2025 GWM Tank 300 Hybrid evaluate

GWM just isn’t one to sit down idly by, and the Tank 300 is a first-rate instance of how an upstart carmaker can create waves in an automotive area of interest if it actually desires to.

Take the offroad-ready Jeep Wrangler, mix it with the luxurious but rugged Mercedes-Benz G-Class, add a touch of Suzuki Jimny, and also you get one thing like this: the GWM Tank 300 Extremely Hybrid.

It’s placing in look and stands out on the street, and it’s nonetheless the one mannequin in its section to supply a hybrid drivetrain. That provides it spectacular energy and torque figures, so it’s no slouch in a straight line.

Our tester is the most costly Tank 300 variant you should buy at greater than $60,000 drive-away, but it surely undercuts loads of its massive off-road SUV competitors with out skimping on any infotainment or security tech.

GWM armed practically 2000 Australians with a Tank 300 in 2023, regardless of the very fact it solely arrived midway by way of final yr, and to date this yr to October it has offered greater than 3300 examples.

That’s a lot fewer than the Ford Everest (21,281), Isuzu MU-X (15,584) and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (6367), however virtually as many because the Toyota Prado in runout (3525).

WATCH: Paul’s video evaluate of the GWM Tank 300 Extremely Hybrid

GWM is only one of many comparatively new challenger manufacturers making their means Down Underneath and native consumers are more and more prepared to make the leap.

Can the Tank 300 change into the brand new automobile of alternative on the subject of extra reasonably priced, luxurious off-roading, or is all of it too good to be true?

How does the GWM Tank 300 examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the GWM Tank 300 in opposition to equally sized autos.

GWM

Tank 300

How a lot does the GWM Tank 300 value?

The Tank 300 Extremely Hybrid is presently the most costly variant within the vary. Nonetheless, GWM is providing $2000 off the drive-away costs (listed beneath) for petrol variants, and $5000 off the drive-away costs (listed beneath) for hybrid grades till December 31, 2024.

Wish to see how the Tank 300 shapes up in opposition to its rivals? Put it side-by-side utilizing our comparability instrument.

What’s the GWM Tank 300 like on the within?

To the Tank 300’s profit, that is the place the Mercedes-Benz affect actually shines by way of.

It positively has some quirky options scattered across the cabin, but it surely’s an unquestionably good inside that may cling with – and in lots of circumstances out-do – what’s supplied in loads of its competitors.

As the most costly Tank 300 in the marketplace, the Extremely is trimmed with silver highlights, has Nappa leather-clad seats and quilted leatherette door inserts, and sizeable screens for each the infotainment show and instrument cluster. It’s definitely a cohesive, tasteful design.

Highlights embrace the round spoked vents (which I’m positive I’ve seen in a Mercedes earlier than), an analogue clock on the centre of the sprint, and the futuristic-looking gear selector that just about looks as if it doesn’t belong.

Quirks like these make the Tank 300 memorable, though there’s extra to this cabin than flashy trim bits.

Our tester was fitted with an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, entrance seats with heating and cooling, and reminiscence presets for the motive force’s seat and mirrors. It even has a wi-fi charging pad – although my telephone struggled to cost up and as an alternative turned extremely popular.

Charging options embrace a USB-C port and a 12V outlet, whereas there are additionally three USB-A ports – one within the entrance, two within the rear.

There’s a sizeable storage field within the centre console with a sliding coin tray, which strikes to disclose two central cupholders. A weak point is storage capability within the door playing cards and elsewhere within the entrance, however there may be nonetheless a beneficiant glovebox.

Behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel is a digital driver’s show, which is tremendous crisp however lacks just a little in its structure from an off-roading perspective.

There are a number of menus to scroll by way of with a bunch of knowledge, however a notable omission is any type of analogue-style dials that’d definitely be helpful on the path. There’s the choice to show RPM, but it surely’s solely a small numerical counter supplementing an vitality restoration gauge.

Behind the wheel itself are the everyday stalks, together with an indicator stalk that’s complicated to make use of at first as a result of it doesn’t click on into place like in most automobiles. As an alternative, it returns to the central place after you activate both the left or proper indicators.

