Tank 300 4WD – Occasionally a vehicle comes along that just has something about it that crosses appeal boundaries. The GWM Tank 300 4WD is such a car.
I drove one a few weeks ago and both loved it and was frustrated by it at the same time.
First up it looks cool. It’s a chunky style and in the bright orange colour it certainly stood out.
Inside its comfortable, relatively spacious, and well laid out. The heated and ventilated front seats are supportive and allow enough room for my tall frame.
Where the frustration comes in is the clunky user interface and simply bad voice recognition. Little things like turning off the lane keep assist which I do every time is four layers in the central screen menu and sometimes the touch sensitivity isn’t the best.
Where I loved it is driving. Its not bad on road, with enough performance to keep you happy. However off road it excels. Front and rear diff locks, Multi 4WD choices and responsive feel in both steering and accelerator, places it right up there with the best 4WD’s around.
And the best part is that it is priced from a stunning $46,990 driveaway for the entry model. That’s value.
This is a Motoring Minute
I’m Rob Fraser
Readers can find a full review of the Tank 300 4WD Here
TO LISTEN TO THE TANK 300 RADIO REVIEW CLICK BELOW
More GWM Tank 300 Ultra 4WD details
Tank 300 little Daily things that frustrate.
The Tank can be frustrating as mentioned. Little things like
- Overly intrusive safety features,
- Menu driven controls that require up to 4 pushes of the screen to simply turn off the lane keep assist,
- touch sensitivity on the central screen that is haphazard.
- Digital drivers dash central MFD that won’t show anything else except the lane keep unless you turn it off.
- Cruise control that thinks for itself when it shouldn’t
- Stop start calibration seems just a bit off.
- One touch indicator for lane swapping is finicky, often switching on and not turning off, and when you go to turn it off you end up indicating the other way.
- On a couple of occasions, the push door opening refused to work, and I had to use the fob.
These are all little things that I’m sure GWM will work out and recalibrate where necessary. But they exist now.
Pricing:
The Tank 300 petrol is offered in two trim levels, Lux and Ultra, and is available from:
- Tank 300 Lux petrol: $46,990 Driveaway
- Tank 300 Ultra petrol: $50,990 Driveaway
ABN pricing is also available. Metallic paint is an additional $595.
What is good? |
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What is not so good? |
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Also look at.
Smaller 4WDs are a bit of a sparse offering. However, the Tank 300 will cross boundaries.
Buyers could look at Jeep Wrangler, which is a lot more expensive or the Jeep Compass Trailhawk.
Larger 4WDs include Isuzu MU-X, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, SsangYong Rexton, Toyota Fortuner.
GWM Tank 300 4WD Ultra final thoughts
Tank 300 4WD leaves you with mixed feelings.
It seems well built, is comfortable inside. There is a large, clear central screen. However, user interface is frustrating. As is the intrusive safety features, especially the cruise control.
Off road it fights in a weight class well above its price range.
On sand it’s excellent, on dirt roads its smooth and compliant. The rough stuff it handles with ease. This is one a few vehicles that has front and rear diff locks and the least expensive by far.
I would be interested to drive the hybrid version, which would improve one issue of being thirsty along with extra power and torque.
The overall feel is practical, functional, spacious but has some issues that will be developed out as time passes.
There is nothing that even comes close to the capability, comfort and size for the price and that is a winning formula.
It should be on your list for a test drive.
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