GWM Tank 300

Great Wall Motor (GWM) has made its mark in Malaysia yet again with the launch of another highly-anticipated model, the Tank 300.

A luxury midsize off-road SUV, it underpins a Ladder Frame Construction and Professional Off-road Chassis, providing for an optimum off-road prowess.

Fully-imported (CBU - China), the single variant (Tank 300) available is priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 250,000 (standard warranty - six-years, unlimited-mileage).

First 300 units (five years/100,000 KM - 10,000 KM/six-month interval free service maintenance, engine/transmission unlimited-mileage lifetime warranty).

Four exterior colours (Dusk Orange, Fossil Grey, Crystal Black, Pearl White).

The Tank 300 has an upright and symmetrically-tiered dashboard, linked to a high-rising bridge-style centre console (aviation-style gear shifter, drive mode selector).

Soft-/hard-touch panelled, it sees a single-tone scheme (Black) with metal trims (centre tier) and Silver bezels (AC vents, door panels, centre console).

Filling-up the space is a dual-screen setup (infotainment/instrument cluster), turbine-style air-conditioning vents (sides, centre), and a dash-integrated grab handle (passenger). 

Inclusively, the layout is neatly-designed (driver-centric, user-friendly) with all the buttons stealthily-embedded into the panels.

Part of a dual-screen setup, installed is a 12.3-Inch fully-digital instrument cluster.

Sturdily-bolstered and comfortable, the five-seater’s interior sees Nappa leatherette upholstery in a single-tone (Black) scheme.

The front gets electric-powered seats (multi-way, driver-lumbar/-massage, heating/ventilation, memory). The rear gets a manual-configured bench seat (two-level adjust, 60:40 split-flat-fold). 

Included are armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out), a panoramic sunroof (electric - tilt/slide, sunshade), and an ambient light system (64-colour).

An off-roader, the cabin offers ample space, providing the front and rear occupants with plenty of interior mobility. 

Generous head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Mounted is a three-spoke steering wheel. Single-tone (Black) leatherette with accentuating trimmings (metal).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, voice command, vehicle settings), paddle shifters, and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. 

Numerous storage areas. E.g., side door/seat back pockets, centre console partitioned/caverned spaces, a glove box and boot side wall pockets.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear) and four bottle holders (one - side doors).

Incorporated are one 12-V power socket (front), four USB ports (two-front, two-rear), and a wireless charger (front).

Accessing its side-hinged tailgate (manual operation) opens up to 400-Litres of load capacity.

Weighing in at 2,155 KG, the Tank 300 measures at 4,760 MM in length, 1,930 MM in width, 1,903 MM in height, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,750 MM.

Ruggedly-sleek with solidly-flowing contours, its boxy exterior exudes a powerful and commanding off-road presence.

The front-end sees square-sculpted bonnet, a square-full-faced grille (Black - horizontal slats), and chunky-square-moulded convex bumper/fenders (Black).

Accentuations, body claddings/trimmings (Black - roof rails, side mirrors, window surrounds, door handles, side steps) and the ‘Tank’ emblem (Chrome).

Seamlessly-boxy, its upright silhouette furthers the strong-rugged appeal, with symmetrically-clean and horizontally-cut proportions.

The rear-end sees a straight-cut roofline (shark fin antenna), a side-hinged tailgate (mounted spare-tyre), and chunky-square-moulded convex bumper/fenders (Black).

Accentuations, body claddings/trimmings (Black - roof rails, window/tail lamp surrounds, door/tailgate handles, side steps) and the ‘Tank’ script (Chrome).

Circular-shaped, the headlamps are full LED units, with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), High Beam Assist (HBA), automatic On/Off/, turn signals and welcome lights.

The tail lamps are in a rectangular-upright framing. Installed are full LED units, with turn signals. Paired to the set are fog lamps (front, rear - bumper corners).

