GWM Tank 300 (2023) International Launch Review
The GWM Tank 300 will mark a new chapter for the Chinese brand when it arrives in South Africa later this year. David Taylor headed Down Under, mate, for a taste of what’s to come.
We’ve been quietly impressed with the success story of Great Wall Motors (GWM) – and especially its SUV sub-brand Haval – in South Africa. Since Haval-badged products arrived on local soil in 2017 and Haval Motors SA was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chinese group, Haval has virtually become a fixture in the monthly top 10 best-selling brands list in the South African new-vehicle market.
The Haval Jolion and Haval H6 are well-priced, modern and desirable family SUVs that have garnered numerous sales across the nation and, although bakkie buyers are very brand loyal, the GWM P-Series double cab has become a common sight on the Republic’s roads. Five years ago, if you suggested that a Chinese brand would sit comfortably in SA’s top 10 list by 2023, we would scarcely have believed you.
However, given the automotive giant’s ambitious and flexible business strategy, the immense R&D centres it has at its disposal and the experts it has recruited from across the globe, it’s really no surprise that Haval has elbowed legacy car brands out of the way to become a household name in South Africa.
MORE: What’s next for Great Wall Motors / Haval in South Africa?
What is a Tank 300?
What you see here is a radical departure from the Haval Jolion, H6 and H6 GT, which are family cars. Tank is a new marque from GWM (another one, the Ora electric vehicle sub-brand, is also bound for SA). The Tank brand is aimed at those who appreciate luxury motoring as much as off-road adventuring. With those boxy, macho looks, it has nailed that image! Think of the Jeep Gladiator, Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender, as well as the soon-to-be-launched Ineos Grenadier. You get the idea.
Haval Motors SA intends to bring several Tank models; the Tank 300 is due in Mzansi around the middle of 2023 and the even bigger Tank 500 is earmarked for early 2024. The Tank 300 is 4 760-mm long, 1 930-mm wide and has a 2 750-mm wheelbase, so the 5-seater is about the same size as a Fortuner.
MORE: Browse the latest Haval prices and specs here.
The Tank 300 looks like a serious off-roader, but does it have the necessary 4×4 attributes? Well, fundis, the SUV has a claimed ground clearance of 224 mm, along with approach and departure angles of 33 and 34 degrees respectively. A low-range transfer case and 2 differential locks (front and rear) are fitted.
Under the bonnet is a 180 kW/380 Nm 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine that is mated with a 78 kW/268 NM electric motor (the battery capacity is not stated). The total powertrain output of 258 kW and 615 Nm is quite the talking point! Power goes to all 4 wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission.
Under the skin is not a monocoque/unibody (as is the case with the Tank’s Jolion and H6 cousins), but a modified version of the GWM P-Series bakkie’s ladder frame chassis, which further bolsters its off-road cred. With the Haval H9 falling away, the Tank range is expected to fulfil Haval’s luxury off-roader role.
First impressions
The cars we drove were pre-production units finished in Crystal Black – it didn’t flatter the Tank 300’s appearance, but fortunately, vibrant orange and red hues are available – they make the SUV stand out a lot more. Also, photographs don’t convey just how brawny the Tank is; it’s a lot bigger than I expected.
It’s interesting to see the Tank 300 riding on road-biased 18-inch rubber, but we understand that Haval Motors SA is looking at offering a range of off-road accessories for the model, including chunkier tyres.
Inside, the Tank 300 looks thoroughly modern and tech-laden – GWM has equipped the newcomer with plenty of digital screens! The perceived fit-and-finish is impressive too, thanks to the extensive use of high-quality plastics and diamond-quilted leather. The Tank 300’s cabin really looks and feels the part!
Behind the side-opening tailgate sits a reasonably spacious luggage area. The load floor is a bit higher than you’d expect (due to the hybrid battery taking up some space), but the spare wheel is located on the tailgate, which aids the packaging. We would like to see a retractable cover for the bay, however.
The Australian market will get a pair of Tank 300 derivatives, but South Africa is likely to receive just the flagship derivative – for now. However, we understand there will be a non-hybrid 2.0-litre turbopetrol version available in right-hand-drive guise and it’s due to land in Australia at some point during 2023.
