Overview
GREAT Wall Motors launched particulars of its two-variant Tank 300 Hybrid vary late final yr, with vary pricing starting at simply $55,990 drive-away.
As the one true four-wheel drive competitor in its class – and the one hybrid 4WD in the marketplace – the Tank 300 Hybrid slots neatly between the pint-sized Suzuki Jimny (from $26,990 earlier than on-road prices) and virtually identically sized Jeep Wrangler (from $81,450 + ORC).
The Chinese language-made mannequin makes use of a ladder-frame chassis sourced from the GWM Ute and presents a selectable 4WD system and locking rear differential (a entrance locker is included on the high-grade mannequin).
Accessible as a five-seat proposition, the Tank 300 Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol and electrical motor mixture driving by way of a nine-speed computerized transmission.
The turbocharged four-cylinder unit makes a considerable 180kW at 5500-6000rpm and 380Nm at 1700-4000rpm whereas the electrical traction motor provides 78kW and 268Nm. Whole system energy is listed at 225kW.
Measuring 4760mm in size, 1930mm huge and 1903mm excessive, the Tank 300 Hybrid is simply 122mm shorter from bumper to bumper when in comparison with a long-wheelbase Wrangler Limitless. It’s, nevertheless, 55mm taller and 36mm wider, which means it presents barely higher lodging for passengers and baggage.
Apparently, the Tank 300 Hybrid additionally presents better towing capability than the V6-powered Wrangler – a mere 5kg extra, at 2500kg.
Off-road geometry and clearance numbers see the Tank 300 Hybrid provide 224mm of floor clearance (-28mm in comparison with the Wrangler Limitless), a 33-degree strategy angle (versus 36.5º) and 34-degree departure angle (versus 31.9º). GWM is but to offer a ramp-over angle or wading depth for its latest ‘fourbie’, however for reference the Jeep presents 21.2º and 760mm respectively.
For the GWM Tank 300 Hybrid Lux ($55,990 drive-away) we discover a prolonged customary gear listing together with 17-inch alloy wheels, a six-way energy driver seat, comfort-tek leather-based seats, micro-fibre leather-based steering wheel, 12.3-inch full color instrument cluster and 12.3-inch full color infotainment system, entrance and rear USB cost factors (entrance with information transmission), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, nine-speaker audio, seven-colour ambient lighting, DAB+, energy home windows, auto-folding and heated energy wing mirrors, LED head- and tail-lights, daytime working lamps, sunroof, two-piece under-body guard, and 12V energy shops within the entrance and baggage compartment.
The $60,990 (drive-away) Extremely provides 18-inch alloys, Nappa leather-based seats, heated and cooled entrance seats, eight-way powered driver seat with therapeutic massage perform and four-way powered lumbar help adjustment, a heated leather-based steering wheel, wi-fi charging, premium Infinity nine-speaker audio, 64-colour ambient lighting, 220V energy outlet (baggage cabin), entrance differential lock, three-piece bash plates, auto parking and auto reverse monitoring perform.
In security phrases, the five-star ANCAP-rated vary consists of as customary a tyre stress monitoring system (TPMS), seven airbags, adaptive cruise management, auto emergency braking, entrance collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keep help, site visitors signal recognition, rear cross-traffic alert with brake, crawl management for extremely low-speed off-road driving, and a characteristic known as ‘tank flip’ that selectively applies the brake to help steering in tight off-road circumstances.
Additionally provided is a clear chassis digicam perform, entrance and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree view digicam system.
GWM presents the brand new Tank 300 Hybrid in 5 exterior colors: Lunar Purple, Hamilton White, Nightfall Orange, Fossil Gray, and Crystal Black whereas offering a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, 5 years’ roadside help and capped-price servicing.
Driving Impressions
A few clicks (actually) across the 4WD part of the Australian Automotive Analysis Centre in Wensleydale, Victoria didn’t give us a whole lot of time to place the Tank 300 Hybrid by way of its paces. The taste-test drive as an alternative giving us a number of valuable minutes to achieve a primary impression of the mannequin, its match and end, and just-right sizing, all of which bode effectively for leisure four-wheel drive patrons.
Pawing over the automobile, it’s onerous to see why different producers cost a lot for thus little. There’s so much packed into the Tank 300 Hybrid, and all of it seems to be fantastically completed – maybe too fantastically completed for an off-roader.
The car-like cabin is highly-specified and lacks the ‘ruggedness’ of most rivals. However then once more, for the worth, I’m certain most received’t thoughts getting the Tank a bit scuffed up.
Relying on the way you view it, there are parts of Mercedes-Benz Gelanderwagen, Dacia Duster, Jeep Cherokee and Dodge Nitro concerning the Tank 300. It’s as if GWM has discovered the great bits – and what labored effectively – in comparable fashions from the previous, and melded them collectively into one thing fashionable and sturdy.
The construct and supplies high quality are surprisingly good. The doorways provide a strong ‘thunk’ on closing and the panel gaps are tight and uniform. Even the underbody appears well-sorted with ‘vitals’ tucked up out of the best way, helpful restoration factors put in as customary, and strong (and really Wrangler-esque) bumpers entrance and rear.
Inside, too, the Tank 300 feels extra premium than it arguably ought to for a $60K off-roader. The seats are snug and effectively positioned to take advantage of the mannequin’s boxy proportions. It’s straightforward to see round, and simple to put. The dashboard and console are likewise completed to a really excessive customary, which makes it appear a disgrace the shiny finishes will at some point be coated in mud, snow, mud and slush.
The commanding driving place definitely assists in feeling assured on the wheel – and the fighter jet styled gear selector is simply wonderful. It takes little or no time to get used to the Tank 300, and although we solely drove the automobile a brief distance, it supplied an unexpectedly snug experience, discovering grip simply and climbing steep rises with relative ease – the electrical motor offering loads of low-end torque earlier than the petrol unit took over.
It is an attention-grabbing sensation, virtually diesel-like in some respects, however one which maybe doesn’t provide the identical gas economic system. The digital instrument cluster on the automobile sampled confirmed 11.9 litres per 100km after working the identical loop for the most effective a part of two days. Loaded with gear, a trailer, and over more difficult terrain, we’d anticipate this quantity to rise considerably.
Sadly, and regardless of our brief time on the wheel, we had been introduced with one thing of a difficulty in our take a look at automobile. The four-wheel drive modes and low-range switch dials ‘froze’ after tackling a collection of small moguls, the automobile unable to be switched out of the mode we had been in – even after disconnecting the battery for a ‘onerous reset’.
Positive, these early manufacturing fashions could not but have had all of the ‘bugs sorted out’, however the difficulty did increase some questions round reliability off the crushed observe that we would definitely need addressed earlier than heading out into “Toyota nation”.
Worryingly, GWM’s on-site engineers had been unable to offer a proof for what occurred, although we’re instructed the problem did appear to proper itself later within the day.
As we mentioned on the outset, this was a really small likelihood to expertise a automobile in a really managed setting. We’d actually prefer to put the Tank 300 Hybrid by way of its paces over acquainted – and more difficult – terrain earlier than making a name on its capabilities, which, assuming the gremlins we skilled on the launch are remedied, look sure to supply one thing no different rival can for the cash.
