2025 GWM Tank 500 Ultra PHEV Review

GWM adds a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the capable Tank 500. And incredibly, it’s cheaper than the regular hybrid version. Is this the best value in the large SUV set? 

The market for large and truly off-road capable SUVs is fairly niche. Throughout the years, this small segment has been dominated by two Japanese stalwarts, and the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol have faced little in the way of competition, save for the odd Jeep. So when a new competitor enters the fray, they have to be sure of their chances to disrupt the market. And in the case of the GWM Tank 500 PHEV, I can see why they would feel confident.  

In New Zealand, the Tank 500 PHEV is offered exclusively in the Ultra spec, which starts from $79,990. At this price point, the Tank is $39,000 cheaper than the Patrol, and $60,000 cheaper than the base Land Cruiser. And if we’re looking at the range-topping GR Sport, this Tank 500 is less than half the price.  

So if it’s five figures cheaper, and offers electric-only driving with its plug-in hybrid system, it must miss out on a heap of features, right? If you consider cylinders as features, then yes, but otherwise, no. Beneath the bonnet, the Tank gets a turbocharged 2.0-litre four cylinder engine, which is paired with a 120kW electric motor. Despite being down on cylinders versus its rivals, the Tank’s power eclipses that of the Nissan and Toyota, with combined outputs of 300kW/750Nm. GWM notes that this is enough to propel the 2.8-tonne vehicle to 100km/h in 6.3-seconds.  

As for suspension, it has a double wishbone set-up in the front, and a solid axle with coil springs at the rear. Electronic locking front and rear differentials come as standard, as does a low range transfer case with centre diff lock. Automatic folding side steps are part of the package (super handy and are always in position for your entry and exit) and it gets a full-size spare wheel on the side-hinged rear door. 

Inside, the feature list is as impressive as it is long. There’s three-zone climate control, Nappa leather accented seats that are heated, ventilated and get a massaging function. It is worth noting that those seat functions are available across both rows. There’s a 12.3-inch digital cluster behind the leather-accented steering wheel, and a 14.6-inch infotainment screen takes centre stage on the dash. This system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and makes use of a 12-speaker sound system.

As for advanced safety systems, the Tank 500 PHEV gets everything. The adaptive cruise control works well on the motorway, but gets confused on corner-filled roads, where it insists on grabbing too much brake for its own good. The driver attention warning is annoyingly sensitive but it’s alert is relatively subdued as it attempts to redirect your attention back toward the road ahead. The parking camera system is one of the most comprehensive I have come across, and includes an angle that tracks the front wheels at low speeds, handy when trying to avoid the curbs in tight spaces. The locking chimes were an element of the Tank that perplexed me. It can be switched off within the infotainment screen settings, but it’s incredibly loud, and would easily wake the neighbours at night. 

On the road, there’s no denying the sheer size of the Tank 500. It fills the lane, but the lane-keep assist doesn’t knock you from side to side. The ride offered is nothing short of excellent, but you get almost zero road feeling communicated through the steering wheel. A big part of this could be down to the 18-inch alloy wheels which are wrapped in 265/60 rubber. All this sidewall would not only contribute to a floaty feeling on the road, but I can imagine it would also allow plenty of extra grip if tyres pressures were lowered off-road.  

With 300kW on tap, this XL SUV feels fast, but it also feels like the four-cylinder engine has to do a lot of heavy lifting if you bury your right foot. Obviously, these numbers and acceleration figures are impressive for an SUV of this size, but I am sceptical of how well this engine is going to fare down the line, as it sounds quite stressed. A staple of the Land Cruiser and Patrol’s reputation is how the big, lumbering engines can sometimes hit the million-kilometre mark, but it remains to be seen if these small displacement Chinese engines will do the same. 

As for fuel economy, we ran the Tank 500 PHEV as an EV for a good portion of our time with it, which is likely how it would be used day-to-day. The 37kWh battery provides around 100km of real-world range, and it has plenty of grunt when solely relying on the electric motor. Once the charge level drops to 15 per cent, the Tank will revert to mostly petrol power, only using the battery to plug torque holes and manage fuel economy when cruising. As for a fuel economy figure without any charge in the battery, we saw it settle in the region of 6.8L/100km, which is a respectable figure for an SUV of this size.  

There’s no denying the impressive value proposition this Tank 500 Ultra PHEV provides. At $79,990, nothing in the large off-road SUV segment comes close. And only the $120k Grand Cherokee 4XE offers a plug-in hybrid alternative, but with half the EV range. Long term reliability will be the biggest area of concern for this model, but GWM backs it with a seven-year/unlimited mileage warranty. Some will argue that this barely covers the break-in period for a vehicle that’s trying to compete with a Land Cruiser or Patrol, but then again, you have to keep going back to the fact it’s significantly cheaper than both of those vehicles.  

This will suit those looking to upgrade from a soft-roader into something bigger. I’m sure it’s just as capable as most off-road SUVs in the rough stuff, and you’d probably be more comfortable in the Tank while doing so. Its longevity will be the true decider, but that’s something only time can tell.  

GWM Tank 500 Ultra PHEV

$79,990  /  2.1L/100km  /  47g/km
0-100 km/h 6.9s
Engine  1998cc / IL4 / T / EFI
Max power  180kW@6000rpm
Max torque  380Nm@1700-4000rpm
Motor output 120kW / 400Nm
Battery  37kWh
EV range 120km
Hybrid System Output  300kW / 750Nm
Drivetrain  9-speed auto / AWD
Front suspension  Wishbones / swaybar
Rear suspension  Multilink / swaybar
Turning circle  11.2m 
Front brakes  Ventilated discs
Rear brakes  Ventilated discs
Stability systems  ABS, ESP
Safety  AEB, ACC, BSM, LDW, RCTA, ALK, AHB
Tyre size  f/r 265/60R18
Wheelbase  2850mm
L/W/H  5078 / 1934 / 1905mm
Track f-1635mm  r-1635mm
Fuel capacity  70L
Luggage capacity  640-1400L
Tow rating  750kg (3500 braked)
Service intervals  12 months / 15,000km
Warranty  7yrs / Unlimited km
ANCAP rating  ★★★★★ (2024)
Weight (claimed)  2820kg