The single-tone (Black) side mirrors are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn signals, Blind Spot Detection (BSD) indicators and heating/automatic-dimming functions.

Mounted are ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Ruggedly-sturdy, fitted is a set of 18-Inch six-spoke two-tone (Chrome-Black) alloy rims, rubbered-up in 265/60 R18 (front, rear) Michelin Primacy HT tyres.

The Tank 300 features a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Intelligent Cruised Assistance (ICA), Lane Central Keeping (LCK), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind Spot Detection (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Emergency Signal System (ESS), 360-degree surround-view monitor (transparent chassis view), and GWM Wisdom Dodge system.

Others include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Roll Movement Intervention (RMI), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill-Start Assist (HAC), Hill-Descent Control (HDC), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (pretensioners, anchors, reminders), ISOFIX (outer rear seats), automatic collision unlock, parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree surround view, transparent chassis view), parking sensors (four - front/rear), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, double-layer acoustic glass (front - windshield, side windows), rear windscreen electric heating/defrosting, door ajar warning, emergency brake signal, tyre repair kit, and security alarm (anti-theft, immobiliser).

Incorporated is the All-Terrain Progress Control System drive programme, featuring Standard (2H), Standard (4H), Snow Mode (4H), 4L Mode (Normal, Mud/Sand, Pothole, Mountain, Rock) and Expert Mode. 

Also included are Crawl Control (CCO) and Tank Turn Assist.

Part of a dual-screen setup, installed is a 12.3-Inch touchscreen infotainment system. Features are Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wired/wireless), navigation, Bluetooth, and USB.

Entertainment is channelled via a nine-speaker setup of the Infinity sound system.

The Tank 300 harbours a 2.0-Litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged direct-injection DOHC petrol engine, producing 217 HP (162 KW) at 5,500 RPM and 380 NM at 1,800 to 3,600 RPM. 

Fitted is an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

Power is transmitted to all four wheels via a part-time Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) system, incorporating electronically-controlled front and rear differential locks. 

Also included are Crawl Control (CCO) and Tank Turn Assist.

Top speed is 175 KM/H.

Fuel tank capacity is 75-Litres, and combined fuel consumption is 9.5 L/100 KM.

The Tank 300 features these conveniences. 

E.g., keyless entry/start system (driver  door, engine Start/Stop), dual-zone automatic air-conditioning (rear air-vents, PM2.5 dust filter), automatic-defogging system (front - windshield, side windows), rear windscreen electric heating/defrosting, electric-powered side mirrors (auto-fold/adjust, BSD indicators, heating), electronic-powered seats (front), panoramic glass sunroof (full roof, power - tilt, slide), steering wheel (multi-function, column adjustments, paddle shifters, EPS), automatic anti-dimming rear-view mirrors (exterior, interior), one-touch-lift power windows, parking sensors (four - front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree, transparent chassis view), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, LED interior lighting (reading, ambient, boot), acoustic glass (front - soundproof - windshield, doors), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam), automatic wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), wireless charger, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Installed is a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system, featuring a set of rear air-vents. Incorporated is a PM2.5 air-filtration system.

Propping-up the chassis is a setup of double wishbones (front) and multi-link (rear) suspensions.

The SUV is comfortably spacious, safe and suitable for both daily-driving and off-roading outings. 

The ride quality is firm and well-balanced, with a smooth engine power and transmission delivery. 

Good sound insulation, covering most of the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin experience is refined, alienated from most of the outside noises.

An extra sound dampening feature comes in the form of acoustic glass (front - soundproof - windshield, doors).

The GWM Tank 300 exudes a solidly-sporty and commandingly-rugged outlook. A sleek and boxy design that features seamlessly-upright body contours.

Interior-wise, its sportily-airy and premium-featured layout, provides a sense of comfort and easy connectivity to the occupants.

Ultimately, inside and out the build quality is satisfactory, and with its modern-outdoorsy outlook, the Tank 300 is truly a contender in its segment.