2024 GWM Tank 500 off-road overview

Is that this actually a tank? Is it higher than the Tank 300, or simply greater?

The 2024 GWM Tank 500 is a big 4×4 wagon and is the most recent from the Tank vary to land in Australia.

Capitalising on the success of GWM with the Cannon first and extra lately the Tank 300, the Tank 500 broadens GWM’s off highway choices with a critical contender to tackle Toyota LandCruiser Prado.

Strolling as much as the Tank 500 its measurement is evident. It’s greater, extra imposing and extra muscular than the already tough-looking Tank 300. Sliding into the cabin there isn’t any doubt within the consideration to luxurious, design and luxury.

This can be a fantastically appointed cruising rig or day by day driver, that for the value bracket oozes class and persona. Sure, I’m offered on the Tank 500 if first impressions depend, however let’s take it for a spin and actually get to know her first.

As we speak we’re driving the Tank 500 Lux Hybrid, the base mannequin. It’s snug, clear and easy in a welcoming means, and it’s a step up once more in appointment and construct high quality of the Tank 300 and Cannon.

The fake woodgrain inside trim blends in seamlessly, offsetting the fake leather-based and offering delicate tones to the clear and trendy strains. The centrally mounted analogue clock with ticking fingers is a cultured contact that really works nicely from a design and structure standpoint.

However there isn’t any doubt within the degree of inbuilt tech and refinement at play right here, with a big show display boldly making a centralised level of attraction on the sprint.

Street noise is noticeable and there’s a definite driveline hum as you energy barely to keep up velocity. The central display is big at round 40cm from nook to nook, and there’s means an excessive amount of data and too many capabilities for me to discover on this quick check drive.

It’s undoubtedly one thing that you’d have enjoyable exploring and establishing.

Equally, the sprint cluster has been changed by a digital widescreen with a extremely intuitive show that gives all the things from a radar map of which lane you’re in, to a real-time power utilization readout on the appropriate and a digital speedo on the left. It’s clear, intuitive, and never simply simple to learn; but in addition practical and aesthetically pleasing.

A digicam going through the motive force sits on the closest A-pillar, which facilitates driver consideration monitoring and the frequent prompts shortly turn out to be annoying – ‘please focus while driving’. The Tank 500 clearly has loads of tech and thankfully it’s not too exhausting to regulate it to fit your personal preferences and driving type.

Apart from the hum and slight vibration at round 75km/h, the trip is clean, easy and very snug. The Tank 500 is unquestionably a giant step up from the Tank 300 which is a cut price on the value and definitely well-appointed, but extra of an fanatic or entry-level automobile.

Off-road

The a number of driving modes and 4×4 controls – together with the rear diff lock swap – are all situated on the centre console simply south of the transmission gear selector; which by the best way is just like the one within the Tank 300 and is fantastically designed to be completely different but practical. It’s a pleasant contact.

The 4WD modes are nicely indicated and straightforward to pick out, engagement of 4L is fast and trouble free, as is the rear diff lock activation. On grime the hybrid system springs to life delivering what seems like loads of useable torque.

We didn’t get to check it on any main hill climbs, and the quick steep ascent we have been hoping to play on was properly left off our drive as a result of low-slung rear plastic skirt which might have been broken on the steep entry level.

With that mentioned, it was clean to drive in low vary, feeling secure and robust, and there was loads of management and traction contemplating it was operating solely highway-type tyres that have been at full highway pressures.

We rigorously pushed the Tank 500 to the boundaries of its suspension journey but it flexed nicely, maintained traction and truly drove by means of the sections the place we did handle to get tyres off the bottom. There are two key causes for this…

Firstly, the automobile is definitely very nicely balanced and the manufacturing unit suspension works adequately. This helps significantly in retaining the automobile degree and secure on uneven terrain.

