GWM Tank 700 Hi4-T 2025 Review

As the 2025 GWM Tank 700 hasn’t yet been confirmed for Australia, all details are purely speculative, including the price. In its native market, the model is sold for about the equivalent of $100K while the flagship versions rise to about $150K.

So, it’s possible it could arrive with a similar price, making it the most expensive model in the GWM family, but Chinese challenger brands have a habit of surprising everyone with lowball pricing, so all bets are off for now.

Whatever version we receive, it will be packed with kit and technology. There are cameras dusted all over its exterior for manoeuvring assistance and semi-autonomous features, a 15.6-inch central touchscreen is standard but might have been upgraded by the time it arrives Down Under.

Twin wireless device charging is also included, as is a touchscreen central clock which doubles as a start button, a plethora of seat heating, ventilation and massage options and plenty of other luxury touches.

A 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine coupled with a plug-in hybrid system is the main offering for now. In China, a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel is also offered, with hints that a mighty eight-cylinder twin-turbo petrol-hybrid is on the way.

Safety is anyone’s guess at this stage, although as with all GWM’s models, a technological approach to safety was expected to bolster the company’s target to achieve a five-star ANCAP rating.

For our first test of the Tank 700 in China last year, we were offered a very short lap of a carpark. It was monstrously fast but didn’t really have the body control or steering to match.

Since then, the company has revealed an even more potent eight-cylinder turbo-petrol which should scare even the most confident high-performance SUV with 715kW/1375Nm.

Now though, GWM has brought one to Australia and, for our revisit of the model, we hit the ride and handling track at Holden’s former proving ground which revealed a lot more about its characteristics than our previous taster.

With 250mm of ground clearance (more when the air suspension is raised), generous wheel arch space, a soft ride and light steering, the Tank 700 is clearly geared for comfort and off-road duty.

It also has a deeply quiet cabin, and the six-cylinder engine is smooth and whisper silent while cruising – there’s pleasant noise to be had when it’s worked hard, but the level of overall refinement is impressive.

Its high stance provides a commanding view of the surroundings, and the crimson fine leather interior makes anyone on board feel special.

The second row is also a lovely place to hang out with equally supportive seating, more plush interior materials and lots of tech, including an optional touchscreen in the centre arm rest.

Part of its secret to comfort and sense of insulation comes down to the monstrous 3.1-tonne kerb weight. It is heavy, but as the old saying goes ‘mass moves mass’ and the Tank 700 has an enormous 4500kg maximum towing capacity with a braked trailer, which tow-made Aussies will appreciate.

It can travel up to 90km on electric power alone thanks to a 37kWh lithium-ion battery and the adjoining electric motor nestled amongst the nine-speed automatic transmission.

So, on the one hand this monster could be a capable go anywhere freedom machine on heydays and highways, but a silent emissions-free, epic-looking commuter wagon for everyday use.

Perhaps there was something amiss, but the 2025 GWM Tank 700 Hi4-T we sampled at Lang Lang didn’t seem quite as violent in its acceleration as we recall from the first encounter in Baoding, and certainly not up to the 385kW/800Nm claimed peak output.

It still has some mumbo, but instead of the immediate surge the turbo-petrol-electric combination is supposed to provide, it was more like revving out a naturally aspirated V6.

The handling was every bit as boaty as we remember. The standard air suspension was very softly sprung and the 700 tends to lean, even picking up a rear wheel as the power is dialled in exiting a tightening corner. The steering’s light and a bit numb and the front end tends to understeer even when pushed only lightly.

That said, the local efforts of GWM’s local chassis tuning team might work wonders with the dynamics just as it already has with the transformative effect on the Haval H6.

Unlike the Tank 500, the Tank 700 is strictly a five-seater despite its massive size and presence. The boot volume was not officially quoted by GWM but it’s visibly smaller than the LandCruiser 300 Series and even the Tank 500’s load areas, and noticeably intruded by the battery pack under the boot floor.

For now, you can’t. And even if you could, we’d advise holding fire and waiting until GWM Australia offers a little more information and ideally retuned the chassis.

However, it was unlikely the company would go to the trouble of shipping this monster all the way to Victoria if it wasn’t seriously considering a local introduction.

If it gets the green light however, the 2025 GWM Tank 700 is a formidable beast offering power and comfort, if at the expense of driving dynamics.

$100K might sound like a lot for a challenger brand, but if you look at it from the perspective of a bargain basement Mercedes-Benz G-Class that doubles as an EV, it might actually represent excellent value for money.

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