The GWM P500 3.0TD has officially launched in South Africa, debuting as the torquiest 4-cylinder turbodiesel bakkie in the country. Here’s what it costs…
- 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine for GWM’s P500
- SA’s torquiest 4-cylinder turbodiesel bakkie
- Super Luxury 4×2 & Ultra Luxury 4×4 variants
The GWM P500 3.0TD has officially arrived in South Africa, debuting as the torquiest 4-cylinder turbodiesel bakkie in the country. At launch, the Chinese brand is offering 2 double-cab derivatives powered by this new 3.0-litre turbodiesel motor.
Interestingly, the pair of 2.4-litre turbodiesel variants (135 kW/480 Nm) and the 2.0T HEV derivative (255 kW/648 Nm) that were previously offered locally have seemingly been removed from GWM SA’s website. That suggests the 3.0-litre mill is now the only powertrain available in the P500.
GWM’s new P500 3.0TD Super Luxury 9AT 4×2 is priced at R724 900, with the P500 3.0TD Ultra Luxury 9AT 4×4 coming in at R799 900. As a reminder, the P500 2.4TD Luxury 9AT 4×4 had been pegged at R799 900, with the Super Luxury 9AT 4×4 having cost R889 900 and the flagship 2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 9AT 4×4 listed for R999 900.
The new 3.0-litre, 4-cylinder oil-burning engine boasts peak outputs of 170 kW and 620 Nm, representing respective increases of 35 kW and 140 Nm compared to the 2.4-litre 4-pot. The new motor is paired with GWM’s in-house developed 9-speed automatic transmission as standard.
The P500 3.0TD’s 620 Nm eclipses the peak twisting force of the Isuzu D-Max‘s 3.0TD (450 Nm), Nissan Navara‘s 2.5DDTi (450 Nm), Mitsubishi Triton‘s 2.4DI-D Bi-Turbo (470 Nm), Toyota Hilux‘s 2.8GD-6 (500 Nm) and LDV Terron 9‘s 2.5TD (520 Nm). Its maximum torque even beats that of the Ford Ranger‘s 184 kW 3.0TD V6 (600 Nm), a 6-cylinder mill also used by the Volkswagen Amarok.
Of course, the P500 3.0TD isn’t the torquiest double-cab bakkie overall in South Africa, with that title instead going to the 350 kW BYD Shark 6 Performance, which churns out 700 Nm courtesy of its plug-in hybrid petrol powertrain.
The new P500 3.0TD’s braked towing capacity is listed as 3 500 kg (the same as that of the P500 2.4TD derivatives), while GWM SA’s official specification sheet for the new derivatives unfortunately doesn’t show a payload capacity.
Inside, you’ll find a 14.6-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, along with leather seats (synthetic in the Super Luxury and genuine in the Ultra Luxury) offering heating, ventilation and massage functions in the range-topping trim.
The Super Luxury grade includes features like automatic LED headlamps, dual-zone climate control, a 6-speaker sound system, a 360-degree camera system and parking sensors (fore and aft). The Ultra Luxury specification furthermore boasts items such as a panoramic sunroof, a 10-speaker sound system, wireless smartphone charging and a head-up display.
Safety features that are standard across the range include 7 airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill-start assist control, hill-descent control, tyre-pressure monitoring and a raft of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) functions, from adaptive cruise control to lane-departure warning.
What does the GWM P500 3.0TD cost in SA?
| DERIVATIVE | PRICE |
| P500 3.0TD Super Luxury 9AT 4×2 | R724 900 |
| P500 3.0TD Ultra Luxury 9AT 4×4 | R799 900 |
The prices above include a 7-year/200 000 km warranty and a 7-year/75 000 km service plan with intervals of 15 000 km.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How much does the new GWM P500 3.0TD cost in South Africa?
A: The GWM P500 3.0TD range starts at R724 900 for the Super Luxury 9AT 4×2, while the flagship Ultra Luxury 9AT 4×4 derivative is priced at R799 900.
Q: What are the performance specifications of the GWM P500 3.0TD engine?
A: The new 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine develops 170 kW and 620 Nm of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. This makes it the torquiest 4-cylinder turbodiesel bakkie on the South African market.
Q: What warranty and service plan come standard with the GWM P500 3.0TD?
A: Both GWM P500 3.0TD derivatives include a 7-year/200 000 km vehicle warranty and a 7-year/75 000 km service plan with 15 000 km service intervals.
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