GWM Tank 700 review: this car is the real deal

This monster off-roader might be written off as a cheap rip-off of the Mercedes G-Wagen, but it’s a technological masterpiece in its own right.

Matt Campbell

3 min read

May 19, 2025 - 5:00AM

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You might think of this monster off-roader as a cheap rip-off of the Mercedes G-Wagen, but it’s a technological masterpiece in its own right.

While it is hard to deny the design inspiration for the GWM Tank 700 off-roader – especially those tail-lights! – the largest 4x4 from the Chinese maker has some hi-tech gadgetry and amazing powertrains to set it up as a fitting flagship model.

It hasn’t yet been confirmed for Australia, but the five-seat Tank 700 measures more than five metres long, two metres wide and almost two metres tall – and it has adjustable air suspension to raise or lower it to deal with difficult terrain. That suspension allows the ground clearance to increase from 249mm to 282mm, depending on the setting.

I didn’t get a chance to encounter anything dirty during my test drive in China, but the Tank 700’s technical prowess is undeniable: it has rear, centre and front locking differentials, a sway-bar disconnect system, multiple drive modes and, of course, a low-range transfer case.Over a set of steel moguls and steps, the Tank 700 had no issues with articulation or climbing capability, and its spectacular surround-view camera system with see-through view made picking the correct line simpler than it would otherwise be… because it feels enormous to drive due to its physical dimensions

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GWM Tank 700. Picture: Supplied

It doesn’t feel sluggish, though, because under the bonnet is a hugely powerful 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that is teamed to a nine-speed automatic gearbox with an electric motor as part of the equation. It’s a plug-in hybrid, with a 37.1kWh battery offering 90km of EV driving range, and the combined outputs are a stonking 385kW and 800Nm – almost as much as a Mercedes G-Wagen (V8, 430kW/850Nm).And speaking of V8s, it is expected that the Tank 700 is going to be the first vehicle from the business to score the new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine – possibly with 500kW and more than 1000Nm, and with a bigger battery to support up to 200km of EV range – in the next 12-18 months.

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it is hard to deny the design inspiration for the GWM Tank 700 off-roader – especially those tail-lights!

Top shelf tech.

Comfortable luxury.

The V6 model I tested wasn’t really using the engine at all, with the electric motor managing momentum up and down the set obstacles, and the low range gearing playing a part in ensuring easy progress.

Sadly, with the drive limited to a loop of set obstacles in a car park, there was no chance to see what the powertrain behaves like, nor whether it can hit 0-100km/h as fast as the claim suggests: approx 5.6 seconds!

The interior of the Tank 700 is luxury-SUV levels of lush, too, with sumptuous perforated quilted leather trim for the seats, which are heated, cooled and massaging, while the expected tech on offer doesn’t disappoint either, with a 16.2-inch media display and a 12.3-inch driver info screen offering up critical car info.

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Unlike a G-Wagen, it’d likely be in the $100,000 range, not the quarter-million-plus zone. Would you consider it, if it

The rear seat offers a similarly special feel, and there’s a centre armrest with another touchscreen system for controlling media and temperature. There’s easily enough space for a bigger adult to fit, but getting in and out is a scramble for smaller people.

Furthermore, like the Toyota Prado, there are some load-in height considerations for the boot space, which isn’t massive for a vehicle that is. It gets a side-swinging tailgate with a spare wheel mounted on the back, but there is no three-row model with seven seats, which is a shame considering its dominant dimensions.

If GWM were to bring this in as a range-topping model, it would likely be the brand’s first six-figure offering. But unlike a G-Wagen, it’d likely be in the $100,000 range, not the quarter-million-plus zone.

Would you consider it, if it were to make it to market? Or would it need to have a V8 to justify that kind of price? Have your say in the comments!