GWM Tank 500

Model Overview

The Tank 500 is a mid-to-large hardcore luxury off-road SUV under Great Wall Motor's (GWM) dedicated Tank marque. First previewed at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show, the SUV officially went on sale in March 2022. As the brand's second series-production offering following the acclaimed Tank 300, the Tank 500 is pitched as an "all-scenario intelligent luxury off-road SUV", engineered to bridge the gap between rugged go-anywhere capability and refined luxury within the RM300,000 to RM400,000 price bracket. In terms of exterior dimensions, the 5-seater SUV measures 5,078 mm long, 1,934 mm wide, and 1,905 mm tall, with a wheelbase spanning 2,850 mm. On the pricing and powertrain front, both petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options are available. The 2025 Tank 500 lineup comprises four variants: the Hi4-T Base, Hi4-T Smart Luxury, Hi4-Z Smart Luxury, and the Petrol 3.0T Zaojing, with prices ranging from RM335,000 to RM375,000. Furthermore, the Black Warrior Limited Edition launched in April 2026 retails at RM365,000 for the Hi4-T and RM385,000 for the Hi4-Z, capped at an initial run of 500 units. The model range covers two distinct hybrid routes—hardcore off-road (Hi4-T) and versatile all-terrain (Hi4-Z)—primarily taking on rivals such as the Toyota Prado, Fangchengbao Bao 5, and entry-level mid-to-large German luxury SUVs.

Design Language

The exterior styling of the Tank 500 draws heavy inspiration from classical Chinese architecture, exuding a commanding and stately presence. Up front, the imposing grille takes design cues from traditional sloping rooflines, finished with four prominent horizontal chrome louvres, where the lower bar extends outwards to cradle the headlamps. Dubbed the "Dou-Gong" headlights, the lighting clusters reflect the bracket structures of imperial palaces, featuring optical modules meticulously arranged using mortise-and-tenon principles. Along the flanks, the crisp "Chengtian" shoulder line takes cue from ancient fortress walls, running uninterrupted from the front wings all the way to the tail lights. Round the back, vertical "Palace Eye" LED tail lamps and a tailgate-mounted full-size spare tyre underscore its rugged DNA, with the tailgate badging updated from the previous "TANK" lettering to the global "GWM TANK" emblem. The 2025 model introduces a new "Dunhuang Green" exterior paint finish alongside an amber-glass brand emblem. Off-road credentials include a generous 210 mm ground clearance, 29-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and an 800 mm water wading depth, ensuring exceptional all-terrain passability.

Inside, the cabin features a wraparound architecture incorporating a "landscape scroll" design aesthetic across the dashboard, complemented by a lower console inspired by imperial palace stairways. Standard across the range are a 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch 2.5K ultra-slim floating infotainment touchscreen, and a multi-mode head-up display (HUD), enabling seamless three-screen interaction. The seats are upholstered in genuine full-grain Nappa leather crafted through 78 traditional tanning processes, with ventilation, heating, and massage functions fitted as standard to all four main outboard seats. The 2025 model adopts a column-mounted electronic gear selector for the first time, along with a newly added 17.3-inch 3K roof-mounted rear entertainment display supporting six control methods. A 5.4-litre smart mini-fridge is integrated into the centre console box, offering a versatile temperature range between -6°C and 50°C. For audio, higher-spec variants boast a 12-speaker Infinity sound system or a bespoke Coffee AI Sound high-fidelity setup. The 2026 Black Warrior Edition features a "Black Armour & Red Rhythm" theme, boasting a complete exterior de-chrome treatment paired with bespoke dark red Nappa leather upholstery accented by diamond stitching.

Powertrain & Performance

The Tank 500 is available with three distinct powertrain configurations: a 3.0T V6 mild hybrid petrol, the Hi4-T PHEV (2.0T + P2 motor + 9HAT), and the Hi4-Z PHEV (2.0T + dual electric motors + 3-speed DHT).

The petrol variant is powered by GWM's self-developed 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine paired with a 48V mild hybrid system, pushing out 265 kW and 500 Nm of torque, mated to a longitudinally mounted 9-speed automatic transmission (9AT). It completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds, with a WLTC rated combined fuel consumption of roughly 10.7 L/100 km and a top speed of 180 km/h. Peak torque is sustained across a wide 1,650 to 4,500 rpm band, with the refined V6 exhaust note and linear throttle response serving as its hallmark traits.

The Hi4-T PHEV pairs a 2.0T engine with a single P2 electric motor and a 9HAT transmission, delivering a combined system output of 300 kW (approx. 408 PS) and 750 Nm of torque, sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. Fitted with a 37.1 kWh ternary lithium battery pack, it achieves a WLTC electric-only range of 110 km, a combined range of 790 km, combined fuel consumption of 2.2 L/100 km, and a depleted-battery fuel consumption of approximately 8.8 L/100 km. It supports 103 kW DC fast charging, taking just 16 minutes for a 30% to 80% state of charge (SoC). The Hi4-T retains a non-decoupled mechanical 4WD layout, utilising electric torque to reinforce its "hardcore off-road" positioning.

The Hi4-Z PHEV combines a 2.0T engine with front and rear dual electric motors and a longitudinal 3-speed DHT gearbox, churning out a massive combined output of 635 kW and 1,195 Nm of torque, doing the 0-100 km/h dash in a blistering 4.3 seconds. Housing a 59.05 kWh ternary lithium battery pack, it offers a WLTC pure electric range of 201 km, a total cruising range of 1,096 km, a WLTC combined consumption of 0.76 L/100 km, while keeping depleted-battery urban fuel consumption well under 7 L/100 km. The Hi4-Z employs a decoupled electric 4WD setup, targeted at "versatile off-road" use by balancing daily urban efficiency with formidable off-road prowess.

