Those who have been clamouring for a new off-roader model priced under R1 million may need to look no further than the GWM Tank 300, which combines highly desirable exterior styling with notable off-road ability and an abundance of luxury features.
Consider this: South Africa is a “4×4 country”. Yet, if you remove our beloved bakkies (think Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max) and the Adventure SUVs derived from them (so Fortuner, Everest and MU-X) from that list of vehicles, well, there aren’t quite as many 4x4s available as you may think.
The diminutive Suzuki Jimny, of which we recently reviewed the new 5-door variant, and the pricey Jeep Wrangler spring to mind, but overall, sub R1 million, there’s not too much going on…
Enter the GMW Tank 300 HEV, which is a dyed-in-the-wool mudslinger with all the axle articulation you require and prices that begin as low as R725 950 (sort of). Its off-roader underpinnings are dressed with a Tonka Toy exterior that evokes the stylings of more vehicles than you could shake a Ford Bronco at.
The result is impressively cohesive and, ultimately, a feel-good new face on the road. Visually, the GWM Tank 300 is a retro-pastiche head turner, despite not having that much SUV heritage to hark back to.
On that note, I’ll preempt some of the conversations to the extent of “you can’t buy pedigree” and “there’s no shortcut to legacy”. It’s true, but having said that, I’d like to point out that GWM South Africa has been operating in Mzansi for 16 years and its Haval sub-brand has been on the market for 6 years. Furthermore, the manufacturer has enjoyed great sales success and garnered notable critical acclaim.
To this point, it was 10 years ago (precisely) when I took a GWM C20R on a road trip from Cape Town to Durban and back, via gnarly backroads and gravel passes, to Hogsback and the Eastern Cape with zero hassle. So, a decade later, when presented with a proper off-roader, well, GWM has my full attention.
We got to sample the flagship HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) derivative, which retails for R851 950 and, as a result, comes with the largest performance payload: 255 kW and 648 Nm of torque. If you opt for either version of the non-electrified 2.0-litre turbopetrol (2.0T), which will be launched in about a month’s time, you’ll have 162 kW and 380 Nm of torque at the disposal of your right foot.
All 3 derivatives in the launch line-up are backed by a 7-year warranty, a 5-year service plan, as well as an 8-year battery warranty. Whereas the petrol-only iterations (Super Luxury and Ultra Luxury) feature an 8-speed automatic transmission, the HEV has a 9-speed auto box. The latter produced fairly creamy ‘shifts on tar and gravel surfaces, both of which we covered extensively throughout the 2-day event.
G-Class inspired interior has the “wow factor”
The cabin architecture feels inspired by that of a Gelandewagen Mercedes-Benz (G-Class), albeit with more plastic surfaces and finishes. I wasn’t offended by it (Mercedes’ Copyright department may beg to differ) – it certainly makes one feel as though you’ve spoiled yourself a little. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, seamlessly paired with the driver’s TFT info cluster, was particularly impressive (and well-implemented).
A sunroof, heated steering wheel, plush seats with massaging functions and, for your ears, a 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system (complemented with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto), are all standard. What’s more, GWM has installed a 220V plug point, as well as a 12V power outlet at the rear.
Meanwhile, the 60/40-split rear seats can be folded flat to create utility space, and there’s no shortage of grab handles throughout. The front passenger alone has 3(!) places to grip when things get twisty.
To that point, the Tank 300 has a plethora of safety features; it was awarded a 5-star rating by ANCAP (the Australian motor industry body for vehicle safety testing), helped in part by 7 airbags, lane-keeping- and adaptive cruise control, Intelligent Cornering tech and the use of high strength steel throughout its construction. The GWM also comes equipped with bash guard plates, 8 parking sensors, scratch-proof black mouldings and, at each corner, an 18-inch chrome alloy wheel wrapped in Primacy SUV rubber.
LED head- and taillamps are fitted. The ones at the front feature automatic high beams, can go around corners and feature a striking daytime running lamp (DRL) strip that wraps around the sides of the Tank 300’s nose. The clusters at the back, in turn, look great with their black backing. Black roof rails and privacy glass for the 2nd row add further gravitas to the newcomer’s bold, high-contrast aesthetic…
What’s the GWM Tank 300 like to drive off-road?
Back to those off-road credentials, however. It’s worth mentioning the multilink rear suspension, which smoothed out the tarmac of Gauteng and the Northern Province, then impressed us again on the dirt, and finally, once more through the De Wilt 4×4 course.
The Tank 300 crawled over everything the environment could throw at us; we fully used the vehicle’s selectable terrain modes and the “transparent” 360-degree camera system (it makes it easier to position the vehicle when off-roading) and even played with the off-road cruise control function on gradients.
If you’re into numbers, you may like to know that the GWM Tank 300 boasts respectable 33-degree approach- and 34-degree departure angles, as well as 224 mm of ground clearance. It’ll wade 700 mm deep – not a claim, we got to test this, with the knowledge that GWM had fit chassis protection guards underneath. Again, we emerged perfectly unscathed and surprisingly chuffed with the SUV’s abilities.
Summary
To reiterate, the only version of the GWM Tank 300 that is currently on sale is the flagship HEV Super Luxury 4×4 derivative. With a price tag of R851 950 (February 2024) it is not cheap, albeit well beneath that R1-million mark. For that premium, however, you do get a very attractive, feature-laden 4×4 with a classy interior that will make you feel like you’ve really splashed out on a premium product.
It handles well, isn’t shy to accelerate hard when required and then there’s the peace of mind that when the road turns to shrapnel, you’ll almost certainly be able to traverse it in your chunky GWM.
But if you are concerned about the Chinese-made GWM Tank 300 not being a proven product (members of the 4x4ing community tend to be fiercely loyal to the legacy brands), I can’t ease your fears. But I can declare that the 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine impressed me on the day and, as I mentioned at the start, it’s my professional opinion that GWM and Haval have truly emerged as a quality prospect in South Africa.
Still, in terms of robustness and reliability in the more challenging nooks and crannies of the South African gravel network, your favourite bush mechanic might prefer a more familiar engine to operate on in case of an emergency. But then, that’s what tow rope was invented for…
Jokes aside, besides being an unproven entity on and off our roads, I have very little negativity to report. Perhaps an indicator lever that needed to be finessed and the ‘box’s tendency to hold onto its cogs a bit longer (in low range) than I would’ve liked were irksome, but neither quirk made a major blip on my radar.
Overall, the GWM Tank 300 is a worthy and undeniably colourful addition to our portfolio of 4x4s in South Africa and you would not be a fool to take a chance on one – far from it.