There’s a standard cruise management stalk again there too.

It’s a correctly luxurious inside total, made much more spectacular by the Tank 300’s low worth level for its section. That’s to not say it’s all good, although.

On the left of the steering wheel is a 12.3-inch infotainment show. It appears good on the floor, but it surely’s central to the whole lot you do within the automobile – and is in want of some refinement.

The Tank 300 is one other sufferer of touchscreen over-reliance, as lots of the local weather management capabilities are buried behind a separate menu. There are some bodily buttons for some climate-related capabilities, however they aren’t instantly apparent.

I can’t perceive why GWM would come with bodily buttons to manage the cabin’s local weather, but have it so there’s no indication of what precisely is being adjusted except you take a look at the display above.

Urgent any of those climate-related buttons opens the devoted local weather menu on the infotainment display, which simply appears needlessly cumbersome. Alternatively, there’s a touch-button to the suitable of the display that quickly opens the menu.

Likewise, in the event you want alter or flip off any driver help capabilities, you’ll be able to solely do it by digging by way of a number of menus – that’s, after all, if the display works.

Sooner or later I hopped in to start my commute residence and was greeted with the everyday start-up animation and subsequent loading display on the centre display, however the loading display by no means went away.

That meant I had no radio, no Apple CarPlay, no concept of what I used to be adjusting with the local weather controls, and no option to flip off the automobile’s intrusive emergency lane-keep help and driver monitoring capabilities earlier than hitting the street.

What ensued was a deeply boring and awkward drive residence, because the display remained bricked the entire time. As unexpectedly because it froze, the display returned to regular the following morning.

Within the kindest phrases, it was very inconvenient.

Whereas the entrance of the Tank is heavy on design and tech, the whole lot within the again is kind of as you’d anticipate.

The three-position rear bench seat is leather-appointed as with the entrance seats, and whereas the beforehand talked about twin USB-A charging ports are positioned on the again of the centre console beneath the air vents.

By way of storage, there’s some area for bottles within the door playing cards, map pockets on the backs of each entrance seats, a small cubby on the centre console, and cupholders integrated into the fold-down centre armrest.

Music sounds simply nearly as good again right here because it does up entrance, due to the Extremely Hybrid’s Infinity-branded sound system, and younger households needn’t fear due to the inclusion of three top-tether little one seat anchors in addition to ISOFIX factors on the outboard seats.

It’s value noting that it isn’t the best activity to climb into the again, because the rear doorways don’t open to 90 levels. There’s additionally a comparatively small opening atop a excessive flooring, which implies it could be a problem to suit a toddler seat or get an aged passenger onboard.

Opening the tailgate reveals a really spacious boot. It’s on par with different massive SUVs, but it surely punches above its weight with the rear row folded.

It has extra room than the Suzuki Jimny and nearly matches the Wrangler in its expanded configuration, and since it’s a geared-up off-roader, you get a full-size spare wheel mounted on the tailgate.

However take into accout it’s a side-hinged tailgate, which implies you’ll wrestle to open it in the event you’ve reversed too near a wall or one other automobile. It additionally takes some pressure to shut, as its supportive strut prevents it from gliding shut naturally with a traditional push.

Wish to see how the Tank 300 shapes up in opposition to its rivals? Put it side-by-side utilizing our comparability instrument.

What’s below the bonnet?

A 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is customary throughout the four-grade Tank 300 vary, although solely two variants pack hybrid tech. A brand new turbo-diesel powertrain can be attributable to arrive within the first half of 2025.

Hybrid variations make use of a particular ‘Hybrid Automated Transmission’ with a single transmission-mounted electrical motor, and embrace torque-on-demand full-time four-wheel drive.

Additionally included are mechanical entrance and rear differential locks, a cool Tank Flip operate to cut back the off-road turning circle, and a crawl mode.

Wish to see how the Tank 300 shapes up in opposition to its rivals? Put it side-by-side utilizing our comparability instrument.

How does the GWM Tank 300 drive?

The Tank 300’s out-of-the-box on-road driving expertise could be usually be outlined by one thought – ‘how do I flip that off?’.

