2023 GWM Tank new car review

A wave of new Chinese car brands have landed in Australia and the latest machine to hit our roads has some Aussie legends in its sights.

Chinese car brands are on a roll at the moment, as more and more buyers are seduced by the value for money they offer.

Here are five things you should know about one of the latest arrivals, the GWM Tank.

GWM has launched its new Tank four-wheel drive.

It looks the part

The Chinese car industry has been the butt of many jokes – and a couple of lawsuits – over its “derivative” vehicle styling.

Squint for a second at the Tank and you might see hints of the Mercedes-Benz G Wagen, Land Rover Defender or Jeep Wrangler in the boxy silhouette, bluff front end and tailgate-mounted spare wheel.

Our test vehicle looked imposing and rugged in an exhibitionist orange with flared wheel arches and 18-inch chrome rims.

The Tank has tough guy looks.

The cabin is smart

The interior pays homage to recent Mercedes-Benz designs, with air vents styled to look like aircraft engines, imposing dual screens and frosted metal handles and highlights.

While the quality of the materials and finishes doesn’t quite live up to luxury expectations, it’s an attractive environment that has plenty of character, something a number of rivals lack. The graphics displayed on the twin 12.3-inch digital screens aren’t as sharp as premium offerings, but they’re clear and easy to navigate.

The entry-level Lux model has imitation leather upholstery but our Ultra test vehicle had soft Nappa leather seats with heating, cooling and massaging functions.

A choice of 64 shades of ambient lighting lifts the look of the cabin at night, while the heated leather steering wheel is welcome on frosty mornings.

There is plenty of standard gear, too.

It’s not a pretend off-roader

The Tank has been designed for serious off-roading, with a proper low-range transfer case, a torque-on-demand feature, generous ground clearance, decent approach-departure angles and underbody guards.

There’s a selection of driving modes for different surfaces, while clever tech applies the brakes to the inside rear wheel to improve the vehicle’s turning circle on gravel.

A “transparent chassis” feature displays a view of the ground underneath the car to help with manoeuvring around obstacles, while crawl control stops you from scraping the underside of the car over uneven rocky terrain.

All models have an electronic locking rear differential, while the Ultra adds one for the front.

It’s a serious off-roader with all the necessary hardware.

It’s pretty good on the bitumen, too

Genuine off-roaders can feel pretty ordinary on the tarmac, where the chunky off-road tyres, high centre of gravity and weight work against them, but the Tank is reasonably well-behaved at sensible speeds.

The steering isn’t the last word in feel and responsiveness but it’s adequate for family duties, while the suspension does a reasonable job of soaking up bumps and taming the Tank’s two-tonne bulk through corners.

The 2.0-litre turbo engine, which puts out 162kW and 380Nm, offers reasonable performance when the car is lightly loaded but we suspect it may struggle with a brood of kids on-board and a trailer on the back. It’s thirsty, too. The official consumption label says 9.5L/100km, but we saw 16 to 18L/100km in peak-hour traffic.

Prices start at $46,990 drive-away and it has a seven year warranty.

The value equation is enticing

The Tank’s sales pitch is cut-price off-roading and there’s really nothing this side of a Suzuki Jimny that can come close to matching its bang for the buck. Prices start at just $46,990 drive-away for the Lux model and $50,990 for the Ultra.

The Lux is no bare-bones price-leader; standard equipment includes power-adjustable front seats, a sunroof, LED head and tail lights, a nine-speaker sound system, side steps and roof rails.

Driver assistance tech is comprehensive, while there’s a 360-degree view parking camera as well as front and rear parking sensors. The Ultra ups the ante with genuine leather, bigger wheels, premium audio, wireless phone charging and a 220-volt power outlet with household plug.

A generous seven-year warranty and reasonable servicing prices make the Tank ownership experience affordable and stress-free, bar the fuel bills.