2026 GWM Tank 500 Reviews

GWM will soon finally offer a diesel powertrain in its Tank 500 SUV in Australia, more than two years after it originally launched.Diesel engines are still preferred by buyers of these large, body-on-frame SUVs in Australia. It’s with this in mind that GWM is aiming squarely at the top-selling Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X and Toyota Prado with this new version of the Tank 500.Ahead of the launch in September, CarsGuide had the opportunity to test a pre-production version of the Tank 500 with the new 3.0-litre diesel at a private proving ground.This new 3.0-litre diesel produces 170kW and 620Nm, which is astounding for a four-cylinder engine. It produces more torque than the Everest’s V6 turbo-diesel, while power is only slightly down.This is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with drive sent through a part-time four-wheel drive system. GWM unfortunately hasn’t packaged a full-time four-wheel drive system – which allows for all-wheel grip on sealed surfaces and was fitted to all versions of the Tank 500 to date – but claims this was done to reduce weight and fuel consumption.Despite the healthy power and torque figures, the claimed fuel consumption isn’t as high as you’d expect. GWM claims it consumes 7.1L/100km, beating the Everest V6 (8.5L/100km), MU-X 3.0-litre (7.6L/100km) and Prado (7.6L/100km).The entry-level Lux version has a 78L fuel tank and this allows for a theoretical total range of 1098km. The top-spec Vanta version, on the other hand, adds a 53L long-range tank for total fuel capacity of 131L, allowing for a theoretical total range of 1845km.The latter is a game-changer for those who tackle long distances in the outback if the claim is reflective of real-world fuel consumption.The Tank 500 Vanta 3.0-litre diesel's larger fuel tank makes it heavier. It has a hefty kerb weight of 2705kg, which is 70kg more than the Tank 500 Lux 3.0-litre diesel with the standard fuel tank and almost 200kg more than the Everest Platinum.This extra weight eats into the payload. The Lux version offers 760kg while the Vanta version offers 690kg. All Tank 500 3.0-litre diesel variants house seven seats and this amount of payload may mean you need to choose whether you load up passengers or cargo.It’s worth noting the Tank 500 Ultra PHEV has a payload of 610kg, despite having only five seats.Thankfully, all versions of the Tank 500 3.0-litre diesel retain a 3500kg braked trailer towing capacity. There are also locking front and rear differentials.One of the things you notice when taking off in the Tank 500 3.0-litre diesel is the lack of lag. The initial throttle response is snappier and more linear than hybrid and PHEV versions of this car, which at points could feel like nothing and then everything happened from standstill.This added refinement is even more prominent on the move as there’s so much oomph available. Peak torque, which again is a healthy 620Nm, is available from 1400-2400rpm and this allows the transmission to switch up gears quickly, keeping the revs low.Rolling acceleration is great and if required the transmission will happily dive back through the gears. On many occasions, though, only a small increase in throttle application is needed to get things moving quicker, even at higher speeds.As expected, there is a plethora of drive modes to select from, but there is now a ‘Towing’ mode that alters the engine and transmission calibrations. Annoyingly, it cannot be selected using the rotary dial on the centre console and requires you to dig into sub-menus on the touchscreen.An element of the driving experience that stands out is how refined the engine is, even when pushed harder. The noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) inside the cabin is subdued, arguably even more so than the related Cannon Alpha.Although we drove a pre-production vehicle on proving ground roads, the new local suspension and steering tune feels a lot more controlled, balanced and direct than previous versions of this SUV. GWM hasn’t fully detailed pricing and specifications for the Tank 500 3.0-litre diesel line-up yet. However, two variants will be offered: an entry-level Lux and a blacked-out Vanta.The Chinese carmaker said the line-up will start from mid-$60K, drive-away. For reference, the Ultra PHEV, which is the only other variant offered locally now, is priced from $79,990, drive-away.This pricing undercuts its key rivals by a considerable margin. They are priced as follows:Ford Everest Platinum: $82,917, before on-road costsIsuzu MU-X X-Terrain: $77,100, before on-road costsToyota Prado Kakadu: $100,620, before on-road costsIt’s worth noting GWM uses drive-away pricing, rather than before on-road costs. This makes the relative pricing of the aforementioned rivals even higher.Although full specifications haven’t been announced yet, available features include the following:Continental tyres (NEW, Vanta only)Panoramic sunroof12.3-inch digital instrument cluster14.6-inch touchscreen multimedia system50W wireless phone chargerBuilt-in trailer brake controller (NEW)Heated steering wheelNappa leather-accented upholsteryMassaging front seatsFront and rear diff locksGWM hasn’t detailed the standard safety suite in the Tank 500 3.0-litre diesel yet, but it’s expected to mirror the Ultra PHEV.A number of the active safety systems, including the adaptive cruise control, have been tweaked thanks to local tuning. The surround-view camera system has also been adjusted to better suit towing.Hybrid and PHEV versions of the Tank 500 currently have a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2024.All GWM vehicles are currently covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Logbook servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km and the capped-price servicing details haven’t been announced yet.GWM currently has 124 dealers in Australia and they’re spread across urban, regional and rural areas.

The GWM Tank 500 Ultra Hi4-T Plug-in Hybrid is big news for Australia: this is a body-on-ladder-frame chassis large 4WD with five seats, high- and low-range gearing, and a front, centre and rear diff lock. It has combined power and torque outputs of 300kW/750Nm, offers about 120km electric-only driving range, and it can be used as a 6.0kW mobile power station (V2L) - all for under $80 grand.