If you were led blindfolded to the GWM Tank 300 and sat inside with all identifying badges covered, you would be forgiven for thinking you were inside a Mercedes-Benz G-Class Geländewagen.

A medium-sized SUV with ladder-frame construction and five seats, the Mercedes influence is very obvious, from the twin 12.3-inch display screens for instrumentation and multimedia/vehicle function systems, to the turbine-style dash air vents and general upmarket trim look and feel.

There’s even an analogue clock in the centre of the dash.

Yet, despite that, the GWM subscribes to classic 4WD wagon tropes inside, including the squared-off roof line, flattish windscreen and boxy proportions. There are even large grab handles for shorter occupants to help haul themselves up and inside the vehicle.

The Tank 300 offers more than sufficient space for five people, with a good driving position and easy reach of most switchgear and controls. Ventilation is ample but storage, while plentiful, is not especially volumous.

We’re not huge fans of the flat front seats, though, as they can be quite numbing after a while sat in them.

Modern and easy to fathom once familiarised, the electronic instrumentation is informative as well as multi-configurable, while the large touchscreen in the centre is colourful and features swipe technology to access the many and various screens.

Thankfully, GWM has fitted hard buttons for the main climate control and some vehicle setting systems, saving the driver from having to decipher apps and sub-menus whilst driving.

However, there are still too many vehicle settings within said touchscreen. The seatbelts rattle against their pillars. And the windscreen posts create big blind spots through roundabouts.

Entering the back-seat area, it features a 30:70 seat split, with the cushion tilting forward to allow the backrest to nestle in snugly and flatly to increase the load area as much as possible.

Two USB outlets, rear-facing air-vents, four grab handles, windows that drop all the way down, reading lights, some storage and a folding armrest with cupholders are all fitted.

To access the 400-litre cargo area, you’ll need to swing the left-side-opening door out. Note that the spare wheel is slung from behind, so there’s no need to worry about accessing that from inside the Tank 300.

There’s a very high loading lip up to the large aperture, but clear that, and you’re met with more nice finishes and flat if narrow floor area, with tie-down hooks, lighting, side storage nets and 12V outlets.

The floor lifts to reveal a few small storage options, but no luggage cover is fitted.

Even the base Tank 300 Lux includes seven airbags, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane support systems, adaptive cruise control, two 12.3-inch digital screens, a 360-degree surround-view camera, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a nine-speaker audio system (but no DAB+ digital radio), a sunroof, LED headlights, powered front seats, side steps, roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Meanwhile, the Ultra adds items like heated/cooled front seats, a lumbar and massage function for the driver’s seat, Nappa-leather upholstery, an Infinity audio upgrade, wireless charging, multi-colour ambient lighting, a 220V power outlet, front differential lock and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Under the Tank 300’s bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbo-charged four-cylinder petrol engine, delivering 162kW of power at 5500rpm and 380Nm of torque from 1800-3600rpm.

Tipping the scales at a hefty 2155kg, it produces a distinctly mediocre 75kW per tonne.

An eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission sends drive to all four wheels via a part-time four-wheel drive system. It features 4H high and 4L low gearing for off-road driving.

The GWM Tank 300 is a midsized body-on-frame SUV, with two rows of seats consisting of a pair of bucket-type seats up front and a three-person bench out back.

The front bucket seats slide and recline, with the driver’s side featuring electric adjustment. It also offers lumbar support. However, the seat itself is a bit flat and shapeless, and can lead to a numb posterior after several hours.

Meanwhile, the rear seats provide average comfort and support. They are split asymmetrically, with the left side divided as one-third and the right-side taking up the remaining two-thirds.

This allows for either a four-seater or three-seater configuration with the vehicle, with the folded section dedicated to longer loads as required.

Helpfully, the cushion tilts forward to allow the backrest to lay flat with the boot floor, extending the cargo capacity coverage considerably.

While the cushions tilt but do not slide, both backrests do have a slight reclining feature, allowing for a small degree of angle to help boost comfort. Also to that end, the middle portion comes with a folding armrest, complete with a pair of cupholders.

The Tank 300 petrol can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h (0-100km/h) in around 10 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 170km/h.

The HEV hybrid, in contrast, can manage 0-100km/h in about 8.0 seconds flat.

The Tank 300 petrol is tuned to run on 91 RON regular unleaded petrol.

That’s just as well, since the official fuel-consumption average is 9.5 litres per 100km. Our pump-to-pump average was actually 13.8L/100km. At least that was better than what the trip computer read: 14.2L/100km.

Fitted with a 75-litre fuel tank, expect to average around 785km based on the official figure.