Jetour T2 vs GWM Tank 300: How do you choose the right boxy Chinese SUV for your needs?
For decades, if a South African driver wanted a vehicle shaped like a brick with flared arches, a tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and a command-view seating position, their options were a Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, or they squeezed their family into a tiny, albeit charming, Suzuki Jimny. Now, though, things have changed.
By change, we mean the Chinese automotive influx—and with it, a massive trend in motoring design: retro-rugged lifestyle SUVs.
Today, the battle lines are drawn at the sweet-spot price of roughly R700 000. On one side sits the newly crowned South African Car of the Year winner, the Jetour T2 2.0T Odyssey Dark Knight (R704 900). On the other sits the darling of the 4x4 trails, the GWM Tank 300 2.4T Super Luxury (R699 900).
To the untrained eye in a shopping mall parking lot, they look like natural arch-rivals. But beneath the styling, they tell two entirely different stories about what modern drivers actually want from a boxy SUV.
The modern illusion
Imagine pulling up to the Saturday morning school sports match in the Jetour T2 Dark Knight. Finished in a brooding dark trim with sharp 19-inch wheels and a tailgate carrying a full-size spare in a square hard case, it exudes "overland adventurer" from every angle. Remember to have something prepared for when someone asks you about the 350 kg payload capacity that they've read about on social media.
Inside, the T2 is impressive. You're greeted by a 15.6-inch floating touchscreen, ambient lighting, suede-appointed seats with headrest cushions, and a centre console equipped with a cooled storage armrest. Fire up the engine, and its 2.0-litre turbo petrol delivers a punchy 180 kW. On tar, its monocoque unibody chassis glides smoothly. It handles corners like a normal, civilised crossover because—at its core—that’s exactly what it is.
The T2 is the realisation of form over function: it delivers 100% of the rugged aesthetic without the hardcore off-road ability of the Defender product, the T2's design is so heavily inspired by.
Its "XWD" all-wheel-drive system is software-driven. While it features an electronic rear diff-lock and terrain modes, it lacks a true low-range transfer case. It will breeze down a corrugated dirt road to a Drakensberg getaway, but try to climb a rocky mountain pass in Lesotho, and its dual-clutch transmission and road-biased tyres will quickly remind you of its limits.
The old-school approach
Parked right next to the Jetour is the GWM Tank 300 2.4T. Visually, it plays the exact same retro-cool card with wide fender flares, round LED headlights, and a towering silhouette.
Step inside, and it feels equally opulent, sporting a G-Class-inspired dashboard layout, Nappa-style seats, and dual digital displays.
However, twist the drive-mode selector, and you're greeted by some impressive mechanicals. The Tank 300 is built on a heavy-duty ladder-frame chassis. Underneath the bonnet lies a 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine churning out 480 Nm of torque at 1 500 r/min through a 9-speed automatic box. It comes equipped with a proper low-range gear set, mechanical differential locks, high-sidewall 17-inch tyres, a 3 000 kg towing capacity, and a payload of 610 kg.
Where the Jetour relies on algorithms to find traction, the Tank relies on mechanical leverage and low-down diesel grunt. On the road, you feel its ladder-frame heritage—it rides slightly higher, leans a bit more in corners, and feels like a serious 4x4. But when the pavement ends, and the mud, rocks, and river crossings begin, the Tank 300 is virtually unstoppable.
The Plot Twist
This head-to-head isn't about which vehicle is better; it's about being honest with yourself regarding how you actually live.
R700k BOXY SUV SPECTRUM
Urban Lifestyle True 4X4
┌──────────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐
│ JETOUR T2 │ ◄────────────────────────► │ TANK 300 TD │
└──────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘
• Unibody / crossover • Ladder-chassis
• 2.0 turbo petrol (180 kW) • 2.4 turbodiesel (480 Nm)
• Agile / smooth on-road • Low-range / heavy towing
The Jetour T2 is the honest choice for over 80% of buyers choosing between the two. If your SUV spends 95% of its life negotiating school runs, highway commutes, and suburban traffic, the T2 gives you the commanding stance, high-end cabin tech, and bold looks you want. This is backed by data; the brand sold 918 T2S in SA in June alone.
The GWM Tank 300 is the tool for the true adventure enthusiast. If your weekends involve towing a heavy off-road caravan, venturing deep into sand dunes, or tackling serious 4x4 trails where low-range is mandatory, the Tank 300 isn't just playing dress-up—it's built for the job. While significant, the 173 units of the Tanks 300 sold in June are significantly less than the Jetour.
The starting price for the T2 range is R569 900, which is lower than the Tank 300's R649 900, but the respective entry points offer vastly different drivetrains and capabilities. Are you buying for the lifestyle you live, or the terrain you plan to conquer?
