybrid – $60,990
* Driveaway prices

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