GWM South Africa’s recently introduced Tank 500 has a lot going for it. First of all, it’s a seven-seater hybrid SUV, but it’s also very attractive, technologically advanced and very capable off-road. It is the culmination of a vehicle development process that combines the know-how of the GWM group’s research and development centres in China, the United States, Germany, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Australia, and India. So, you could say it combines the best the automotive world has to offer – all neatly tied together in a great value-for-money package.
Power meets performance
During the media launch in the Western Cape, we had the opportunity to drive the Tank 500 from George to Prince Albert and then on to Knysna, covering everything from tar and dirt roads to mountain passes. One of the things that truly stood out was how well the vehicle handles and performs over all surfaces.
Under the bonnet, the Tank 500 boasts a direct-injection, 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol powerplant, delivering a combined 255kW of power and no less than 648Nm of torque. This SUV can tow up to 2.5 tonnes and accelerates from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds, despite its robust 2 605kg weight. Its advanced nine-speed automatic gearbox, combined with 11 all-terrain driving modes – including Sport, Snow, Sand, Rock, and Expert – ensures that the Tank 500 can navigate any terrain you may encounter.
Uncompromising on every level
As already mentioned, the Tank 500 HEV is a large seven-seater SUV that exudes elegance, luxury and functionality. The way it blends high-end luxury with robust off-road capabilities, makes it a great choice for those who crave adventure without sacrificing on space, comfort or luxury.
The interior is customisable to suite every driver’s preference. A 14.6-inch multi-media touchscreen display dominates the interior, and the user interface offers the option of both tactile physical buttons and touch-screen controls for features such as air-conditioning, infotainment, and drive mode selection.
The seats are heated and ventilated for the driver and front passenger, and I was truly impressed by the eight-point massage feature that makes even the longest trips feel like a day at the spa.
The second-row passengers also get spoilt with reclining seat backs, two-way adjustable headrests, separate climate control, seat cooling, and charging points. Second-row legroom can be improved by sliding the seats backwards if there are no third-row passengers, while the third-row seats can be folded or raised electronically and have their own roof mounted aircon vents.
Although we didn’t do any night driving on the launch, we were told that this is quite a treat. A star theme lit dashboard panel ahead of the front passenger is a really nifty feature, while the ambient lighting system can be set to the rhythm of music from the sound system. In addition, soft light emanates from the multimedia touchscreen, virtual instrument cluster, and buttons around the gear selector to give the interior a classy and luxurious feel.
The upholstered luggage area has a luggage cover and tinted windows for added security. It has a capacity of 795 litres when the third row of seats are folded flat and this can be extended to 1 459 litres when the second-row seats are also stowed.
On the safe side
The Tank 500 certainly looks the part of a beefy SUV, but its safety credentials aren’t to be sneezed at either. In fact (if you’re impressed by this sort of thing), it boasts a 5-star ANCAP rating. This is because that has a long and impressive list of active and safety features, including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Collision Warning, Cross Traffic Alert, Emergency Lane Keep Assist, and Auto Intelligent Parking.
A 360-degree camera, Auto Emergency Braking, and a Lane Departure Warning system are also added to the mix to ensure safety on the road.
Rands and cents
The Tank 500 2.0T 9HAT 4×4 Ultra Luxury has a price tag of R1 222 900. This includes a 7-year/200 000km warranty, an 8-year/150 000 km high-voltage battery pack warranty, a 7-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance plan, and a 5-year/75 000km service plan.
