New GWM Tank 500 launched in South Africa – Pricing and specifications

GWM has finally launched the new Tank 500 in South Africa, adding a second model to the carmaker’s dedicated 4×4 division.

The 500 was initially expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2024 but was pushed back by roughly a month and a half to make its debut this August.

The SUV is perched as the new flagship of the Tank brand in South Africa at a starting price of R1,222,900, offering a seven-seater take on the Tank 300 that was introduced in February 2024.

Engine

The new 500 is exclusively fitted with the hybrid-electric (HEV) powertrain found on the range-topping 300 models.

This setup consists of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine assisted by an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery, which helps to provide a combined output of 255kW and 648Nm.

Paired with a nine-speed automatic gearbox, the SUV achieves an average fuel consumption of around 8.4l/100km.

The considerable torque stat also means that the 500 can sprint from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds despite weighing 2,650kg, and it can tow up to 2.5 tonnes.

Since Tank is GWM’s dedicated off-road brand, you can also expect an electronic four-wheel-drive system with low range and a rear diff lock.

Adding to this, the 500 features 10 different driving and terrain modes including Standard, Economic, Sport, Expert, Snow, Mud, Sand, Irregular, Rock, and Mountain.

You also get underbody protection for the chassis, Crawl Control (off-road cruise control), and Tank Turn, which locks the inside back wheel and diverts all power to the other wheels to allow the SUV to perform much tighter turns.

Features

The flagship Tank is available in four different colours, namely Crown Gold, Knight Black, Majesty Silver, and Princess White.

It comes with 20-inch ally wheels, light-sensing LED headlights and daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic side steps for easy entry and exit.

Inside, the cabin receives plenty of natural light thanks to a standard-fit panoramic sunroof, and the boot can accommodate 795 litres of luggage when the third row of seats is folded, or up to 1,459 litres when both passenger rows are down.

At the front, there are electronically adjustable Nappa leather seats with memory settings, heating and ventilation, and an eight-point massage function.

The second row has reclining backrests, two-way adjustable headrests, ventilation, separate climate controls, and charging points.

Furthermore, the middle row can improve legroom by sliding back provided there are no occupants in the seats behind.

The third row, meanwhile, can be electronically folded and feature its own roof-mounted climate vents.

Other highlights comprise keyless entry and start, a heated leather multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters, ambient lighting, a wireless charger, a 12-speaker Infinity stereo, tri-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a heads-up display, and a 14.6-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety and assistance fittings include adaptive cruise control, rear-collision warning, cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, emergency lane-keep assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, driver fatigue monitoring, intelligent parking, a 360-degree camera with chassis view, and automatic emergency braking.

Pricing

The South African pricing for the new GWM Tank 500 is as follows:

• GWM Tank 500 2.0T 9HAT 4×4 Ultra Luxury – R1,222,900

Each purchase comes with a 7-year/200,000km warranty, a 5-year/75,000km service plan, and 7-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance, with an additional 8-year/150,000km hybrid battery warranty.

GWM Tank 500