GWM Tank 300: Tanks for the diesel

What is it?

As sports utility vehicles go, the Tank 300, a middleweight with petrol or hybrid punch, these days is a little nippier on its feet thanks to the addition of a turbo-diesel engine.

However, has the Great Wall Motors (GWM) off roader still a way to go to match the opposition?

Available in two well-appointed grades – Lux and Ultra – the new Tank 300 diesel is powered by GWM’s 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine.

Heading up a claimed 20 tech changes is an increased braked towing capacity of 3000kg, a lift from 2500kg limit of the petrol and hybrid variants.

“The introduction of the new Tank 300 diesel builds on the success of our rugged off- road range, offering customers a more powerful yet highly efficient powertrain option,”  GWM’s Steve MacIver said.

“With impressive towing capability, refined performance, and two well-equipped grades, this new variant reinforces our commitment to delivering versatile and capable vehicles.”

What’s it cost?

No pretty-boy buffed bulges here like on some modern SUVs trying to show off their Sunday best.

Just a down-to-business body of flat panels that together fit like a pair of straight-leg jackeroo jeans.

Just the job to please 4×4 wagon traditionalists.

The entry-level Lux is priced at $47,990 driveaway, with the flagship, with premium features and advanced technology, sells for $51,990 driveaway.

In front of the driver is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster which displays critical information such as current speed clearly, plus an ad hoc array of other info.

There are also alternative layouts to cycle through.

Moving to the central dash there’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system of a number of different easy-to-navigate elements.

Lost? Help is at hand from physical buttons on the right-hand side of the screen.

The Tank 300 Ultra diesel gets wired and wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Up front in the centre console is a wireless phone charger. There is also a USB-A and USB-C port.

It’s fitted with seven airbags, with front-middle, front, side and full-length curtain coverage.

It also fits Isofix mounting points on the rear outboard seating positions.

Range-wide driver assist tech includes hill start assist, hill descent control, adaptive cruise control, auto wipers and headlights with auto high-beam, front and rear collision warning, four front and four rear parking sensors, a 360-degree monitor, tyre pressure monitoring, assistants for lane departure, lane keeping, lane centring and lane changing, traffic sign recognition and rear cross-traffic alert with autonomous braking.

The Ultra takes on an auto-dimming rear-view mirror as standard.

Tank 300 comes with a 7-year/unlimited kilometre standard new car warranty; 7-year roadside assistance with 24/7 support; and 7-year capped price servicing.

What’s it go like?

At almost five metres long and two metres wide the so-called Tank 300 mid-size SUV is bordering on big, so it is ‘leg roomy’, especially in the rear, complemented by ample head and shoulder room for a cabin fit for three adults across.

Large grab handles on the B-pillars, rear air vents, dual USB device power outlets, large door bins, dual cup holders in the fold-down armrest add to a sensible fit-out.

Up front, there’s good storage, including two cupholders, a centre-console box with airflow, little storage nooks that pop out from the dashboard and a standard glovebox.

The five-seater Tank 300 Ultra is good for 400 litres of luggage with the 60/40 rear-split seat upright.

With the rear seats folded it increases to 1635 litres.

However, competing with side hinged tailgate limits loading from the rear in tight parking spaces.

New Tank 300 is powered by GWM’s 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, developing 135kW of power at 3600 rpm and 480Nm of torque between 1500 and 2500 rpm.

Mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain is claimed by the maker to achieve a combined urban/highway fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km.

Considering the short wheelbase, tall stance and suspension set-up the Tank 300 Ultra diesel produced a choppy ride at slower speeds, but is surprisingly smooth and slick cruising the motorway.

Oh, and the old-style diesel rattler went some way to adding assurance.

The oversize exterior mirrors supplied a good service up to a point but were the cause of a massive blind spot beyond the A-pillar, and the production of excessive wind noise.

Setting off was a bit hit and miss with a wide spread of turbo lag, from a ‘lifetime’ in acceleration terms to an instantaneous liftoff surge that was hard to contain with the soft-touch pedal.

Sport mode only reinforced the wayward behaviour.

Four-by-four on-demand systems include 2H/4H/4L selection, Crawl Control, Turn Assist, and various off-road drive modes including Snow, Sand, Rock, Mud, Auto and a customizable Expert suite, which allows tuning of throttle, steering, traction control and differential locking.

With a towing capacity of 3000kg, up 500kg, the Tank 300 Ultra diesel still falls short of some of its main rivals.

What we like?

• No frills 4×4
• Torquey diesel
• Long warranty
• Plenty of legroom

What we don’t like?

• Choppy ride at slower speeds
• Massive blind spot beyond A-pillar
• Wide spread of turbo lag
• 3000kg still falls short of competitors
• Side-hinged tailgate limits loading in tight parking spaces

The bottom line?

Although a burly beast, the GWM Tank 300 Ultra owes less in name to a fearsome war machine; more to a receptacle for collecting rainwater from the roof.

Despite this, diesel power, popular in this type of vehicle, could help oil the way to the top.

 

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