2024 GWM Tank 700 PHEV review: 385kW/800Nm 4×4 is a rapid plug-in Toyota LandCruiser and Nissan Patrol rival
The GWM Tank 700 Hi4-T may be a plug-in hybrid, but it’s hardly a poster child for green motoring.
This Chinese luxury 4×4 weighs in at a morbidly obese 3110kg, is longer than a Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series, and, thanks to its twin-turbo V6 petrol/electric motor combo, delivers a beastly 386kW and 800Nm.
Feeding the electric motor is a 37.1kWh battery – a unit almost the same size as a Nissan Leaf’s. In a PHEV.
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But let’s approach this from a car enthusiast perspective.
The Tank 700 Hi4-T looks fantastic in a toy-like Merc G-Wagen kind of way. Its cabin runneth over with luxe and features, it boasts (but hasn’t yet proved) serious off-road skills, and we’re assured it’ll crack 100km/h in ‘under five seconds.’ In a three-tonner.
You won’t see Attenborough and Thunberg arriving at a planet saving convention in one, but we can’t dispute it’s a fascinating behemoth.
We had a proper poke through the Tank 700 Hi4-T on a recent China trip, and had a (very) brief drive experience. It’s already on sale in China and the Middle East (because of course it is), and with a right-hand drive version already confirmed by GWM, it’s Australian arm said it’s under consideration for here, ready to join the Tank 300 and Tank 500 petrol and hybrid large SUVs.
That’s if they can price it right…. and therein lies a problem.
In China, the PHEV-only Tank 700 Hi4-T starts at 428,000 yuan ($91,300) for the entry level. A higher-spec is 468,000 yuan ($99,000) and already sold out Launch Edition an oligarch-baiting 700,000 yuan ($150,000).
Aussies have become more accustomed to pricier GWM and Tank products – the 500 Ultra Hybrid is $73,600 – but the 700’s cost would eclipse combustion rival Nissan Patrol, and come close to 4×4 legend Toyota LandCruiser.
These stalwarts have earned their 4×4 stripes in Australia over many decades, so the Tank would be one hell of an upstart if it rocked up in showrooms and then out onto our sunburnt nation’s off-road tracks.
2024 Tank 700 Hi4-T price and equipment
With no Australian launch confirmed, we can only report on the kit included in Chinese editions.
Without question, luxury is at the fore in the Tank 700 Hi4-T. It may have designs on conquering the Birdsville Track, but won’t let that get in the way of aping the inclusions and designs of a Range Rover or Bentley.
And despite preconceptions you may have, on initial impression, GWM’s done a decent job of the presentation, fit and finish here. If you’re coming out of a Patrol or LandCruiser, the big Tank is playing at a far more sumptuous game.
Not for one minute would I suggest that’s the most important thing for serious off-roaders wanting a highly capable 4×4. It’s not. But there are LandCruiser owners out there rarely getting boots muddy, and such buyers may have their heads turned by a palatially-cabin’d Chinese alternative.
Speaking of which, could we really utter the Tank 700’s name in the same breath as a Bentley Bentayga Hybrid (from $395,800) or Range Rover P460e PHEV (from $254,500)? Rightly or wrongly, you sense GWM wants a slice of that luxury plug-in hybrid pie, but offers its alternative at a fraction of the price.
Its 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol delivers 260kW/560Nm – already in the ballpark with a LandCruiser 300’s 227kW/700Nm V6 diesel and Nissan Patrol’s 298kW/560Nm V8 petrol – but the Tank’s is allied with an approximate 120kW/400Nm electric motor.
It uses a GWM-developed nine-speed auto, has permanent four-wheel-drive, three diff locks, up to 22-inch wheels and air suspension. The latter means it apparently offers a wading depth of 970mm in a specific drive mode (there are 12 driving/all terrain modes to choose from), while it claims an incredible 900mm wading in other settings.
Ground clearance is a huge 255mm thanks to the air suspension, while approach angle is 32 degrees and departure angle 33 degrees.
We’re told it uses electromagnetic shock absorbers and a detachable (through hydraulics) stabiliser bar for off-road use, allowing wheel decoupling/connection and suspension rebound range by 60mm.
It all sounds fit-for-Australia until the disappointing 2500kg tow rating’s revealed. Should the Tank 700 reach our shores, you’d think that would need addressed to get it up to our par-for-the-course (and oft required) 3500kg towing.
