The GWM Tank 500 3.0TD has arrived in South Africa, with the switch to turbodiesel power seeing the large ladder-frame SUV’s starting price drop by nearly R380 000…
- Tank 500 now features turbodiesel engine
- Trio of 3.0TD derivatives available in SA
- Oil-burning mill makes 170 kW & 620 Nm
The GWM Tank 500 3.0TD has officially launched in South Africa, dropping the original hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) powertrain in favour of turbodiesel grunt. At the same time, the revised 7-seater Tank 500 range grows from a single variant to 3 derivatives, each powered by this new 3.0-litre turbodiesel motor.
Yes, GWM SA has seemingly removed the original HEV derivative – which combined a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, offering peak outputs of 255 kW and 648 Nm – from its website, suggesting this dual-powered variant is no longer available.
As a reminder, the Chinese brand’s new 3.0-litre, 4-cylinder oil-burning engine – which is also now available in the P500 double-cab bakkie – features peak outputs of 170 kW and 620 Nm. The motor is paired with GWM’s in-house developed 9-speed automatic transmission as standard, while braked towing capacity comes in at 3 500 kg.
So, what does the big 7-seater SUV now cost? Well, the new Tank 500 3.0TD Super Luxury 9AT 4×2 is priced at R849 900, which means the entry point to Tank 500 ownership effectively falls a whopping R379 050 (from the outgoing 2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 9AT 4×4 derivative’s price of R1 228 950).
Meanwhile, the Tank 500 3.0TD Ultra Luxury 9AT 4×4 comes in at R929 900, with the Tank 500 3.0TD Overland 9AT 4×4 topping the local portfolio at R999 900. The Overland grade is seemingly set apart from the Ultra Luxury specification by its 53-litre auxiliary fuel tank, which complements the standard 78-litre item.
The rear-wheel-drive Super Luxury derivative comes standard with features like a sunroof, automatic LED headlamps, 3-zone climate control, a 14.6-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless smartphone charging, a 12-speaker sound system and powered (not to mention heated) front seats.
Upgrading to the Ultra Luxury trim level unlocks features such as power-deployable side steps (as opposed to fixed items), a soft-close function for the tailgate, a head-up display, sound-reactive ambient lighting, Nappa leather upholstery, additional functions for the powered front seats (including ventilation and massaging), 2nd-row seat ventilation, 3rd-row electric adjustment and a panoramic sunroof.
Safety features that are standard across the revised Tank 500 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 Tank 500 3.0TD cost in SA?
| DERIVATIVE | PRICE |
| Tank 500 3.0TD Super Luxury 9AT 4×2 | R849 900 |
| Tank 500 3.0TD Ultra Luxury 9AT 4×4 | R929 900 |
| Tank 500 3.0TD Overland 9AT 4×4 | R999 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 Tank 500 3.0TD cost in South Africa?
A: The GWM Tank 500 3.0TD starts at R849 900 for the Super Luxury 4×2, followed by the Ultra Luxury 4×4 at R929 900, and tops out at R999 900 for the flagship Overland 4×4 derivative.
Q: What engine powers the updated GWM Tank 500 range in SA?
A: The revised Tank 500 is powered by a new 3.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 170 kW and 620 Nm of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission as standard.
Q: How does the pricing of the new Tank 500 3.0TD compare to the outgoing HEV model?
A: Switching to the turbodiesel powertrain sees the starting price drop by nearly R380 000, falling from R1 228 950 for the previous HEV Ultra Luxury 4×4 down to R849 900 for the entry-level Super Luxury 4×2.
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