The GWM P500 3.0TD is set to launch in South Africa later this year, offering what the Chinese brand terms a “class-leading” torque output. Here’s what to expect…
- New 3.0TD engine confirmed for P500
- Maximum torque to come in at 620 Nm
- Bakkie market’s torquiest 4-pot diesel?
The GWM P500 3.0TD is expected to launch in South Africa later in 2026, offering a markedly higher torque figure than derivatives fitted with the Chinese brand’s current 2.4-litre turbodiesel motor. In fact, it looks set to debut as the torquiest 4-cylinder turbodiesel bakkie in the country.
As a reminder, the Baoding-based automaker confirmed back in April 2025 it was developing a new 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine. Now, GWM South Africa has published a “Register Your Interest” page on its website, with posts on the brand’s social-media platforms revealing the P500 3.0TD is “coming soon”.
Exactly when the newcomer is scheduled to hit the market in Mzansi has yet to be confirmed, though it’s worth keeping in mind GWM has announced the new engine will make its “global debut in Australia this September [2026]”. So, it’s fair to assume we won’t see it before then.
What do we know about the new powerplant? Well, the 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.
According to specifications released for the Australian market, the new 3.0-litre turbodiesel version of the P500 (a model known in that market as the Cannon Alpha) has a claimed fuel consumption of 7.3 L/100 km, seemingly on the NEDC standard. The braked towing capacity, meanwhile, is listed as 3 500 kg, the same as that of the P500 2.4TD derivatives.
In Australia, GWM notes the new 3.0-litre engine “matches the largest-displacement 4-cylinder turbodiesel” currently available in that market and “sets a new benchmark with [its] class-leading torque output”.
It will be a similar case here in South Africa, where the P500 3.0TD’s 620 Nm will eclipse 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 will even beat 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 upcoming GWM P500 3.0TD won’t be the torquiest double-cab bakkie in South Africa, with that title instead going to the freshly launched 350 kW BYD Shark 6 Performance, which churns out 700 Nm courtesy of its plug-in hybrid petrol powertrain. In addition, the current 255 kW GWM P500 2.0T HEV offers a maximum of 648 Nm from its petrol-hybrid arrangement.
It remains to be seen whether the 135 kW/480 Nm 2.4TD engine (which also does duty in the P300 and Tank 300 portfolios) and 2.0T HEV powertrains will remain in the P500 range or end up being outright replaced by the 3.0TD unit. It’s likewise not yet clear whether the new 3.0-litre motor will also be offered locally in the Tank 500, though we suspect it eventually will.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When will the new GWM P500 3.0TD launch in South Africa, and what are its key engine specifications?
A: The GWM P500 3.0TD is expected to arrive in South Africa later in 2026, following its global debut in Australia in September 2026. Powered by a new 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, it delivers peak outputs of 170 kW and 620 Nm of torque.
Q: How does the P500 3.0TD’s torque output compare to other double-cab bakkies in South Africa?
A: Generating 620 Nm, the P500 3.0TD is set to debut as the torquiest 4-cylinder turbodiesel bakkie in SA, outperforming 4-cylinder rivals like the Toyota Hilux 2.8GD-6 (500 Nm) and LDV Terron 9 2.5TD (520 Nm). Its torque output even surpasses 6-cylinder diesel alternatives like the Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 (600 Nm), though hybrid models like the 700 Nm BYD Shark 6 Performance remain overall torque leaders.
Q: What are the towing and efficiency ratings for the 3.0TD engine?
A: According to specifications released for right-hand-drive markets, the 3.0-litre turbodiesel P500 has a claimed fuel consumption of 7.3 L/100 km and retains a standard braked towing capacity of 3 500 kg.
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