The new GWM Tank 300 claims to be all-new. It doesn’t really look different at first glance. You have to look closer to see it has actually grown. Significantly, too.
For now, official photos are sparse, just a handful leaked onto Chinese social media. But a filing with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology spilled the beans on dimensions and tech.
“This remains a domestic market release only.”
GWM Australia is taking its time. They’re reviewing local fitment. No rush.
Visually, it’s the same boxy shape, same lights. The bonnet is longer. Why? The wheelbase stretched from 2,750mm to 3,010mm. The whole car is bigger. Length grew to 4,886mm. Width to 1,984mm. Height to 1,927mm.
Did we get more legroom? Maybe not. It seems they pushed the front axle forward to gain that length.
The front overhang shrank, though. Good news for rock crawlers. The approach angle improves. You can tackle steeper inclines without scraping the nose.
The engine lineup got interesting, if not exactly rugged-friendly. There is a new PHEV. It uses the Hi4-Z system.
That’s a turbocharged 2.4-liter petrol engine (wait, reports say 2.0, others 2.4? Let’s stick to the Hi4-Z specs) paired with a 59.7kWh battery. It’s fast on road. Less ideal for serious mud.
If you hate the idea of a battery killing your torque, the old Hi4-T stays. It keeps the smaller 37kWh pack and that familiar electric range. 105km on electricity. The new one goes further.
Australia might get the Hi4-Z version eventually. GWM sees potential. No timeline yet. Maybe a Tank 500 arrives first? Or a Tank 400? Unclear.
The traditional gas options remain. A 2.0L turbo. A 3.0L V6. What about the diesel? Silence on that.
Kuai Tech didn’t mention a diesel in this facelift. GWM usually loves diesel. They have a new 3.0L four-cylinder diesel coming elsewhere. So don’t write the diesel Tank off just yet. It would be bizarre for GWM to abandon diesel in Australia.
One weird tech addition: LiDAR. Mounted on the roof. The front grille ditched the circular logo for spelled-out T-A-N-K lettering. Small change. Big vibe shift? Debatable.
Here is where the story gets frustrating for Australian buyers. The interior update shown in China last March is not coming here.
In China, they fixed the dashboard. 12.3-inch cluster. Floating 14.6-inch screen running Coffee OS 3.0.
GWM Australia said no.
Why? The gear shifter. The new design puts it in a column position, near the steering wheel. Old design has it in the center console. GWM did research. Their local customers hate the column shifter. So the new screens stay behind in China. We get the old dashboard with the column stick.
So you get a bigger, off-roadier shell with better angles. But the inside remains exactly how your friend said it felt cheap two years ago.
Will anyone actually drive the column shift in the dark and not curse their purchase? Probably. Is that the way most buyers want to engage? Likely not.
The Hi4-T is already here. The petrols are dying out. We are left with diesel or the PHEV. A functional split. Just a pity the cockpit didn’t get the love.