Chassis & Handling

Underneath, the Tank 500 rides on a heavy-duty body-on-frame (ladder-frame) chassis, supported by double-wishbone independent front suspension and a multi-link solid rear axle, delivering exceptional structural rigidity for severe off-roading. For drivetrain hardware, the Hi4-T variant utilises a mechanical Torque-on-Demand (TOD) intelligent 4WD system with a low-range transfer box, allowing driver selection between 2WD, Auto 4WD, 4H, and 4L modes, with torque multiplied by 2.64 times in 4L. Centre and rear differential locks come standard across the range, with an optional front differential lock to form a triple-locking differential setup, ensuring full torque delivery even if only a single wheel retains grip in extreme conditions. The Hi4-Z variant adopts a decoupled electric 4WD architecture without a central propshaft, where the rear wheels are driven independently by a P4 motor. All variants feature GWM's latest-generation all-terrain auto-sensing and response system, supporting voice-controlled drive mode switching alongside off-road driver aids including Crawl Control, Tank Turn, and a Transparent Chassis monitor. Steering is via an electric power steering (EPS) rack, with suspension tuning striking an optimal compromise between plush highway cruising and high impact absorption over rough terrain.

Cabin & Equipment

The Tank 500 runs on GWM's in-house third-generation Coffee OS 3 smart cockpit, powered by a flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive chipset, supporting multi-scenario cabin modes and six-screen connectivity. The display setup features a 15.6-inch 2.5K ultra-thin floating central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch 2K digital instrument display, and a HUD featuring Navigation Mode (speed, speed limits, ADAS status) and Off-road Mode (barometric pressure, altitude, compass, and coolant temperature). The intelligent voice assistant supports four-zone continuous command recognition and full "see-and-speak" menu control. On the comfort front, all four main seats are equipped with ventilation, heating, and massage functions, while the second-row airline-style headrests offer 45-degree side bolster adjustment alongside 25° to 35° backrest recline. The 17.3-inch 3K roof-mounted rear display supports six input modes including touch, gesture, voice, and armrest controls, complemented by the 5.4-litre smart fridge with heating and cooling ranging from -6°C to 50°C. The cabin is upholstered in premium Nappa leather with an eight-layer composite seat construction. Audiophiles can enjoy either a 12-speaker Infinity system or the bespoke Coffee AI Sound setup, alongside dual 50W wireless charging pads and multiple Type-C fast-charging ports.

Safety & ADAS

Passive safety is underpinned by a high-strength steel safety cage with dedicated impact-absorbing zones, fitted as standard with front airbags, front side airbags, and full-length side curtain airbags. Active safety fundamentals including ABS, EBD, TCS, ESP, Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) are standard across the board.

For advanced driver assistance, the new Tank 500 is equipped with GWM's third-generation Coffee Pilot Ultra suite, packing a suite of 27 sensors—including 1 LiDAR, 3 millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and 11 high-definition cameras—creating a dual-redundant perception architecture. Powered by an NVIDIA Orin-X computing platform and driven by end-to-end foundation AI models with multi-sensor fusion, the system delivers map-free Navigation On Autopilot (NOA) across urban traffic, ring roads, cross-country highways, and private campuses without relying on high-definition maps. Parking assistance features include fully automated Auto Parking Assist (APA), custom parking, Memory Parking, Remote Parking, and Reversing Tracking Assist. Active safety and driver aids such as Lane Change Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Traffic Sign Recognition, and a 360-degree surround-view monitor come standard across the range. Petrol and Hi4-T variants also add a far-infrared night vision system that interfaces directly with the ADAS suite to enhance night-time driving safety.

Market Performance & Reception

The Tank brand recorded 232,700 total unit sales in 2025, achieving an average transaction price of RM293,800 and setting a new record for a Chinese off-road marque. Within the lineup, the Tank 500 contributed approximately 67,000 units, establishing itself at the forefront of the hardcore off-road segment in the RM300,000 to RM400,000 price range. Its new energy (PHEV) models maintained strong monthly volumes of 4,000 to 5,000 units, frequently topping the monthly sales charts in the hardcore SUV category. Sales of the pure petrol variant tapered off, recording just 130 units in April 2026 as consumer demand shifted decisively toward hybrid powertrains. In terms of competitive positioning, the Tank 500 PHEV goes head-to-head with the Fangchengbao Bao 5, consistently outpacing BYD's Fangchengbao brand in monthly figures over the same period. Malaysian and regional market feedback praises the ample power reserves of the 3.0T V6, the heavy-duty ladder-frame chassis, class-leading triple-lock off-road recovery capability, plush interior appointments, and intelligent tech that outperforms traditional ladder-frame rivals. Common drawbacks noted by owners include high urban fuel consumption on the petrol model (approx. 12–13 L/100 km), noticeable body roll through corners typical of ladder-frame chassis, occasional multi-screen infotainment lag, and minor interior trim creaks. In terms of reliability and build quality, Tank recorded an impressively low total complaint tally of just 378 cases in 2025, ranking among the top tier in the automotive industry. On the whole, with its East-meets-West design philosophy, robust proprietary 3.0T V6 and dual hybrid powertrains, as well as comprehensive ADAS and luxury cabin upgrades, the Tank 500 has firmly established itself as a technological and value benchmark in the RM300,000 to RM400,000 hardcore off-road SUV segment, standing toe-to-toe with the Toyota Prado, Fangchengbao Bao 5, and entry-level specifications of premium contenders like the Land Rover Discovery and BMW X5.