GWM is on the move, now, it’s going after a 4×4 icon.

GWM is consolidating its SUV product strategy with a new vehicle that aims at an established market leader.

Toyota’s Land Cruiser Prado is one of the most regarded luxury 4x4s, and GWM’s new Tank 500 is designed to be a Chinese Prado alternative. The new Tank 500 made its debut at the recent Chengdu Motor Show, where GWM was also showcasing its Fortuner-rivalling Tank 400 and the sporty Haval H6S.

Tank is a new standalone offroad marque (which we could see in SA in 2022/23), and this Tank 500 is similar to the Prado and dissimilar to most other luxury 4×4 of the same size.

It’s built on a steel ladder frame platform instead of being a unibody. Although this is a less sophisticated design, Toyota has proved its validity with the Prado and GWM has certainly paid attention to the continued demand for a luxury ladder-frame vehicle.

The overall exterior design of GWM’s Tank 500 isn’t terribly original. Its front section clearly interprets the Land Cruiser 200, whilst the rear features a horizontally opening swing tailgate, with a full-sized spare wheel. The front-end has oodles of presence though with a thick-rimmed chrome grille and a bulging bonnet that hints at it powerful petrol engine that lurks below.

In terms of size, the Tank 500 is large measuring 5 070 mm long, 1 934 mm wide, 1 905 mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2 850 mm. For context, the new Land Cruiser 300 measures 4 965 mm long, 1 990 mm wide, 1 945 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2 850 mm.

Luxury interior for Tank 500

If you’re not entirely convinced by the exterior of the Tank 500, perhaps its luxuriously equipped interior will change your mind? The Tank 500 gains a sophisticated and uncluttered interior design with a large free-standing 14.6-inch infotainment screen taking pride of place in conjunction with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The multi-function steering wheel looks classy and upmarket, in fact, the same can be said for the entire cabin! It looks fantastic!

What’s under the bonnet of the GWM Tank 500?

Where the Tank500 differs from its Prado inspiration is powertrainis that there iscurrently no diesel engine option, with the Tank 650 featuring a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6, boosting 260kW and 500 Nm with a 48V mil-hybrid system.

Drive is to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission, and with the broad turbopetrol powerband, the Tank 500 should potentially be a very accomplished dune driving vehicle.

Range and fuel consumption could be an issue for potential South African customers, as evidenced by most Prado sales being diesel instead of petrol.

Haval (GWM’s premium brand) also recently showed the updated H9, which would fall underneath the Tank 500, competing against the Fortuner/Everest segment.

Do you want to see GWM”s Tank brand in South Africa?

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