It might be hard to think of a diesel SUV as a game-changer, but the success of the new compression-ignition GWM Tank 300 in Australia (straight away it’s claiming 60% of sales) has prompted GWM to upgrade the rest of the range.
Previously, the 300 diesel was 500kg up on towing capacity, but now the petrol and hybrid versions will offer the same; and because we’re actually talking about “GWM Australia/New Zealand”, those upgrades will flow through to Kiwi buyers from now.
GWM claims more than 20 engineering enhancements to make the increased rating a reality, including brake upgrades, strengthened suspension components and wheel bearings, plus a reinforced propshaft.
Has the diesel lost its advantage then? After a week in one, we’d say no. In fact, we’d also say it’s arguably the best all-rounder in the range, as impressive as the petrol-electric hybrid version is.
The hybrid does have some headline figures: its 255kW/648Nm makes mincemeat of the hybrid’s 135kW/480Nm, but the latter still provides plenty of low-down torque for relaxed road driving and low-speed mud-plugging (maximum torque at just 1500rpm).
The diesel is arguably the best all-rounder in the range, as impressive as the petrol-electric hybrid version is.
More to the point, the Ultra diesel is $2k cheaper and slightly more economical than the same-spec hybrid. And a touch lighter, albeit only by 25kg.
Full disclosure: there are a few things absent from the diesel, even though it’s technically the same Ultra trim as the hybrid. You miss out on Highway Assist (which packages some advanced active safety stuff like automatic collision avoidance), Reverse Assist and Automatic parking. But the basics are still all present and correct - no fewer than 17 active safety assists, plus a 360-degree camera and neat touches like a second-row children monitor.
GWM has taken local complaints about its vehicles’ fussy safety assists seriously, and taken steps to recalibrate and rectify.
The 2.4-litre engine (borrowed from the latest Cannon and Cannon Alpha utes) is impressive, and compared to the base petrol it gets an extra ratio: it’s a 9-speed, which also aligns it with the hybrid. It’s well-calibrated and seems well able to hold gears or short-shift to take advantage of the diesel’s torque, depending on the driving situation.
It’s a 4x4 truck, not a crossover SUV. Don’t come expecting passenger-car levels of ride and refinement. But the Tank 300 is entirely usable on-road: stable in the corners and well-controlled, albeit with the expected ladder-frame wobbles over urban bumps.
If you’re serious about 4x4 driving or, more importantly, want to look and feel lke you’re serious about 4x4 driving, the Tank 300 remains a nerdy delight.
As we’re reported previously, GWM ANZ has taken local complaints about its vehicles’ fussy safety assists very seriously and taken steps to recalibrate and rectify. The Tank 300 was one one of the worst, with intolerably intrusive lane-keep assistance and incessant interruptions from a mysterious voice telling you what you were doing wrong.
As impressive as the Tank 300 was at launch, the driver-assist distractions (yes, they pretty much did the thing they were designed to prevent) were enough to make you wonder whether you could live with the vehicle day-to-day.
On the evidence of out test vehicle, the worst problems have largely been fixed. There’s still an annoying voice that tells you when you’ve activated or deactivated the adaptive cruise, but everything else else has been toned down to the point where it actually enhances safety; you don’t generally get warnings or assistance until you’ve actually been inattentive.
The lane-keep assistance is still a bit aggressive - it tends to grab the wheel and jerk the car straight very quickly - but now, when you turn it off in the infotainment system, it stays off. So you have the choice whether to use it or not. Sorted.
If you’re serious about 4x4 driving or, more importantly, want to look and feel lke you’re serious about 4x4 driving, the Tank 300 remains a nerdy delight. There are multiple off-road modes, electric differential locks font and rear, Crawl Control, Transparent Chassis View via the exterior camera system and even Tank Turn Assist, to help pull the vehicle around tight off-tarmac spots by basically locking up the inside-rear wheel.
A Tank 300 is not for everybody. Despite the awesome 4x4 ability, it’s also a bit tongue-in-cheek: a clear styling, shall we say, “homage” to the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen both outside and in. Especially inside.
But if you’re into the cartoonish look (we very much are) the Tank 300 is a fun 4x4 that’s also highly credible off-road and actually quite luxurious and well-finished in the cabin, with nappa leather-accented upholstery and so, so many shiny bits.
If you’re buying a Tank 300 petrol/hybrid going forward, we’d say make sure you’ve got the uprated tow package. But more importantly, we’d say try the diesel first.
What are the key statistics for the GWM Tank 300 Ultra diesel?
The 2.4-litre engine is shared with current Cannon utes and makes 135kW480Nm. The 9-speed gearbox drives through a comprehensive system of on and off-road modes, with full low-range transfer.
Is the GWM Tank 300 Ultra diesel efficient?
It's a 2.3-tonne 4x4, so it's never going to be an eco-choice. But it's still the most thrifty of the Tank 300 range and even trumps the hybrid (only by 0.4l/100km).
Is the GWM Tank 300 Ultra diesel good to drive?
The diesel powertrain is smooth and versatile. Ride and handling-wise it definitely feels like the ladder-frame 4x4 that it is, but it's plenty comfortable enough for day-to-day driving.
Is the GWM Tank 300 Ultra diesel practical?
It's a spacious family 4x4 for 4/5, with decent 500-litre cargo capacity. And of course it'll go pretty much anywhere you want to go, for work or recreation.
What do we like about the GWM Tank 300 Ultra diesel?
The diesel powertrain is smooth and well-calibrated, it's bursting with clever 4x4 modes, the cabin is luxurious... and we're still tickled by the wannabe-G-Wagen looks.
What don’t we like about the GWM Tank 300 Ultra diesel?
Doesn't have the mighty torque of the hybrid, misses out on a couple of driver-assists (or is that a good thing?), some of the digital instrumentation is hard to read.
What kind of person would the GWM Tank 300 Ultra diesel suit?
Somebody who's serious about 4x4 driving and sees the value in the Tank 300... or somebody who's in love with the retro look. Or both.