Like most Haval products, the Tank 300 hybrid flagship comes fully loaded with almost every gadget and convenience feature that you can think of. There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, Nappa leather seats (heated/cooled with a massage function), an Infinity 9-speaker audio setup, a heated steering wheel, tyre pressure sensors, 64 ambient colours to choose from… and more.
As far as semi-autonomous safety tech is concerned, the Tank 300 comes equipped with adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, rear cross-traffic alert with braking function and fully automatic parking. The model also has 7 airbags and a 360-degree camera.
The local model’s list of standard specifications and features will be confirmed at launch, but we don’t think it will be radically different to what we experienced in the launch units delivered to Australia.
What’s the GWM Tank 300 like to drive?
The GWM 300 was presented to international media representatives at the Anglesea Automotive Research Centre, located about 150 km south of Melbourne, Australia. Think of it as Gerotek by the sea, with the added complication of wild kangaroos that were merrily hopping in and around the complex!
Our test-drive programme incorporated a basic 4×4 course, as well as some gravel driving, but we would have loved to have spent more than just 20 minutes with the vehicle. Think of this as “a first taste” or a preview of what’s to come, rather than a full-blown driving impression from an international launch.
Once seated behind the Tank 300’s ‘wheel, it was straightforward to find the ideal driving position. Hit the start button and… nothing. See, this new hybrid system is a revelation – the vehicle starts in electric mode and can operate in pure electric mode for some distance before the petrol engine has to kick in.
Going the hybrid route has helped Haval address one of the (very) few criticisms of its models: high fuel consumption. We’ve been impressed by the efficiency of the H6– and Jolion HEVs and, while our short drive was restricted to a stint on a gravel road, we saw an indicated consumption figure of just under 10 L/100 km. When driving on asphalt and in Eco mode, you should be able to easily improve this figure.
Speaking of drive modes, the Tank 300 has many of them – and each one is associated with a cheesy chime and dashboard graphic. The activation of Snow mode, for example, is announced by a Christmas-like bell sound. It’s cute, but we hope the chimes can be deactivated (their novelty may wear off rapidly).
Frustratingly, our test unit seemed to have a glitch. When deactivating the parking brake (shortly after start-up), the Tank refused to go into gear. It came right, eventually, after switching the SUV off and on again, but we hope that these little gremlins are ironed out by the time the model arrives on our shores.
Meanwhile, the Tank 300 made light work of the fairly straightforward off-road course, which included a deeper-than-expected water trough. The off-road modes made the SUV apportion torque between the front and rear axles as needed and, when things got a little tricky, we brought the diff-lock/s into play. We liked the off-road graphics and surround cameras; they add a technical dimension to the 4×4 experience.
When traversing the gravel road, the Tank 300 felt stable and refined, with admirably low noise intrusion (at about 60 kph). What’s more, the steering was generously assisted but felt sufficiently substantial. We pitched the SUV into some corners and, while there was some body roll, it felt more agile than expected.
Summary
The GWM Tank 300 is a radical departure from what we’ve come to expect from Haval Motors SA, which has made tremendous inroads in our market with the Jolion and H6, which are family cars… crossovers, you know, softroaders. Mind you, the Haval H9 was a substantial 4×4 that never really got its due, but the (albeit 5-, not 7-seater) Tank 300 blends the off-roader image and high luxury effortlessly!
It appeals greatly, even if you never intend to venture off-road (although, of course, the Tank 300 is more than capable in that regard). Think of the way the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has become a status symbol. Yes, the Gelandewagen is a formidable off-roader, but you won’t find any G63s at your local 4×4 track.
To reiterate, we may have had only 20 minutes behind the ‘wheel of the Tank 300 (and only drove on a dirt road), but as far as speed dates go, it was a success – we’re keen for a second date. We suspect that, in the right hands, the newcomer will go further off-road than its target clientele would ever require.
At this stage, there’s no indicative pricing available, but given the generous standard loadout, off-road capability and spaciousness of the Tank 300, we estimate you’ll be forking out around R750 000.