The GWM tank 300 has launched a fresh attack on Australian soil. After the first battalion of hybrid models failed to arrive as anticipated, the Chinese car-maker’s hard-core Tank 300 SUV is staging a second strike with a more conventional turbo-petrol powertrain. Priced from a compelling $46,990 drive-away, the Tank 300 is a genuine off-roader with a ladder-frame chassis, dual-range gearing, locking front and rear diffs, and more. But golly-gee, it’s a brave move adopting the Tank name. Connotations of military-spec toughness spring to mind, yet battle tanks can also be slow, lumbering and cumbersome. The Tank 300 has some rough edges, but it’s a willing performer on-road and certainly not a pretend 4x4 in the rough stuff.
The GWM Tank brand has fired another attention-grabbing salvo with the 2023 GWM Tank 300 in Australia, the big, blocky SUV now starting at $46,990 drive-away for the entry-level Tank 300 Lux.
As such, the Tank 300 – which is also available in top-spec Ultra guise as tested here, from $50,990 drive-away – is one of the most affordable 4x4 off-road wagons in Australia, particularly next to established icons such as the Jeep Wrangler (priced from an eye-watering $81,450 plus on-road costs).
There’s also a broad range of harder-core ute-based 4x4 wagons on the market – such as the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X – to rival the Tank 300 (which is based on a shorter version of the steel ladder-frame chassis used in the GWM Ute), but these are all more expensive propositions and are pitched as family haulers with up to seven seats. The GWM Tank 300 is strictly a five-seater.
Only the Indian-built Mahindra Scorpio is cheaper, priced from $44,990 drive-away.
GWM Australia originally planned to launch the Tank off-road brand with hybrid-powered versions of the Tank 300 – which we reviewed earlier this year – but production delays have meant the turbo-petrol Tanks have arrived ahead of the petrol-electric models, which are also available to order in Lux and Ultra guise for $55,990 and 60,990 drive-away respectively.
GWM says the Tank 300 is generating plenty of buyer interest here, despite the false start with the hybrid and no diesel engine in the range.
“We’ve got plenty of orders, they are moving already,” said GWM Australia marketing and communications boss Steve Maciver, explaining that the Tank is attracting a different type of buyer to GWM’s Haval SUV brand.
While it’s impossible to say at this early stage whether the 300 is built like a proverbial tank, all models are covered by a considerable seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and include five years’ roadside assistance.
Capped-price seRVicing costs aren’t too exorbitant, costing $2000 over five years or 70,000km.
Service intervals are set at 12 months/15,000km, except the first service which is 10,000km. The first, second and fifth services are capped at $300 a pop, while the third and fourth are $550 each.
The 2023 GWM Tank 300 Ultra is being spruiked as a luxury adventure machine – a bit like Bear Grylls wearing a tux.
Its rugged exterior makes way for a relatively upmarket interior fit-out and starts with power-adjustable Nappa leather-accented front seats with cooling and heating, along with a lumbar-based massage function for the driver.
Ambient LED cabin lighting with 64 colours to choose from adds a little razzle dazzle, as does a pair of large LCD digital screens. A nine-speaker Infinity sound system, power-operated sunroof, automatic climate control, wireless phone charger and keyless entry with one-button engine start are all welcome features.
Tinted windows and a heated steering wheel are standard on the big, boofy, cuboid 4x4, as are several off-road settings, including high and low gear ratios, locking diffs, a crawl mode and more – see the powertrain section below to get granular.
Externally, the Tank 300 Ultra comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail-lights, chunky Jeep Wrangler-inspired wheel-arch extensions, black roof rails, underbody protection (including a front bash plate), side steps and full-size spare wheel mounted to the side-hinged rear tailgate.
A tyre pressure monitoring system and powered, folding and heated wing mirrors are nice touches too.
There are five colour choices – Fossil Grey, Pearl White, Crystal Black, Lunar Red and Dusk Orange – and all of them add a $595 premium except for the no-cost grey.
There are no other factory options available yet, but if the Tank 300 proves popular, expect the Aussie aftermarket to get on board with accessories such as snorkels, lift kits and so on.
Plus, there’s already a huge range of add-ons available from China already.
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