2023 GWM Tank 300 Hybrid review

Hybrid tech and a five-star safety rating give the GWM Tank 300 plenty of firepower

Great Wall Motors stole a march on newer Chinese automotive brands, setting up shop in Australia in the late 2000s and launching models including the SA220 and V240 dual-cab utes. Tradies snapped them up largely because of their sharp pricing under $20,000. A poor two-star ANCAP rating ultimately hurt sales, however, and the brand languished.

Photo credit: GMW ANZ

The company then refocused on integration under the GWM banner (rather than Great Wall Motors). Like many manufacturers, it’s moving away from conventional internal combustion engines (ICE) to ‘new energy vehicles’ (NEV), planning to launch 15 NEVs before 2025, with the new Tank 300 Hybrid a taste of what’s in store.

What model variants are available for the GWM Tank 300 Hybrid?

Complementing the conventionally powered model, the hybrid will initially be offered in Luxury Hybrid and Ultra Hybrid guises, priced at $55,990 and $60,990 drive-away. The hybrid powertrain uses a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine/hybrid system, generating an impressive 258kW and 615Nm driving through a nine-speed auto gearbox.

Photo credit: GMW ANZ

What features does the 2023 GWM Tank 300 Hybrid include?

Standard features for the Ultra include heated and cooled Nappa leather seats with eight-way electric adjustment for the driver, wireless phone charging, a nine-speaker Infinity sound system, and a front diff lock. The Tank 300 is fitted with a suite of safety gear including a centre airbag, lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance, which add up to that all-important five-star ANCAP rating – a far cry from GWM’s first models.

Photo credit: GMW ANZ

What is the 2023 GWM Tank 300 Hybrid’s range and how does it drive?

Sampling GWM’s range at the Australian Automotive Research Centre near Anglesea in Victoria, we drove the new Tank 300 Hybrid over the off-road course formerly used by the Australia’s Best Cars judging team, the terrain of which quickly exposes a vehicle’s shortcomings. The 300 has relatively short front and rear overhangs, 224mm of ground clearance, and a multi-function terrain mode control mounted in the centre console. It handled conditions adeptly with only a touch to the undertray on a steep drop-off.

A front-mounted camera operated via a switch in the centre console provides a 360-degree view of the terrain, making it easier to pick the best path. The coil sprung ladder chassis looks to have plenty of articulation and corresponding grip, and fitting more aggressive off-road tyres probably won’t be necessary for most drivers.

Photo credit: GMW ANZ

How does the 2023 GWM Tank 300 Hybrid perform for power and torque?

The engine felt strong and torquey from low revs and more like a larger capacity diesel than a petrol engine. We will reserve judgement on its overall driveability when we spend more time behind the wheel in everyday situations.

How does 2023 GWM Tank 300 Hybrid look and how are its specs?

It’s a boxy looking unit, reminiscent of the short-lived Dodge Nitro 4X4, and it feels about the same size as Mitsubishi’s Pajero Sport inside. The interior is boldly presented with large rotary air vents dominating proceedings and a quirky gear selector that has seemingly taken inspiration from a Transformer robot. Overall, it looks well screwed together and has a decent mix of surface finishes. The rear spare wheel is mounted to the hinged tailgate, so using the rear cargo area regularly can become a pain with its extra bulk. But these things often come with the territory in the off-road scene.

Photo credit: GMW ANZ

Open Road didn’t have an opportunity to evaluate the infotainment, vehicle settings menus or the lane departure/keeping safety systems (two areas where Chinese brands tend to be off the pace due to unintuitive or overactive settings) – more reasons why a future road test is in order.

Pros: Five-star ANCAP; first in segment with hybrid technology
Cons: Spare wheel mounted to tailgate