There are a selection of driver help and security programs within the Tank 300, and whilst you may positively stay with most of them, faults with the lane-keeping capabilities specifically are disappointing in a automobile that presents so properly.

I’m not one to complain concerning the inclusion of contemporary driver help tech – it positively has a task to play in enhancing street security – however when it makes driving annoying, it’s virtually higher overlooked.

GWM is an organization that you just’d anticipate to have this discovered by now, however following widespread media and buyer criticism it’s now engaged on a software program replace for the lane-keeping function that will likely be utilized to all new autos in future, and is anticipated to be retro-fittable to autos already offered.

But it surely’s but to substantiate when that may occur, and we received’t know the way profitable it’s been till we retest it, so within the meantime we will solely base our security system evaluation on the Tank 300 presently accessible to us and prospects.

Because it stands, the emergency lane-keep help and lane-departure warning programs aren’t fairly proper and might generally even be harmful. In the event you’re driving alongside in a straight line, the automobile appears to all the time favor to sit down to the far left of its lane, no matter what sort of street you’re on.

In the event you’re driving alongside stable white traces – particularly in your proper – the automobile will consistently battle you for management of the wheel to over-correct itself, generally practically swerving into the lane on the left, even when there’s visitors there. It might generally be a bizarre sort of high-stakes wrestling match.

Like another new fashions, the motive force monitoring system will even berate you for shifting your head to look anyplace aside from straight in entrance, which is an issue given you’re pressured to divert your gaze to the infotainment display to function the automobile’s inside programs.

The Tank 300 usually works in opposition to itself from a tech standpoint. We had comparable complaints once we reviewed this mannequin in December 2023, so it’s disappointing they haven’t been rectified but.

Mercifully, the automobile does mean you can disable just about all of this tech – although it requires you to trawl by way of menus within the infotainment system to untick the related containers every time you set off.

Different options, together with adaptive cruise management and entrance cross-traffic help, are efficient and work as they need to.

When you’ve sorted what you need to depart on and switch off, you’re lastly in a position to benefit from the beefy hybrid powertrain, surprisingly good driving dynamics and stable off-road capabilities.

While you first leap in and hit the street, you’ll discover how the Tank 300 clatters over smaller bumps, as is typical of a body-on-frame automobile, however after half an hour of driving it’s straightforward to neglect there’s something untoward happening below you.

It’s very comfy and sure-footed at excessive pace, and rolling alongside in EV mode at decrease speeds is quiet and clean.

The EV motor is able to getting the automobile as much as round 40km/h, and it’ll fortunately cruise with out the engine at speeds of as much as 60km/h. The engine will even shut off when coming to a cease to avoid wasting gasoline, although we nonetheless used extra petrol than GWM claimed throughout our week with the automobile.

When it’s time for the petrol engine to kick in, it’s virtually all the time a seamless change. Put your foot down for a fast burst or from a standstill, although, and the Tank 300 takes a second or two to determine the way it desires to get the facility to the bottom between the electrical motor and engine.

As soon as it’s sorted itself out, the Tank provides you a correct punch within the again. Flicking it into Sport mode additional helps with this, because it retains all energy programs engaged and able to go.

The nine-speed transmission is infrequently caught within the improper gear – it’s snappy at low pace and fortunately chugs alongside seamlessly on the freeway.

There’s no query the Tank 300 is a giant automobile. Behind the wheel you are feeling fairly excessive above the bottom, which on this case means there’s good visibility throughout.

Blind-spot monitoring works properly to help if you’re merging or altering lanes, whereas the surround-view digicam with its Clear Chassis Perform is a superb assist when navigating carparks.

Exterior of the technical gremlins and annoying lane-keep capabilities, this can be a highly effective and comfy automobile that by no means actually feels prefer it’s too massive, and pulls off its road-going off-roader act effortlessly.

To see how the Tank 300 performs off-road, watch Paul’s video evaluate.

What do you get?

On check right here is the flagship Tank 300 Extremely Hybrid variant.

