Just a few weeks ago, we got word that a highly anticipated SUV will debut in the market in April 2024. However, that’s still a few months away. Those that want a rugged SUV right now, however, thankfully have another vehicle to look into.
GWM Philippines, one of the newest brands in the country, arrived just last year. They already have quite a lineup and are looking to bolster it further with their first off-road oriented SUV, the Tank 300.
Retro styling
The GWM Tank 300 goes for the established Jeep look with a rounded hood, pronounced fenders to house its large tires, and a near-vertical front windshield for better visibility.
The façade features a rectangular, three-slatted grill with horizontal LED daytime running lights running across round LED headlights. It comes with a distinct and rugged bumper that houses LED foglights as standard.
The side forms an unashamedly boxy silhouette. It rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 265/65 series all-terrain tires. It also comes with a full-size spare wheel mounted on the tailgate. It’s also adventure ready with functional raised roof rails allow to securely fasten car camping or expedition gear.
Ladder-frame chassis
The GWM is a tough truck through and through, built on a ladder-frame chassis as expected of this segment. This gives it a robust foundation for the suspension and the body. These also grant it short overhangs and a steep 33-degree approach angle and a 34-degree departure angle. It boasts of a tall 224mm of ground clearance and a very capable 700mm water wading depth.
And for those who need to haul, the all-new Tank 300 has an unbraked towing capacity of 750 kg and a braked towing capacity of 2,500 kg. A trailer power outlet also comes as standard.
Off-road tech
Because the Tank 300 is expected to face some serious terrain, it comes with high tech off-road driving aids to make conquering trails even easier. It comes with front and rear differential locks, as well as an All-Terrain Control System with eight driving modes and an expert mode that acts like a conductor for the engine, transmission and differentials to ensure that the perfect amount of torque goes to each wheel on any terrain.
The Tank 300 also features Crawl Control, which automatically drives the SUV from 5 to 12 km/h for hassle-free progress in especially difficult conditions. And finally, the segment-first Tank Turn adds braking pressure to the inner rear wheel through the electronic parking brake, reducing the SUV’s turning radius by 1.2 meters.
Turbo power
Powering the Tank 300 is a turbocharged 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-four gasoline engine pumping out 217 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 380 Newton-meters of torque from 1,800 to 3,600 rpm.
The powerplant is mated to a German ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The standard intelligent stop-start system helps reduce fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions by shutting off the engine during extended idle periods.
Putting all this performance to the ground are a double-wishbone front suspension system and multilink rear suspension system. Finally, the front and rear ventilated disc brakes provide maximum braking action for every occasion.
Opulent cabin
It may have been designed for the rough, but the Tank 300 can still pamper its passegners. The interior boasts of Nappa leather upholstery with diamond-pattern stitching, normally seen in ultra-high-end luxury sedans. The driver will enjoy the microfiber steering wheel with paddle shifters for greater control.
As for entertainment, a pair of 12.3-inch digital displays are used for the instrument cluster and the touchscreen infotainment system. These route sound through a premium nine-speaker Infinity sound system. The Tank 300 comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for full connectivity and convenience.
Other features in the cabin include ambient interior lights, a centrally-mounted analog cabin clock, aircraft-style thrust levers for the gear selector, a built-in cooling box, and the 220-volt power outlet in the cargo area.
Class-leading safety
The GWM Tank 300 is the only off-roader in its class to come standard with a comprehensive active-safety suite, similar to the game-changing systems in the Haval Jolion HEV and Haval H6 HEV.
These include features like adaptive cruise control to reduce driver fatigue in long journeys, along with Hill-Start Assist Control and Hill Descent Control to confidently and safely tackle steep inclines.
Complementing the standard Electronic Stability Program are Secondary Collision Mitigation and Roll Movement Intervention. All these systems, combined with the Automatic Emergency Braking, ensure maximum stability in emergency situations.
And if the Tank 300 does get involved in a collision, the fuel system automatically cuts off to reduce the risk of a fire. Meanwhile, the automatic door unlock function ensures that you can exit the vehicle quickly.
Adding to the Tank 300’s strong safety credentials is its high-resolution 360-degree camera that offers a full bird’s eye view of the vehicle. This is perfect whether you’re tackling a narrow off-road trail or navigating tricky parking areas.
GWM’s comprehensive approach to vehicle safety means the Tank 300 received 5 out of 5 stars from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme.
“The Tank 300 isn’t just a vehicle,” said Tonette Lee, Marketing & Sales Director of the Luxuriant Automotive Group, Inc., official importer and distributor of GWM vehicles in the country. “It’s a statement of unyielding capability, boundless adventure, and unwavering luxury.”
The 2023 GWM Tank 300 is now available for P2,678,000. All GWM models come with a 5-year/160,000-km warranty, whichever comes first.