GWM Tank 500 vs Jeep Avenger

What's the difference?

The arrival of the GWM Tank 500 Ultra PHEV is noteworthy because it’s the first plug-in hybrid Tank model in Australia.

It’s also a major event for the Aussie adventure-travel community because it’s a plug-in hybrid 4WD with five seats, high- and low-range gearing, and a front, centre and rear diff lock.

The Tank 500 PHEV gets more power and torque than its hybrid stablemate, offers about 120km electric-only driving range (listed), and it can be used as a 6kW mobile power station (V2L) at your campsite. Towing remains at 3000kg.

There’s a lot in this Tank’s favour: it’s a body-on-ladder-frame chassis large 4WD with a packed standard features list and real off-road adventure potential.

All of that – and more – for under $80 grand.

But does the plug-in set-up add anything substantial in terms of daily driveability or does it simply make this Tank an $80,000 camp-site generator?

Read on.

This Jeep isn’t a 4WD, it’s electric, front-wheel drive and built on the same platform as cars from France.

It’s not sounding very ‘Jeep’ so far, but the Avenger isn’t trying to be a traditional Jeep in that sense.

What it is trying to do is draw in a new kind of Jeep owner, and lead the brand into the electric era without being all ‘EV-ish’ - just a car that happens to be electric.

So can Jeep do it? We’re jumping in the light SUV as it hits our shores to find out.