GWM Steed Reviews

The GWM Tank 500 should stand out for being one of the first hardcore off-roaders with a hyrbid system... but we're only a month into a long term test and the Berry family has found there are also a few not-so great reasons the vehicle stands out

China’s GWM has made an array of upgrades to its Tank 300 off-roader range that aligns it with the recently introduced turbodiesel variants.The Tank 300 petrol and hybrid variants have now been upgraded to get a maximum braked towing capacity of 3000kg, which is up from the previous 2500kg.This means the entire Tank 300 range is now capable of towing a braked trailer of up to 3000kg.While this is more than the Jeep Wrangler can tow (2495kg), it’s still down on the 3500kg benchmark the Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Prado achieves.Payload has also been increased to 600kg for the hybrid and 610kg for the petrol.In order to increase the braked towing capacity and payload, GWM made more than 20 engineering enhancements to the Tank 300.These include larger front brakes and calipers, strengthened front knuckles, upgraded wheel bearings, and a reinforced prop shaft.Beyond these upgrades to the Tank 300 petrol and hybrid, GWM has “streamlined” the range down from six variants to four.As part of this it has seen the entry-level Tank 300 Lux petrol and hybrid discontinued from the range. They’re now only offered in the flagship Ultra trim.This comes as the recently introduced turbo-diesel engine option is now accounting for 60 per cent of monthly Tank 300 sales.“These important updates reflect our global team's growing understanding of the Australian market, where towing capability and payload remains a key consideration for buyers in this segment,” said GWM Australia and New Zealand head of marketing and communications Steve Maciver.Despite the towing capacity upgrade, GWM hasn’t increased the asking price of the Tank 300 petrol and hybrid.The range still opens at $47,990 drive-away for the Tank 300 Lux Diesel, and extends to $56,990 drive-away for the Tank 300 Ultra Hybrid.

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GWM announced all new hybrid Haval SUVs will be all-wheel drive only, using its signature Hi4 electrified drive system, it announced during a presentation at the Shanghai motor show.The brand’s new Hi4 system, which is not yet available on any Haval model in Australia, uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine, at least one motor on the front axle and a motor on the rear axle. The brand said the Hi4 system is focused on both weight and cost reduction compared to competitor systems, which it said can be expensive for mainstream buyers when it comes to adding all-wheel drive.GWM recently introduced a plug-in hybrid system on its H6 GT in Australia, this is a predecessor technology. The new second-generation Hi4 system is expected to arrive in Australia on the upcoming off-road-styled H7 mid-size SUV before the end of 2025.The Hi4 system has been plug-in hybrid only, but speaking to global media, GWM’s chief powertrain engineer, Yvan Le Neindre, confirmed in the future Hi4 will also be deployed as a plugless hybrid as well as the current plug-in hybrid vehicles.The H6 will be superseded by a similar mid-size SUV known as the Xiaolong Max in China. GWM has long hinted at the Xiaolong Max becoming a tech-leading vehicle in Haval’s range in Australia.This mid-size SUV is currently plug-in hybrid only, with its hybrid set-up producing a combined 238kW/595Nm, with up to 165km of electric driving range (according to the more lenient CLTC testing procedure) from the largest 27.54kWh LFP battery pack option.The most efficient version of the system claims a WLTC combined fuel consumption of 0.97L/100km.For now the brand’s local division won’t be drawn on timing for the currently left-hand-drive only Xiaolong Max for the Australian market, or whether it will sit above the H6 or replace it entirely in time.Le Neindre did confirm the current H6’s plugless hybrid front-wheel drive system is on borrowed time, as the future of all Haval products is the Hi4 system.He added there are ten new models in the pipeline using Hi4 technology, and hinted “we can adjust the size of the components - from a technical point of view - to cover a wide range of products” when asked whether Hi4 would make it to more compact models like the Jolion.On top of this hybrid push, the brand will also deploy a new 4.0-litre V8 engine by 2027, which will be paired with a Hi4 system in order to meet emissions regulations. The brand said the larger capacity engine is specifically required for markets like Australia where off-roading and heavy towing is popular.