Secondly, similar to the Cannon (Ute), the Tank 500 comes armed with a manufacturing unit rear digital differential lock. It’s fast and straightforward to have interaction, and totally selectable so it’s 100 per cent on or off and gives a substantial enchancment in tractability leading to a assured and managed drive from each rear tyres even in excessive circumstances.

Staff all of that with the true low vary locked switch case, and the result’s a nicely outfitted and succesful off-road automobile with loads of potential so as to add equipment and enhancements to do much more.

The Tank 500 gives 224mm of floor clearance; a wading depth of 800mm; in addition to strategy, break over and departure angles of 30 levels, 22.5 levels and 24 levels respectively – backing up our concern for the decreased rear angle as a result of low hanging plastic bumper).

It additionally boasts a braked towing capability of 3000kg, and an unbraked capability of 750kg. Definitely not the best figures, however a transparent step up from the Tank 300 and in my humble opinion, most definitely a extra simply and affordable score than the broad vary of dual-cab 4×4 utes available on the market that usually current with inflated towing capacities.

My time with the Tank 500 was transient, but it left me eager to do extra. The expertise gave a powerful sense of functionality, management and confidence and my preliminary ideas are that if the reliability, sturdiness and resilience could be confirmed, this may make one hell of an Aussie tourer and an actual risk to the large manufacturers of the off-roading house.

It’s additionally price mentioning the amply sized central display involves life off-road when you’re in low vary and the big show of the off-road digicam system is extremely useful. On the flip aspect, the traction management execution is tough, noisy and unnerving.

The loud bangs and groans from the entrance finish are disappointing for a automobile that’s constructed with a lot high quality and sophistication, and stuffed with such excessive ranges of tech and finesse.

Beginning may also be a tad complicated when off-road. On various events the automobile appeared to randomly not wish to begin it doesn’t matter what mixture of brake, mode, gear selector, handbrake and push to begin combos we tried.

Throughout such a brief check it was exhausting to know if it was ‘we’ or the ‘automobile’ that was confused, least to say it was fairly unusual to expertise and we didn’t come throughout this problem in any respect when on the black prime.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

In a transfer which may put some Aussie patrons offside, there’s no possibility of diesel energy presently for the Tank 500, however we’re in a altering market and the ‘inexperienced’ facet of the Tank 500 Hybrid could be the deciding issue for some city- and family-orientated fans who could also be considering a style of the off-road life and outside adventures.

Mod-ability

At this stage obtainable equipment and modifications for the large Tank 500 are extraordinarily restricted.

One Aussie firm is main the best way although. Savage Tech Australia is dominating the Tank and Cannon house offering a variety of enhancements, upgrades and equipment.

It already has its personal Tank 500 and is quickly growing a full suite of merchandise to amplify the 4WD’s efficiency, functionality and look. Presently, obtainable choices embrace suspension kits, bull bars and lots extra on the water!

CarExpert’s Take

Toyota you’re on discover! The Chinese language are coming and are removed from executed in Australia in the case of the Tank vary.

The drivelines are confirmed, the tech is sound, construct high quality is on level and the costs are affordable. The one factor left for GWM (and different Chinese language manufacturers) to do now’s to show their enduring reliability.

Amongst a variety of manufacturers and autos, I personal an previous LandCruiser. I’m a fan and can by no means doubt the sturdiness and confirmed efficiency of Toyota. However from my perspective, and while Toyota has deservedly earned the appropriate to dominate the 4×4 market, it has clearly been upping the costs and it’s manufacturers like GWM which are elevating consciousness and competitors.

However like I’ve requested earlier than, will we see Toyota carry costs down, or as soon as established will GWM push its costs up? Both means, competitors is nice. The Cannon, Tank 300 and now Tank 500 are ticking packing containers and claiming loads of gross sales – in the event you’re nonetheless a doubter, your head is buried deep within the sand.

Tell us what you suppose within the feedback under – are these autos actually a problem to the large Japanese manufacturers? And no matter your reply, is that simply an opinion or do you may have direct expertise with these new Chinese language autos?

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