Tank 300 in diesel form is the one to have.
7.5
Tank 300 in diesel form is the one to have.
The Tank 300 is a car we already know looks the part: boxy design, tough-looking and designed with some sort of retro-modern vibe. Its kit-out game is ripe for the taking and the FOM 2025 display car with its G-Wagonesque kit was certainly a showstopper. In South Africa though, looks are half the story. The real popularity test is whether it can deliver where it matters, out on the road on long road trips, over dirt roads, off-road trails, farm tracks and the daily to-and-fro Sandton grind. The turbodiesel has now entered the chat group.
We do love our diesels don’t we? And for good reason. They’re frugal, they’re robust, and they make torque in the places you actually need it. In a country where distances are long and fuel prices sting, the diesel Tank feels like the obvious choice, better than the petrol for purpose, and less complicated than the hybrid, the diesel was always going to be a winner and we must commend GWM for actually listening and making this 2.4-litre mill available.
The model on test here is the Super Luxury derivative which sits right in the middle of the diesel line-up. It is, in my book, the sweet spot option.
The Tank, in name and in design is purposed to do some off-road ventures. It’s been built with the hardware to tackle some rough stuff including a 2H/4H/4L transfer case, front and rear diff locks, Crawl Control and even a nifty feature called Turn Assist. The drive mode roster also includes a customisable Expert Mode within which you can fine-tune your own levels of steering, traction control and diff engagement.
Aside from that, with an arsenal of 4×4 features at the touch of a button or click of a wheel, the Tank 300 is happy to wade through 700 mm of water, edge down a loose slope or climb some treacherous hills. With approach and departure angles of 33 and 34 degrees respectively, the Tank 300 is a strong and capable off-roader. Its overall ability is hindered only by a poorly calibrated throttle throughput. Too much pedal and it lurches forward too quickly. Too little and it takes its time to act. In off-road, low-range mode, that trait becomes even more noticeable. What you want in those moments is a creamy, predictable throttle but what you sometimes get is a jerky response that makes it harder to crawl precisely over rocks without showering the trail with gravel. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it is an area that could use some refinement.
On the tar, the Tank 300 TD is surprisingly civilised. It cruises comfortably, the suspension soaking up bumps well enough. I’m averse to its ever soft steering and its propensity to body roll but I am fully aware that this is still a ladder-frame chassis with a box on top. That diesel is good. It feels adequately refined and powerful enough that I don’t find myself wanting for any of the more powerful petrol or hybrid versions. What I lose in kW, I gain in torque (excluding the hybrid) and there’s significant gain in range and fuel economy. I didn’t even manage to finish a tank on the diesel despite some low-range off-roading and a good 550km of driving in mainly urban environments. This diesel is the right engine choice for this car and if you care about towing ability, this car is able to tow 3-tonnes.
It’s loaded with tech too – within a generally well-built cabin. Plastic bits aside, a 540-degree camera system lets you see obstacles hidden below your nose or tucked behind a wheel arch, a la Defender and Range Rover tech. It’s all beamed through to the 12.3-inch infotainment screen which, in addition to housing your infotainment standard fare, doubles as an off-road command centre. It’s modern, intuitive and its incredibly detailed but its visibility and use is hampered by two things. Resolution is compromised when the sun beams down at certain angles and then its recessed location on the dashboard makes it slightly out of reach when on the move. It’s packed with everything you need, though I did find myself missing anti-glare mirrors while driving at night. It’s one of those things you miss when it’s not there.
I’m particularly impressed by the Tank’s interior packaging and space too. The cargo area offers 400l of space but let me warn you – it does not come with any sort of cover for that area which left me slightly unsettled at times. That said however, with a full sized spare wheel on the side-hinged tailgate, the interior space is both usable, unhindered and practical built with a mix of materials that seem dependable and hard-wearing.
The Tank 300 is a hard one to ignore. It feels premium and its specification is certainly generous with niceties such as dual zone climate control, faux leather seats and trim accents, wireless phone charging, 360-degree camera system, 7-colour ambient lighting, a nine-speaker audio system and electric seat adjustment for the driver and front passenger. Phone mirroring with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a seamless, easy fix and those really concerned with connectivity will be pleased to know that there are dual USB ports in the front and rear. All of these features within the Super Luxury come home at just under R700 000. Take note of that price, because it’s important in this context.
At this price, the Tank 300 TD doesn’t just look like good value, it becomes one of the best-specced, most capable off-roaders you can buy for that kind of money. Add in GWM’s 7-yr/200 000 km warranty and a 7-year/75 000 km service plan, and the ownership equation gets even stronger by a brand that has done well to almost rid itself of any stigma attached to its country of origin. GWM is a formidable car company in the South African context.
I’m thoroughly convinced that the Tank 300 in diesel form is the one worth having. It’ll take you to work, to school, to the shops, but also up Sani Pass or through Botswana’s sand tracks without breaking a sweat or your wallet.
And really, find some of the online kits and see what personalised monster you can build yourself. Isn’t that what we do with our off-roaders anyway? Thank you for listening GWM…if you actually did. Or maybe the diesel was always part of your powertrain role out anyway.
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