A new Chinese Adventure SUV is heading to South Africa that is shaping up to be a major rival to the recently launched next-gen Toyota Prado.
GWM is continuing the rollout of its Tank sub-brand with the new Tank 500, which is expected to land within the next few weeks.
The 500 was previously stated to be arriving in South Africa in the second quarter of 2024, meaning it should make an appearance before the month is out.
What to expect
The Tank 500 is the larger sibling to the Tank 300 that was launched in the country in February this year.
The 300 marked the introduction of the Tank badge in South Africa, which is GWM’s (Great Wall Motors) division specializing in high-end 4×4 SUVs.
At its launch, GWM stated that they consider the 300 to be a rival to the likes of popular models like the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Isuzu mu-X, and Jeep Wrangler.
It stands to reason, then, that its larger counterpart will be competing in a higher bracket with names like the Toyota Prado, Land Rover Defender, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
It measures 5,070mm in length, 1,934mm in width, and 1,905mm in height, which is about the same size as its competitors, and it is available with either five or seven seats.
At launch, the Tank will be exclusively sold with the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine found in the flagship 300, which also happens to be a hybrid system.
The HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) benefits from an electric motor, which raises the already substantial output of 167kW and 387Nm all the way up to 255kW and 648Nm.
On the 300, the powertrain has a listed fuel consumption of 8.4l/100km, but it’s likely that the 500’s added bulk will add to its thirst.
Motorists have also been requesting a diesel powerplant for the Tank series owing to its fuel efficiency and commonality with other brands, and while GWM is developing such a motor in China, the company has yet to confirm whether it is on the cards for South Africa.
Also important to note is that the SUV features a nine-speed automatic gearbox and a torque-on-demand four-wheel-drive system with selectable modes for Standard, Economic, Sport, Snow, Mud, and Sand.
It has a rear-axle differential, a low-range gear setting, and can be fitted with a tow hook allowing for loads up to 2,500kg to be brought along.
As for its equipment, the Tank 500 is expected to come with the same generous spec sheet as its offspring with items like a heated steering wheel with paddle shifters, 64-colour ambient lighting, Nappa leather seats with heating, ventilation, massaging, and lumbar support functions, a sunroof, keyless entry and start, synthetic leather upholstery, electric front seats, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, and two 12.3-inch screens.
Since the Tank logo is associated with serious off-roading, each car also comes with Crawl Control (off-road cruise control), a chassis-view camera, and a Tank Turn function that locks the inside wheel to reduce the turning circle.
Pricing for the seven-seater SUV has yet to be announced, but the Tank 300 HEV starts at R851,950, so expect a window sticker north of this, especially since most of its competitors are well over R1 million.
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