When the GWM Tank was launched, one was pleasantly surprised at its refinement when it came to the ride and its interior ergonomics. With more time spent with the model, I was keen to find out if it was the "New model" effect. We drove it for a week to find out.
The look mixes design cues from the G63 to the Wrangler but with a twist of GWM in what many onlookers noticed quite easily on the road. The orange colour of our test unit made the car stand out more but having seen a maroon coloured one, I feel the latter colour does the design more justice. LED Daytime Running Lights are neatly integrated into the LED headlights. When we had to fill washer fluid, we struggled to open the clamshell bonnet needing one person to pull the toggle switch inside and also pull up the bonnet, not ideal if you are alone.
The 18inch wheels are attractive whilst the side step is a bit too high meaning if you reach its height, you might as well stretch to the cabin (not ideal on road but good off road). The rear door mounted spare wheel gives the design that Macho SUV look and the tail gate is assisted by a hydraulic shock which aids usage. The rear would look better with mud flaps as they would also aid dirt spewed on to the rear bumper.
The interior is one of the best made by the Chinese manufacturer and even surpasses those from competition i.e. Ford (Everest), Toyota (Fortuner). The electric seats are very comfortable but on the Hybrid spec, do not come with heating function (something competition offers as standard with the Everest also cooled).
The infotainment screen works well allied to Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay. The sound system is excellent and allied to the models long distance comfort, ensures that long family trips are a breeze.
The rear seats do fold but not flat and the lack of a luggage cover on our test unit gave it a low rent look (heightens the risk in Mzansi as thieves can see what's at the back).
The 255kW/648Nm 2.0L 4-cylinder engine is Hybrid allowing low speed cruising in electric mode (if battery has enough juice). The transition from electric to ICE assistance can be jerky especially when taking off in a hurry. The effects of the Hybrid set up are felt when it comes to fuel efficiency. Even though we didn't get the claimed 8.4l/100km, our 10.4l/100km is on part with Turbodiesel engines from rivals whilst offering much better performance (push it though and it goes past 14l/100km easily).
Drive refinement is amongst the most surprising parts of the Tank. On the road suppleness is quite good with good cabin sound insulation. Gravel road stability is on par with the best in segment whilst off road abilities were not really tested during the review however at launch, this car made off road obstacles seem like nothing hard. The Auto 360 degree camera works best when parking but its constant intervention even when driving slow can be a bit annoying. Safety tech is very good with Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Alert and emergency stop, Blind spot monitor, distance based cruise control amongst the highlights (5 Star N Cap rating).
The Tank 300 2.0T 9HAT 4×4 Super Luxury comes in at R851 950 which is a bargain considering the spec the comes with. All models are sold with a 7-year / 200 000 km new vehicle warranty and unlimited roadside assistance for the same period. The HEV model has an additional warranty that covers the complete high-voltage system and vehicle battery for a full 8-years / 150 000 km.