Where the new GWM Tank 300 ranks in South Africa’s tough 4×4 segment

At long last, the new GWM Tank 300 has touched down in South Africa with prices for the rugged off-roader starting at R725,950.

In the realm of 4×4 SUVs, the new GWM is a rather capable entry and is simultaneously competitively priced compared to the more established players out there.

While it has a raft of nice-to-haves that are sure to keep passengers coddled in comfort, the main draw card of the Tank 300 is that it will be able to conquer the great outdoors whilst doing so.

The base model of the SUV comes with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol powerplant that develops 167kW and 387Nm and is matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

A rear differential lock is included as standard, as is an electronic four-wheel-drive system with a “central locking function” that provides Standard, Standard 2H, Standard 4H, Snow 4H, Expert 4L, Irregular, Mountain, Mud, and Rock settings.

The Chinese Tank additionally brings three handy features that are intended to make it more capable off the beaten track, comprising Crawl Control, Tank Turn, and Chassis View.

Crawl Control can be applied between 4-12km/h and keeps the vehicle at a steady pace off-road, similar to using cruise control on-road.

Tank Turn, meanwhile, locks the inside wheels around a corner to reduce the turning circle, ensuring more manoeuvrability than in other vehicles of this size.

Chassis View is perfect for when a driver doesn’t have a route spotter to assist them over tricky obstacles, as it uses the wide-angle front camera to display what’s going on under the vehicle’s nose on the central infotainment screen.

Rolling around on 17-inch alloys, the 300 also boasts a ride height of 224mm and a maximum water-wading depth of 700mm.

Its approach and departure angles come in at a relatively aggressive 33 and 34 degrees, respectively, allowing the bumpers to stay unscathed over testing terrains.

In The Shark Tank

This is how the new GWM Tank 300 compares to 4×4 SUVs with similar abilities that are currently on sale in South Africa.

Click on the underlined names for more information.

Price

Power and fuel consumption

Dimensions and weight

Approach and departure angles

Ground clearance and water wading depth