Goodies include popping-out side-steps which help with the clamber into a Nappa-leather coated interior. Seats are sink-in comfy with quilted leather tops and pillow-like headrests.
Front chairs are power, heated, ventilated and massage, while the rears offer likewise, all controlled through a rear seat touchscreen found in a giant centre armrest.
There’s a digital driver display, head-up display, and mega 15.6-inch central screen with impressive definition and speed.
Suede coats door trims, A-pillars and roof lining; switchgear and paddle gear shifters are proper metal and there’s an ornate crystal gear selector if that’s your sort of showboaty thing.
Add two wireless phone chargers, ambient light strips, panoramic sunroof, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio, lush carpets, power rear sunshades and individual rear climate control and it’s all rather business class.
As with all such vehicles, specification depending on grade will be all important. But much like a Genesis or Lexus, this Tank 700 appears to not offer any kind of poverty spec model. All will drip in luxe.
2024 Tank 700 Hi4-T: What we think
Our Chinese hosts weren’t keen on us testing the 700 Hi4-T in any kind of meaningful way. Our drive was at GWM’s proving ground only, and we were allowed a quick acceleration test, brief slalom and then navigating a couple of not-very-testing metal ramps.
We were allowed a passenger ride up and down a few climbs, but these were mirror smooth and in no way representative of what Aussie 4×4 drivers would tackle in the wilds.
That said, a bit of a test is better than none, and there’s good and bad to report from our initial taste.
Planting the throttle it gets a proper move on for something weighing over three-tonnes. It’s noisy and rears up, but at least power’s delivered with ample traction. I’m not sure it was breaking 100km/h in five seconds, but it’s certainly no slouch.
First corner’s a 90-degree right hander and it’s here physics catches up with the big Tank. Body control’s not a strong point, emphasised again when making directional changes through the slalom. Brakes, too, must work very hard to haul this thing up.
You’d be a clown to expect it to be agile – it’s a ladder frame chassis 4×4 with off-road intentions after all – and its rival LandCruiser’s hardly a Lotus Elise, is it? Even so, the wallowy Tank 700 felt like an SUV you’d want to plan braking and turning well ahead of time.
With rear diff lock on it had no dramas clearing the articulation-inducing metal ramps, and it effortlessly ascended the bitumen climb, rather peacefully too when it used only the electric motor.
Should this Tank reach Australia it’d need to quickly prove its mettle in the rough stuff – you can well imagine 4×4 publications frothing at the idea of pitching it up against the established, with “‘Cruiser Crusher” headline at the ready.
My Tank takeaway was overwhelmingly centred on its showroom appeal. In the metal it looks tough, fun and imposing. Its brutal, squared-off design is bang-on vogue for the current and incoming crop of large SUVs.
And for something with designs on desert duelling, it having a cabin with Merc S-Class vibes just makes you smile.
The 3000mm wheelbase brings superb rear space, and allows for serious rear seat recline. Trade-off is there’s no third row of seats, which would rule this vehicle out for some in the segment.
Boot size isn’t yet known, but it didn’t appear huge for a large SUV. A rear hinged door with spare wheel attached also has its limitations, and despite no internal spare, space under the high boot floor’s not a thing – hybrid batteries are tucked under here.
Also not great is it takes an age to fold the rear seats with an electric button, while doors and door handles lack the assured quality feel and movement of a range-topping Benz or Bentley.
But overwhelmingly you feel spoiled in here. The material lining the boot and tailgate is soft-touch wonderful; smart touches like directional air vents in the b-pillars and metal pop-out handbag holders are a cut above, and I think I really like the digital Start/Stop button which scrolls to become an analogue clock face.
2024 Tank 700 Hi4-T : Verdict
Okay Tank, you have our attention. If it can deliver on the promise of ‘up to’ 100km pure electric range plus all that 4×4 clout, it’d garner plenty of attention if it can land here with a price well under $100,000.
With such luxury it’ll appeal to on-road large SUV shoppers perhaps not really fussed about handling, nor it being a particularly planet-saving PHEV.
For the sheer over-indulgence of it all, it’d be a fascinating thing to see on Aussie roads and trails. Just don’t expect to be welcomed at a LandCruiser jamboree.
