GWM INTRODUCES TANK 500 TO AUSTRALIA

Following its preview back in January, GWM’s big brother to the five-seat Tank 300, the Tank 500, has arrived in Australia. The brand’s top-of-the-range offering, the larger Tank 500 is aimed at the likes of the LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, offering equivalent or greater specification levels at a greatly reduced price. GWM themselves refer to the Tank 500 as the “ultimate 4WD 7-seater large SUV”.

Hybrid Only, Off-Road Capability

Offered in the same Lux and Ultra grades as the Tank 300, the Tank 500 is a body-on-frame SUV with seating for seven. Power comes from a hybrid system combining a 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and 1.78kWh battery. On its own, the 2.0 turbo four produces 180kW at 5000-6000rpm and 480Nm at 1700-4000rpm. Combine the 78kW/268Nm electric motor and total outputs increase to a claimed 255kW and 648Nm. Fuel economy is listed at 8.5lt/100km (combined cycle), although some real-world testing suggests this is very optimistic. Fuel tank capacity is 80 litres.

The electric motor is combined with the turbo petrol four, not mounted separately on one of the axles, so both units send power through the nine-speed ‘hybrid automatic’ transmission to a part-time four-wheel drive system with low-range. GWM says shifting from 2H to 4H and 4L is seamless, while an All Terrain Control System offers eleven selectable modes to suit different surface conditions. There’s no centre diff, but the Lux grade features a locking rear diff, while the Ultra adds a front locking diff.

Off-road traction control part of the spec, too, along with a Clear Chassis Function that uses cameras to display what’s under the vehicle, avoiding the potential to be hung up on a rough trail.

Ground clearance is a decent 224mm, with underbody protection standard, while wading depth is 800mm. Approach, departure and breakover angles are 30 degrees, 24 degrees and 22.5 degrees, respectively.

Sized for Seven

In terms of dimensions, the Tank 500 is 5078mm long (including the rear-mounted spare wheel), 1934mm wide and 1905mm high, which makes it a little larger than the LandCruiser Prado which is its main rival. Kerb weight is a significant 2605kg and braked towing capacity is a little below par for this class at 3000kg, while payload is listed at 790kg. Cargo volume ranges from 98 litres with all three rows of seating occupied to 795lt with the third-row folded and 1459lt with the second- and third-row folded.

Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are standard, while colour choices are limited to four – Crystal Black, Marble White, Onyx Silver and Dune Gold. All bar Marble White are premium paint options, adding $595 to the pricing.

Strong on Safety and Standard Features

Safety tech is comprehensive on both Tank 500 grades, including front and rear cross traffic alert with braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane centring assist, forward collision warning (with pedestrian and cyclist detection), traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with intelligent turning, AEB, ABS and seven airbags.

Convenience features include automatic parking and reversing assist, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree monitor, eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, four-way manually adjustable front passenger seat (both front seats are heated), three-zone climate control, a sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, all LED lighting, auto headlights, an eight-speaker sound system, 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and 12.3-inch instrument screen.

On the Tank 500 Ultra grade, the seats are upgraded from artificial leather to genuine Nappa leather in a choice of two colours, front seats gain ventilation, massaging and memory functions, second-row outer seats are heated and ventilated, the third-row has a power folding function, ambient lighting is added and the sound system is upgraded to twelve speakers. This grade also features power folding side steps that are fixed on the Tank 500 Lux.

Attractive Pricing

Introductory pricing for the Tank 500 sees the Lux offered at $66,490 drive away, with the Ultra $73,990 drive away. This undercuts the LandCruiser Prado and Ford Everest, and is on a par with the Isuzu MU-X in LS-T spec. Additionally, the GWM offers more standard equipment than its rivals.

Pricing is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty (eight years on the 1.76kWh battery), seven years’ roadside assist and seven years’ capped price servicing as part of the ‘GWM Care 777’ aftersales support initiative that was introduced by the brand in March. This will also apply to the Tank 300 and other “higher priced” GWM models.