The Tank 300 gets the diesel engine it deserved - GWM Tank 300 2.4T 4WD Super Luxury Review

Having had the luxury of attending numerous China Auto exhibitions, the annual auto show hosted between Beijing and Shanghai every year, I can attest to the fact that virtually every manufacturer from China has something in their repertoire that resembles a Land Rover Defender. GWM is no different and when their Tank 300 model was revealed in South Africa back in 2024, it was met with a heady mix of praise and critique. Some loved the fact that you could get a 4x4 vehicle that has the look and feel of the popular Defender for half the money, while others scoffed at the idea of the seemingly cheap knockoff.

Initially offered with the choice of a petrol hybrid and a turbocharged petrol. This brought its fair share of criticism, as South Africa is still rather fond of diesel as a fuel source. With the Tank 300 positioned as a rival for the likes of the Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Fortuner, and even the Defender, the omission of a diesel option turned many a prospective buyer away.

GWM listened though, and thanks to their multifaceted approach to R&D that still develops diesel technology, they were able to offer us the Tank 300 with an oil-burning option, a model that dropped early last year. 

Styling

The GWM Tank 300 has that same retro-cool appeal that has made the Defender, Suzuki Jimny, and numerous others a hit with the buying public. Drawing on inspiration from the original Land Rover Defender, Willis Jeep, and the original Land Cruiser, amongst others, the Tank 300 has a familiar, boxy silhouette. The near horizontal bonnet extends out and drops off vertically, the grille offering horizontal slats, a proud Tank badge and being flanked by round, LED headlights on either side. 

Exposed black wheel arches with a geometric design flare out from over each wheel arch, joined along the underside of the body with practical running boards, also finished off in exposed bare black plastic. Strong, pronounced bumpers protrude at the front and rear, the former fitted with small, but useful LED fog lamps.

At the rear, the vertical design of the swing-out tailgate is punctuated by the externally-mounted spare wheel, and flanked by LED taillight elements with an upright, vertical design. The Tank 300 2.4T AWD Super Luxury rolls on a set of gloss-black 17-inch alloy wheels with a design that neither impresses nor offends. These are shod with 265/60R17 Cooper All-Terrain tyres from the factory.

In the pearlescent white of our test unit, the Tank 300 gave off some Nissan Patrol vibes, and would not look out of place in a Saudi Arabian desert. It may look similar to a few other offerings, but it still manages to stand proud as its own creation, exuding an air of purpose and versatility.

Interior and Technology

Onboard, the strong, masculine horizontal lines continue with a slab-like fascia panel, finished in a brushed silver, offset by circular air vents and a dash of ambient lighting. Broad spokes on the steering wheel and a pistol-grip shift lever lean into the rough and rugged approach that the Tank 300 is going for.

Where the Tank 300 shines is in its interior appointments. The Super Luxury trim gets artificial leather upholstery and leather wrapping on the door cards and steering wheel. Nappa leather is offered on the Ultra Luxury trim level, along with seat heating. Overall, the materials used are of a high quality with a fit and finish that feels like quality.

A dual-screen setup offers a 12.3-inch digital display for the driver information, and another 12.3-inch unit for the infotainment system. The driver displays forgoes the customary designs and layouts, but adapting to the simplified layout takes no time at all. The infotainment system offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an interactive display for off-road driving.

The 4x4 programs allow for a personalised setup of vehicle controls and feedback, and, when used in conjunction with the 4x4 hardware, turn the Tank 300 into a rather capable off-road machine. Aside from the standard 2-High, 4-High, and 4-Low range drivetrain settings, there's also a locking differential at the rear (with the Ultra Luxury getting a front locker as well), a 360-degree camera with transparency mode, and GWM's Tank Turn to help navigate tight corners off-road.

Performance

The 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine is just what this car was missing. Producing 135 kW and 480 Nm, this diesel unit offers commendable low-down grunt, and it's seen the towing capacity of the Tank 300 increased to 3,000 kg, ideal for those who wish to tow caravans, boats, or larger trailers. Power is directed to the wheels through a 9-speed automatic gearbox with the aforementioned transfer case options.

The Tank 300 offers an impressive approach angle of 33^o, a break-over of 23.1^o, a departure angle of 34^o, and a wading depth of 700 mm. The payload is a little lighter than the opposition's, offering 600 kg of carrying capacity, but not a far cry from the customary 750 kg.

Driving Impression

I thoroughly enjoyed driving the diesel Tank 300. Compared to the HEV variant, the diesel irons out some of the idiosyncrasies associated with a petrol hybrid drive, driving in a way that feels more familiar and intuitive. The throttle response is no different to what one would get from a similar Toyota or Ford product, with a torque curve that feels far more traditional. This will certainly appeal to those who have diesel 4x4 experience and inspire confidence in the powertrain's off-road abilities.

The suspension tuning is generally very good, if somewhat firmly sprung. It's easy to expect a soft, plush ride quality from a vehicle this size but one has to remember that it's still a rough and tumble 4x4, and expectations should be tempered.

Fuel Consumption

GWM will claim that you should expect a combined cycle fuel consumption of 7.7 ℓ/100km; however, this is a bit of a stretch. Admittedly, our test unit was still VERY new, with only 150 km on the odometer, and in time we're sure that the fuel consumption will improve as things bed in. In our time with it, we were averaging 10.2 on the combined cycle and out on the open road, we only ever saw figures as low as 8.7 ℓ/100km.

With the claimed consumption figure of 7.7 and a 78 ℓ fuel tank, you could get as much as 1013 km from a full tank in your Tank. Our mixed bag 10.2 figure sees that estimated range drop to around 765 km.

Safety

The TANK 300 Diesel scores a 5-star ANCAP rating and comes loaded with enough electronic assistance to qualify as Level 2 autonomous driving. You get adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and all the usual suspects that make up a Level 2 autonomous driving system. The 360-degree camera is genuinely useful when parking the sizeable SUV, while rear cross-traffic assist means you won't unexpectedly reverse into someone's trolley at Woollies. There's also a full complement of airbags throughout the cabin, totalling 7.

Pricing

Pricing for the GWM Tank 300 2.4T starts from as little as R649,900 for the 2WD Luxury trim level. The Super Luxury variant will set you back an additional R50,000, sneaking in just under the R700,000 mark at R699,900. 

There's peace of mind on offer too, with a comprehensive list of warranties and maintenance assurances:

- 7 Years/200,000 km Warranty
- 7 Years/Unlimited km Roadside Assist
- 7 Years/75,000 km Service Plan

Verdict

A diesel engine is exactly what the Tank 300 was missing. I found it rather difficult to fault the 300 in a regular road setting, and was sadly unable to test its mettle off of it. The torque delivery and swell in power transform the Tank 300 from what felt like a hopped-up family SUV into a true bush-beating 4x4. 

The space is generous, seats are comfortable (even if I did miss the heated seats on a particularly chilly morning), and tech works well. GWM hasn't reinvented the wheel here; they've replicated what we like about so many other ladder chassis 4x4s and done an admirable job at that. 

Pricing is fair and in line with some of the challengers, even against the new Toyota FJ Cruiser, which makes this a viable contender for those who are looking for the rugged, Defender/Wrangler look but are not prepared, or able, to breach the R1-million mark.