One could compare it to a BAIC B40 Plus in size alone, but the Tank 300 is larger, more capable, and quite simply more car than the BAIC.
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One could compare it to a BAIC B40 Plus in size alone, but the Tank 300 is larger, more capable, and quite simply more car than the BAIC.
It’s been teased for nearly six months now, but the Tank 300 is officially here and available for purchase. What you’re reading is the result of a very exclusive review of the Tank 300 Hybrid Super Luxury model that has literally just been launched as this magazine hit shelves in South Africa.
Let’s start with answering some of the questions surrounding the brand itself. What is Tank and where does it come from? The short answer starts with GWM, or Great Wall Motors, the listed Chinese automotive car company that has seen commendable success in South Africa since its start in 2007. In 2016, GWM bought out the local importers at the time and became its own wholly-owned company under the name Haval Motors South Africa.
GWM produces the Haval brand of vehicles, retailing mid-sized SUV’s, the P-Series, and Steed pick-ups, and now the Tank is the next brand being added to the stable. The Tank brand is GWM’s more serious luxury 4×4 marque, and this 300 is the smaller of two versions destined for SA, the larger car named the Tank 500 and very much the size of a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.
The Tank 300 is a difficult car to position in terms of competitors because it really seems to sit within its own niche. One could compare it to a BAIC B40 Plus in size alone, but the Tank 300 is larger, more capable, and quite simply more car than the BAIC. You may be tempted to compare it to a Jeep Wrangler, but that’s a much higher price bracket and a different proposition. The Tank 300 really does sit in its own segment.
This HEV is the first model offered at launch, with two additional petrol-powered models joining the HEV in the next few months. A new plug-in hybrid version made its debut in China earlier this year, but there are no firm plans to bring the PHEV here as of yet.
The HEV featured on these pages is powered by a hybrid powertrain combining a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol motor with a lithium-ion battery. Engine output is 180kW and the battery dishes out 78kW for a combined 255 kW and 648 Nm of torque all in. This system is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission that ably distributes power to all four wheels via an all-wheel drive system with electronic management and drive mode configuration. 4×4 escapades are what the Tank was made for.
As a start, the all-wheel drive system manages and controls the off-road and on-road traction really well, keeping grip levels well maintained. Dive into the terrain modes and 4×4 functions, and you quickly realise how much has been built into the Tank 300. Low-range and differential locking applications are push-button easy, and then the experience is enhanced through clever augmented reality graphics that give a 360-degree view of the vehicle. Approach and departure angles are 33 and 34 degrees, respectively, with a 224mm ground clearance and 700mm wading depth. While there are higher-riding and higher-wading 4x4s out there, the Tank 300 really impressed with its 4×4 prowess.
That hybrid system, with its torque availability from 1,700r/min makes the 4×4 trudge even better. Then add a Crawl Cruise Control function for the really slow but progressive climbs as well as a nifty Tank Turn feature. Stay with us… The Tank Turn feature allows very tight turns in confined spaces by locking the inside back wheel and then sending drive to all other wheels. You can do a full turn without much forward or backward movement. It’s something that you may never use, but it’s good to know that it’s part of the kit bag. The only addition we’d recommend if you were looking at heightened levels of off-roading would be to swap its Michelin Primacy road tyres for more rugged all-terrain tyres.
The off-road ability is, thankfully, matched by on-road comfort. The Tank 300 left a lasting impression thanks to its refinement, comfort-skewed damping, and all-around solidity. It feels like a far superior product to what you might expect, but also to what you would expect at the price. The seating position is excellent, with good visibility for such a boxy vehicle. The engine is responsive and ably powerful for such a heavy model, though it does take a few split seconds for the system to respond when you floor the throttle. Given its considerable body-on-frame ladder chassis, the Tank 300 does feel quite top-heavy around corners and even under hard braking. The weight transfer is felt in all directions and can become a little unsettling when conducting emergency brake tests.
Interior comforts aren’t lacking in any area. There are sufficient grab handles throughout the cabin for easy access to the raised body, and the aircraft-style shift selector is a really cool touch. The whole cabin experience is cool too, with two 12.3-inch touchscreens sitting side by side for what feels like one large, uninterrupted display. The backlighting on this could be improved, particularly in direct sunlight, but in contrast, it is a comfortable compromise when driving at night. Another touch that may annoy some drivers is the soft-touch indicator stalks that take some getting used to.
What are the practical traits of the Tank 300? A 400-litre boot onto which a tailgate-mounted full-sized spare wheel sits. A 12V power socket is located in the boot too, for the addition of fridges and such. Towing capacity is reported as 750kg of unbraked mass and 2,500kg braked with a 50kg load limit for roof racks. Considering safety, the Tank 300 is equipped with a lengthy list of safety features, leading to a 5-star safety rating with Euro NCAP and ANCAP agencies.
Full launch pricing for the current Tank 300 range is:
All models are sold with a 7-year/200,000km vehicle warranty and a 5-year/75,000km service plan. The HEV model has an additional warranty that covers the hybrid system and battery for 8 years and 150,000 kilometres.
The Tank 300 is a really impressive product to open the balance sheet of this new brand’s introduction into South Africa. At a price tag of R851,950, the Tank 300 will undoubtedly be considered within the broader SUV context. There are a lot of well-appointed SUVs you can buy at this price, each with efficient engines and reasonable equipment. But none of these look like the Tank 300, and none of these will get you as far up the mountain as the Tank 300. It is truly impressive, as a 4×4 model made even better by doing a lot of the other stuff really well too.
We’d opt for the new brand to introduce a turbo-diesel into the range. This would spur more consideration from die-hard loyalists and definitely add the Tank 300 to more braai-side discussions, not mention car parks.
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