GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T 2025 Review

While the existing Tank 500 range kicks off with the $64,490 Lux hybrid drive away, the new Ultra PHEV is the most expensive costing $79,990 drive away.  

The significant increase is both due to the plug-in version effectively having two powerplants (a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol and dual-motor electric with 37.1kWh battery) as well as the highest level of specification. However, GWM is offering a limited-time discount of $2000 for those who act fast.

For the cash, you get about 120km of pure electric driving or nearly 1000km with petrol and battery working together, punchy performance of 300kW and 750Nm (0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds) and good claimed efficiency of 2.1L/100km or 8.4L/100km with a drained battery.

Standard equipment mimics the mild-hybrid Ultra with highlights including fine quality leather upholstery, heated, ventilated, massaging and electrically adjustable front seats, ventilated and electrically folding second row seats with their own climate control panel, heated steering wheel, three digital displays including head-up display and plenty of comfort and convenience tech.

On the outside there’s the new less North American market-pleasing grille, 18-inch alloy wheels, full-LED headlights and pop-out side steps. 

The Tank 500 scored the maximum five-star safety rating when it was assessed in 2024 by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program.

There was already a lot to like about the GWM Tank 500 from its solid quantity of equipment offered as standard, to the space and driving characteristics both on and off-road. But the addition of a plug-in hybrid powertrain promises to enhance everything. 

A dash of electric torque in the standard hybrid is easy to appreciate but the advantages are amplified with the new PHEV which gets more of everything. At no point did we run out of puffs on the former Holden proving ground off-road course which had been made even more challenging for our visit. The new petrol-electric pairing always seems relaxed never once needing to break into high revs to proceed. 

But it’s the slower speed stuff where the plug-in shines. In electric-only mode the throttle is well calibrated, allowing torque to be carefully fed to the dirt - especially important when negotiating gnarly terrain.

The secret is down to how the Hi4-T powertrain works. Rather than driving axles separately and the engine largely used for electricity generation much like the company’s Hi4 drivetrain, the Hi4-T looks more like a conventional transmission with the electric motor integrated into the nine-speed automatic transmission. 

Therefore, electric power and torque are fed into the system in exactly the same way as petrol power is for a more seamless and smooth control of how and where the power goes. It also retains 90 percent of its potency even when the battery is low in charge. 

With standard fitment tyres, the Tank 500 feels like it would take a lot to stop. With an approach angle of less than 30 degrees, departure of 24-degrees and a 22-degree break-over, the 500 pairs decent wheel articulation and long suspension travel for an off-roader that warrants respect, regardless of what powers it.

Sure, a good chunk of the Tank 500’s off-road skill could well be due to a little light reverse engineering of the Toyota LandCruiser on GWM’s part. But if that is true, who cares? 

Better still, when you get to your closely guarded camping spot undetected thanks to the silent running, you won’t have to fire up a noisy or potentially dangerous generator with 6kW of electrical power available from the 500’s battery and V2L. Remember, it’s not an EV so if the battery gets low, you won’t have to head home, just fire up the engine under its bonnet. 

For more regular driving, the PHEV offers up to 120km of emissions-free motoring thanks to the 37.1kWh battery slung under its belly. That, for a vast majority of families, would allow pure electric driving most of the time and with a 30–80 percent charge possible in 24 minutes (using 50kW hardware) its powertrain is genuinely versatile.

What you won’t get is the seven-seat option that’s available to the regular hybrid with the decision being made to maximise payload which has shrunk with the extra weight of the battery and motors. While the rest of the range has a maximum of up to 790kg, the PHEV slides to 610kg. A seven-seat PHEV could carry even less. 

While the excursion into off-road territory confirmed what we suspected - the plug-in can hold its own when the road ends, we didn’t get a chance to drive the new 500 on public roads. A full review will reveal how this monster rides and if it can match the respectable efficiency and range claims. 

We also didn’t get a chance to test the new local suspension tuning which is rolling out to all models in the GWM family. The Tank 500 has decent blend of ride and handling even with the factory tune, so if the Australian team can achieve improvements similar to the Haval H6, the 500 will be an absolute treat.

The most exciting element about the new plug-in Tank 500 is that, for a majority of average Australian driving duties, it can be used as a pure electric vehicle. For long road trips it performs as a more regular hybrid and, when that road comes to an end, it still has formidable 4x4 capability plus the luxury of V2L for truly decadent camping excursions. 

All of that in a sub $80,000 package makes it pretty compelling value for money and almost unique in the market. However, if you simply can’t be convinced diesel isn’t the way, then keep your hands in your pockets for now because a 3.0-litre diesel is inbound and most likely headed directly under the bonnet of the Tank 500. 

2024 GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T at a glance: 
Price: $79,990 drive-away 
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 180kW/380Nm (electric motor: 120kW/400Nm)
Combined output: 300kW/750Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Battery: 37.1kWh lithium ion
Range: 950km
Fuel: 2.1L/100km
CO2: 49g/km
Safety rating: 5-star ANCAP 2024

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