GWM Tank 500 review reveals there’s a lot to like about lux off-roader

This Tank 500 luxury SUV from Chinese challenger GWM is certain to change opinions.

Five minutes behind the wheel of Great Wall Motors’ new big SUV showcases how far the brand has come in recent years.

Not so long ago the GWM Stead ute had the title of one of the worst new car drives we’d experienced.

Fast-forward to 2024 and the Chinese brand is setting new benchmarks.

The GWM Tank 300 generated some attention when first launched, but now its bigger 500 sibling has arrived with intentions of wooing buyers with a sense of adventure and lure them away from the likes of the Toyota Prado, Ford Everest or Nissan Pathfinder.

While the 300 has squarer features, the 500 is far less aggressive with smoother lines.

With seven seats and packed with equipment, the off-road capable SUV also matches one of the best warranties in the business with seven years of coverage.

That’s peace of mind for those still wary about the Chinese offerings. China has supplied 14% of Australia’s new vehicle sales so far this year (third behind Japan and Thailand), bolstered by an influx of electric vehicles, and that share is only likely to grow with brands such as Zeekr,XPeng, Smart and Leapmotor coming soon.

Prices for the Tank 500 Lux Hybrid start from $66,490 drive-away, but we went full fruit with the Ultra version, which is just shy of $74k in your driveway.

What do you get?

Side steps which electronically drop when unlocked and then retract when driving, along with plush Nappa leather trim, are the telltale signs of the Ultra variant.

All models come with a gigantic 14.6-inch touchscreen that sits central on the dash, three-zone aircon and 18-inch alloys, but the top-shelf derivative also adds an upgraded 12-speaker stereo system, panoramic sunroof, massaging function in front seats, embedded window shades in the second row, ambient lighting with 64 different colour options and a soft-close function for the hinged tailgate.

White is the base colour, with black, gold or silver an extra $595.

The seven-year warranty is among the best and matches the likes of Kia, but is not as long as the distance-restricted coverage of 10 years from Mitsubishi.

Capped price servicing is reasonable for seven years, ranging from $300 for the first maintenance visit up to $990 for the third and sixth.

Nappa leather trimmed seats, a 14.6-inch touchscreen that sits central on the dash, three-zone aircon, 12-speaker stereo system, panoramic sunroof and a massaging function in the front seats are among the GWM's Tank 500 Ultra Hybrid cabin feature highlights.

How was the drive?

Plush and captivating, first impressions in the 500 were nothing but positive. The touchscreen is gigantic, the leather feels top-notch, the gear shifter looks ultra cool and the side steps drop down to make climbing aboard simple.

Taller, wider and longer than the new Toyota Prado, there’s ample storage in a spacious cabin – although the third row pair of seats are best left to kids due to limited legroom.

There’s reasonable shunt from the hybrid powertrain, with the combined efforts of petrol and electric coming together for swift acceleration (8.3 seconds from zero to 100km/h) and timely shifts from the nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Attack corners with enthusiasm and the typical four-wheel drive rock and body roll comes to the fore, but in most conditions the 500 is composed and comfortable. It’s especially smooth on highway runs.

It also comes with solid off-roading credentials, with a ladder frame, electronic front and rear diff lock, as well as nine driving modes to suit all types of terrain.

GWM's Tank 500 Ultra Hybrid is an off-road capable SUV that starts from about $73,990 drive-away.

Our brief stint off road saw it capable without setting new standards, yet most would use it as a luxury family SUV. For bragging rights it has a wading depth of 800mm, while it can also tow three tonnes.

Australia’s safety authority awarded the 500 a five-star rating with a full suite of technical driving support. But some inclusions may cause major frustration, with constant warnings about long curves, exceeding the speed limit and telling you to take a break if the driver yawns (cut me some slack at 4am on the way to swimming).

The various audible warning functions can be turned off, but they reset on the next drive. On more than one occasion the system said it was out of action due to “degradation” … an interesting phrase, almost like GWM opted for Google translate.

Our test saw the 500 prove heavy on fuel consumption, with an 11.1L average for every 100km. We only got close to the GWM claim of 8.5L on an easy highway run.

The all-round camera view even comes with numerical distance warnings from objects.

Would you buy one?

Kel: My heart was torn. There was so much to love about the 500 but also so many frustrations. First impressions of luxury and features were among the best in recent memory, but the overzealous safety systems took me to the brink of irritation. Due to the latter I wouldn’t invest, dealing with it daily would cause me anxiety.

Grant: There was no doubt it was the best product we’ve experienced from the GWM and Haval stable. The 500 has impressive fit and finish, combined with a solid driving performance. Mitsubishi also had a similar issue with its driver monitoring system, so we can only hope GWM can also provide an update which is less intrusive. Fix that and it’s a compelling seven-seater with luxuries and features which would cost nearly $40k more with a Toyota badge.

Originally published as GWM Tank 500 review reveals there’s a lot to like about lux off-roader