GWM Tank 500 News

Two new three-row family-friendly SUVs from China have been awarded five stars in ANCAP safety testing. The GWM Tank 500 frame-based large three-row SUV and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max monocoque seven-seater both scored maximum stars. GWM’s off-roader was given extra praise for its record 93 per cent score in the strict 2023-2025 Child Occupant Protection criteria thanks to its direct child presence detection system. More than just weight on a seat or cameras, the system is said to be able to detect physical and respiratory movements to warn if an occupant has been locked inside the vehicle. It can either beep or send a notification to your phone if that's the case.“Our protocols encourage the fitment of direct child presence detection systems in an effort to reduce instances where children are inadvertently left in a car,” said ANCAP CEO Carla Hoorweg. “The CPD system fitted to the GWM Tank 500 is one of the more advanced systems assessed by ANCAP so far, and it's great to see manufacturers implementing this potentially life-saving technology,” Ms Hoorweg added.In the remaining categories, the GWM Tank 500 scored 85 per cent in Adult Occupant Protection, 81 per cent in Vulnerable Road User and 84 per cent in Safety Assist. The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max was also awarded five stars with consistent results across the board. It joins Chery’s already five-star Tiggo 7 Pro medium SUV and Omoda 5 small SUV.“Chery’s latest offering adds to their current five-star SUV line-up, with safer options for buyers,” said Ms Hoorweg.And it’s no surprise the 7 and 8 were rated the same, as the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max was given its score on ANCAP’s partner program. This is when mechanically related vehicles share a score. Twins under the skin like the Kia Rio/Stonic fall under this program.This is despite the Tiggo 8 Pro Max having a 50mm longer wheelbase, 207mm longer body and two extra seats compared to the Tiggo 7 Pro. ANCAP told CarsGuide that the only additional test was for pedestrian impact safety.The Tiggo 8 Pro Max scored 88 per cent in Adult Occupant, 87 per cent in Child Occupant, 79 per cent in Vulnerable Road User and 86 per cent for Safety Assist. ANCAP’s literature lists 10 airbags , the same number as in the Tiggo 7 Pro. Those are dual frontal, side chest-protecting, side head-protecting (1st & 2nd row) airbags, a driver’s knee and centre airbags. We observed that the Tiggo 8 Pro Max’s side curtain airbags did not appear to offer full third row coverage, however. There are no top tether anchors in the GWM Tank 500 or Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max’s third rows, and ANCAP recommends that “these seating positions are therefore not suitable for transporting young children".

The newly-released Tank 500 HEV (hybrid) going up against the Toyota Prado and LandCruiser as well as the Nissan Patrol with their rusted-on reputations for reliability and durability, how tricky is it for a relatively unknown and untested brand to break through with extremely brand-loyal 4WD-wagon buyers?

Where is the Tank 500 in diesel, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and twin-turbo V6 petrol guises, and why has GWM launched only with a hybrid for now? Right now, only the segment-leading hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is offered in Australia and New Zealand, powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine and electric motor combination delivering 255kW of power and 648Nm of torque.

GWM's Tank 500 is the biggest and most expensive model to arrive in Australia for the Chinese brand and could be cut-price alternative to the Toyota LandCruiser.