GWM Reviews

The latest generation of GWM's Haval H6GT PHEV introduces Hi4 all-wheel drive technology plus significant interior and multimedia upgrades, but does this sporty flagship hit a sweet spot for SUV buyers?

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.

GWM is soon rolling out its new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine to its Cannon Alpha dual-cab ute and Tank 500 SUV in Australia. In fact, Australia is leading the roll-out of this new, larger diesel engine.Ahead of the launch in September, CarsGuide had the opportunity to test these vehicles in pre-production guise on a private proving ground. This time around we’ll specifically be focusing on the Cannon Alpha.The Chinese carmaker claims it is gunning for the top-selling Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max with the Cannon Alpha 3.0-litre diesel.Replacing the outgoing 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, the larger and all-new 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine produces 170kW and 620Nm, which is astounding for a four-cylinder engine. It produces more torque than the Ranger’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. It’s unfortunate GWM hasn’t been able to package a full-time four-wheel drive system which allows for all-wheel grip on sealed surfaces, like it had in all versions of the Cannon Alpha to date, but it claims it did so to reduce weight and fuel consumption.Even though this 3.0-litre diesel engine produces more power and torque than the outgoing 2.4-litre unit, it’s claimed to consume less fuel.GWM claims the Cannon Alpha 3.0-litre diesel consumes an average of 7.3L/100km, according to ADR 81/02 testing. For context, the same ute with the 2.4-litre diesel was claimed to consume 8.9L/100km.This claimed fuel consumption figure is better than all its main competitors, including the Ranger V6 (8.4L/100km), HiLux 48V V-Active Technology (7.6L/100km) and the D-Max 3.0-litre (7.8L/100km).There is a 78L fuel tank and this allows for a theoretical total range of 1068km. Surprisingly AdBlue isn’t required, unlike a growing number of the Cannon Alpha’s rivals.One of the first things you notice when taking off in the Cannon Alpha 3.0-litre diesel is the lack of lag. The initial throttle response is a lot snappier and linear than GWM vehicles with the 2.4-litre diesel, which at points could feel like a slingshot 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 at 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 of 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 surprised me is how refined the engine is, even when pushed harder. The noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) inside the cabin is subdued, further cementing the premium feel the Cannon Alpha has become known for.Although we drove a pre-production vehicle on proving ground roads, the new local suspension and steering tune feels a lot more controlled and balanced than previous versions of this ute. It’s helped by the fact this ute has a long 3350mm wheelbase, though the 19-degree breakover angle is still a limiting factor if you plan to go hardcore off-roading without suspension mods.GWM hasn’t fully detailed pricing and specifications for the Cannon Alpha 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 under $60,000, drive-away. For reference, the Lux PHEV is $57,490, D/A and the Ultra PHEV is $64,490, D/A.This pricing undercuts its key rivals by a considerable margin. They are priced as follows:Ford Ranger Platinum: $80,890, before on-road costsIsuzu D-Max Blade: $80,900, before on-road costsToyota HiLux Rogue: $71,990, before on-road costsIt’s worth noting GWM uses drive-away pricing, rather than before on-road costs. This makes the 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)Massaging front seatsReclining second-row seatsFront and rear diff locksThere is still a 3500kg braked towing capacity, while payload has been increased to 945kg. It was previously up to 821kg, depending on the trim level.GWM hasn’t detailed the standard safety suite in the Cannon Alpha 3.0-litre diesel, but it’s expected to mirror the PHEV variants.All versions also 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 are spread across urban, regional and rural areas. Every state and territory has coverage.

The 2026 GWM Ora 5 Ultra, starting from $36,990 drive-away, is a small electric SUV from China as part of the relaunch of the Ora brand in Australia after the mildly received Ora hatchback a few years ago.It boasts Australian ride and handling tuning, plus a decent list of standard features including 18-inch wheels, auto LED headlights and LED tail-lights, rain-sensing wipers and tinted privacy glass, a large 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, wireless phone mirroring, a 10.25-inch driver display, synthetic leather upholstery and electric driver’s seat adjustment.The extra $3000 the Ultra costs over the base Lux grade adds an electrically adjustable front passenger seat, seat ventilation and heating for both up front, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof and three extra speakers for nine in total.It has a single 150kW/260Nm electric motor at the front axle drawing from a 58.3kWh battery. Its claimed consumption figure of 15.5kWh/100km results in a 435km range under WLTC testing according to GWM. DC fast-charging is maxed at 120kW, for a 30-minute charge from 10 to 80 per cent.The Ora 5 remains unrated by ANCAP for now, but it has seven airbags and a pretty comprehensive list of features including door-open warning and rear cross-traffic alert.GWM’s seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty also includes eight years (unlimited km) for the battery, plus there’s seven years of roadside assistance and seven years capped-price servicing at $195 per service (every 12 months or 15,000km).

Starting at $33,990 drive-away, the 2026 GWM Ora 5 Lux is a competitively priced small electric SUV from China that marks the relaunch of the Ora brand in Australia after the Ora hatchback faced an arguably unenthusiastic reception on launch a few years ago.With Australian ride and handling tuning and some updated ergonomics and tech, the Ora 5 SUV comes with a decent list of standard features including 18-inch wheels, auto LED headlights and LED tail-lights, rain-sensing wipers and tinted privacy glass, a large 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, wireless phone mirroring, a 10.25-inch driver display, synthetic leather upholstery and electric driver’s seat adjustment.A single motor mounted at the front axle provides drive, with 150kW/260Nm outputs. It draws from a 58.3kWh battery and has a claimed consumption figure of 15.5kWh/100km, which GWM says results in a 435km range under WLTC testing.DC fast-charging is maxed at 120kW, and takes about 30 minutes from 10 to 80 per cent.ANCAP hasn’t completed an assessment of the Ora 5 SUV yet so, for now, the model remains unrated. It does however have seven airbags and a pretty comprehensive list of features including door-open warning and rear cross-traffic alert.GWM’s seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty (with eight years for the battery), plus seven years of roadside assist and seven years capped-price servicing at $195 per service (every 12 months or 15,000km) is a strong ownership proposition.

GWM is relaunching its Ora brand with another go at creating a hero model, this time a small SUV called the Ora 5. There are supposedly some big improvements compared to the electric hatchback that arrived a few years ago, so we headed to the Australian launch of the new model in Victoria to find out if that’s true.

Holidays at home have never looked better from a global crisis point of view. But increasing fuel prices threaten to put the brakes on that, as well, especially when diesel is up to a dollar a litre more than petrol. Enter the GWM Tank 300 plug-in hybrid. It promises a performance-to-running costs ratio that will really take some beating. And the sticker price is pretty sharp, too.

At a little more than $50,000, drive-away (nationwide), with twin lockers, a snorkel, underbody protection and Cooper Discoverer AT3 all-terrain tyres, GWM's off-road-focussed top-spec Cannon variant, the XSR, now has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine rather than the previous-gen’s 2.0L powerplant. Does this new engine make any difference to the XSR’s off-road performance?

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. 

Chinese cars have started to turn a corner, thanks to GWM's efforts in incorporating suspension and steering retuning suitable for Australian roads. The Haval H6 PHEV AWD is the first example, with calibration and components changes delivering a more comfortable and confident driving experience. The result is very promising and welcome, though some work still needs to be done.