The most expensive Chinese car you can buy in South Africa

The GWM Tank 500 is the most expensive Chinese car you can buy in South Africa, asking for a minimum payment of R1,222,900.

Chinese brands have proved to be a massive hit in our market, with automakers like GWM and Chery now frequently appearing in the top 10 best-sellers every month.

However, much of this success can be attributed to the fact that vehicles from the People’s Republic are typically very affordable relative to their competitors, with models like the R279,900 Chery Tiggo 4 Pro and the R345,950 Haval Jolion being clear standouts.

While this strategy has clearly helped to establish these nameplates in our market, manufacturers like GWM are starting to take aim at the premium segment as well, bringing in new badges like the Tank line of luxury 4x4s.

The result is the Tank 500, which is one of the only Chinese cars in the country going for over R1 million, so it’s worth taking a look at what exactly the pinnacle of Great Wall Motors’ stable currently has to offer.

The R1.2-million GWM

The 500 is the larger sibling to the Tank 300 that was launched earlier this year, with a key distinction apart from the more substantial dimensions being that it has seven seats instead of the usual five.

It is only available in a single specification, and features a hybrid powerplant comprising a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor.

The result is a combined output of 255kW and 648Nm, which is sent down to an electronic four-wheel-drive system via a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Thanks to its hybrid underpinnings, the bulky SUV still manages to achieve a relatively good fuel consumption of 8.4l/100km.

Since Tank is GWM’s dedicated 4×4 brand, you can also expect useful fittings like a low-range transfer box, a rear diff lock, and chassis underbody protection.

There are 10 different driving and terrain modes covering Standard, Economic, Sport, Expert, Snow, Mud, Sand, Irregular, Rock, and Mountain, as well as two trail-themed assistance functions called Crawl Control (off-road cruise control) and Tank Turn, which locks the inside back wheel to allow the vehicle to make much tighter turns on narrow paths.

As a luxury model, the 500 naturally comes with an elaborate equipment sheet that starts with automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights, 20-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and a panoramic sunroof.

It also comes with keyless entry and start, a leather multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters; electronically adjustable leather seats with heating, ventilation and massage functions; tri-zone climate control; a wireless charger; a 12-speaker Infinity stereo; a 12.3-inch digital driver display; and a 14.6-inch infotainment monitor with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

This is in addition to driver assistance programmes such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, hill descent control, lane-keep assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, a 360-degree camera, and front and rear parking sensors.

The GWM Tank 500 is sold with a 7-year/200,000km warranty, a 5-year/75,000km service plan, 7-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance, and an additional 8-year/150,000km hybrid battery warranty.