The Tank 300’s low-range gears and a locking differential help tackle steep climbs or drag a big boat or caravan into place. Photo: Supplied.
I’ve just been driving a tank – and it’s not bad.
It’s not a battle tank looking for enemy targets, even if it will be skirmishing with all the other mid-sized SUVs in Australian showrooms, including the Toyota Prado. Instead, it’s aiming to win over people who want to tow or head deeply into the bush with diesel motivation.
It makes its play with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine making 135 kilowatts of power and 480 Newton-metres of torque, as well as 3-tonne towing. The numbers are important because around 75 per cent of buyers in its segment – for family-sized four-wheel drives – want to run with diesel engines.
The Tank 300 also comes with low-range gears and a locking differential for steep climbs or dragging a big boat or caravan into place. Pricing starts at $47,990 and the 300 is reasonably equipped for the price point, which puts it up against rivals including the Isuzu MU-X, Ford Everest and Jeep Wrangler.
Tank is a GWM sub-brand out of China, so the engine is shared with the Cannon pick-up, but the good news for Australian buyers is there are more than 20 changes just for the diesel model. It’s mostly unseen stuff to beef up the suspension and driveline bits and pieces.
The changes are a result of GWM’s commitment to local development, which identified special needs in the strength and tuning of the suspension for local roads and towing. As yet, though, the various Chinese engineers who are constantly visiting Australia have not been able to properly tune the driver-assist systems that fight you on the steering and feel the cabin with warning lists and sounds . . .
The Tank 300 has been around for a couple of years, but GWM management predicts sales will more than double with the availability of its diesel model. Customers apparently like the rugged looks and the cabin design, but were disappointed by the car’s petrol engine.
Driving at a preview in Melbourne, the Tank diesel easily defeated the sort of rugged uphill climb that is popular with weekend off-roaders. It also showed it should be fine for tow work. As a drive, the Tank 300 is fine without setting any benchmarks. The ride is solid but it copes easily with lumps and bumps, and the cornering ability – for its size and class – is not as bad as many rivals.
It often feels like a mini-Toyota Prado, which is a good thing. The cabin also has a modern look with big air vents and display screen, and the seats – although a little lacking in shape – have a nice feel.
Overall, the Tank 300 is a good drive and promises what people want. They will have to ignore the Chinese-style intrusion of driver assistance, and there are always the long-term questions about reliability and resale price.
But if you cannot afford a Prado and don’t want a ute-based Everest or MU-X, it’s definitely worth a look.
And, most importantly, a solid workout through an old-fashioned test drive …
GWM TANK 300 DIESEL
- Position: Heavyweight four-wheel drive
- Price: From $47,990 drive-away
- Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel
- Power: 135kW/480Nm
- Transmission: 7-speed auto, all-wheel drive
- Plus: Chunky looks, genuine ability
- Minus: Dreadful driver assists, a little coarse
GRADE: B-.