Tank 300 Lux and Lux Hybrid highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Auto-folding, heated exterior mirrors
• LED headlights and tail lights
• Daytime working lights
• Sunroof
• Two-piece under-body guard
• Tyre strain monitoring
• Crawl Management
• Tank Flip
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Energy driver’s seat
• ‘Consolation-Tek’ leather-based upholstery
• Microfibre and leather-based steering wheel
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Entrance and rear USB ports
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 9-speaker audio system
• Ambient inside lighting
• DAB+ digital radio (hybrid solely)
• 12V energy retailers (entrance and baggage cabin)

Tank 300 Extremely provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Nappa leather-based seats
• Heated and cooled entrance seats
• Energy’s driver seat with therapeutic massage operate
• Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Wi-fi telephone charging
• ‘Infinity’ branded nine-speaker sound system
• Extra ambient lighting colors

Tank 300 Extremely Hybrid provides:

• Semi-autonomous parking help
• Driver’s seat and mirror reminiscence
• Auto reverse monitoring
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay

Wish to see how the Tank 300 shapes up in opposition to its rivals? Put it side-by-side utilizing our comparability instrument.

Is the GWM Tank 300 secure?

The Tank 300 has a five-star ANCAP security ranking based mostly on 2022 Australian crash testing, which covers each petrol and hybrid variants.

Customary security tools consists of:

• 7 airbags
  • Entrance
  • Aspect
  • Curtain
  • Entrance-centre
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Lane hold help
• Visitors signal recognition
• Rear cross-traffic alert with brake
• Adaptive cruise management
• Encompass-view digicam
  • incl. ‘Clear Chassis Perform’

Hybrid fashions add:

• 6 parking sensors (up from 4)
• Entrance cross-traffic help
• Excessive Means Help (HWA)

Wish to see how the Tank 300 shapes up in opposition to its rivals? Put it side-by-side utilizing our comparability instrument.

How a lot does the GWM Tank 300 value to run?

As with the broader GWM vary, the Tank 300 is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee with seven years of roadside help.

An eight-year, unlimited-kilometre battery guarantee can be included for hybrid fashions, whereas GWM gives seven years of capped worth servicing for the Tank 300 vary.

Costs differ barely between petrol and hybrid variants, so right here’s a full breakdown of Tank 300 service pricing:

Wish to see how the Tank 300 shapes up in opposition to its rivals? Put it side-by-side utilizing our comparability instrument.

CarExpert’s Tackle the GWM Tank 300

It’s loads of automobile for the cash, however the Tank 300 does depart a bit to be desired.

There’s no debating its trip high quality and inside luxurious, each of that are surprisingly properly honed given its ladder-frame development and off-road focus.

It’s additionally imposing on the skin – GWM has nailed the styling of the Tank 300, which exudes the sort of street presence you don’t get with loads of different automobiles.

It’s unlucky this automobile is undermined by a pesky infotainment display and shortcomings with among the driver help programs.

I want the inside didn’t rely so closely on the touchscreen. Even when it labored correctly on a regular basis, it nonetheless lacks separate the local weather controls – in the event you’ve bought some buttons, why not go all the way in which?

However whereas we will stay with that, it’s tougher to look previous the poorly calibrated lane-keeping programs. Hopefully that will likely be fastened quickly, and that the repair could be utilized to present buyer automobiles.

We additionally assume the hybrid is basically not far sufficient separated from its petrol counterpart when it comes to tech and customary options. When the distinction is $9000 at Extremely degree, it’s a matter of whether or not that’s well worth the hybrid’s efficiency good points, and its further parking sensors and wi-fi CarPlay, or whether or not it is best to simply accept petrol model and get a lot of the similar stuff.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying this can be a distinctive providing in a section historically dominated by revered diesel-powered off-roaders just like the Everest, MU-X and Prado, which is now being renewed and will likely be much more costly. Certainly, none of its competitors supply hybrid tech, and it has a really aggressive price ticket in that context.

In the event you want seven seats GWM’s reply is the Tank 500. If not, and it’s a mixture of every day driving and occasional off-roading that you just’re after, the Tank 300 Hybrid is greater than able to carrying each hats, and even the non-hybrid variations received’t depart you wanting extra.

Occupied with shopping for a GWM Tank 300? Get in contact with one in all CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

Click on the photographs for the total gallery

MORE: Every thing GWM Tank 300