GWM’s Australian Tank assault may soon be reinforced with the landing of its Tank 400 large 4×4 SUV. While in China for the Beijing Auto Show this year, GWM Australia’s team gently nudged journalists in the direction of its plug-in family hauler, which is always a non-subtle hint of what’s likely next for our market.
But the Tank 400 – already on sale in China – has friendly fire issues. Namely, stablemate Tank 300 and 500 4×4 SUVs currently sold in Australia, and doing reasonable business.
Is there space for a Tank 400? Is there any point in offering something of near-identical size to the round-headlight Tank 300, especially as it’s also a large, ladder frame off-roader?
To our minds, there is a business case. But it would involve the Tank 400 arriving as a more premium offering, more in-line with the giant, luxurious Tank 500 SUV. And that would mean, potentially, delivering the Tank 400 as a plug-in hybrid only, especially as it’d be for a less heavy-duty off-roading and more on-road focused buyer.
You only need look at BYD Shark 6 sales to see how such a setup can reap rewards. Plus, PHEVs in a brand’s portfolio help keep Aussie government emissions fines at bay.
With that in mind, we had a quick China test of the Tank 400 with GWM’s new Hi4-Z drivetrain, it being one of the most compelling plug-in hybrid systems we’ve yet seen.
Numbers-wise, it’s bonkers. There’s a 59kWh battery, which is massive for a plug-in hybrid: roughly the same size as a basic Tesla Model 3’s. So despite the Tank 400 Hi4-Z weighing close to three tonnes (!), GWM quotes a pure electric range of 200km (WLTC).
The combustion side is a 185kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, while there’s a 215kW electric motor powering the front axle, and a 240kW electric motor for the rear end. Combine the lot and there’s a mega 635kW and 1195Nm offered, and the promise of 0-100km/h in 4.3-seconds.
That’s faster than a 2026 Porsche 911 T, but in a lardy 4×4 SUV that’s a finger’s-width under five metres in length.
More wonderment comes with a claimed petrol/electric range of 1128km, although our ten-minute test drive meant we had no way of testing this. An 800V electrical system and impressive (for a PHEV) 163kW DC charge rate all look superb on paper.
As a quick aside, this Hi4-Z PHEV setup is a shoo-in for GWM’s Tank 700, the upper large SUV also in strong consideration for Australia. The powertrain would no doubt be considered for the current 500 and maybe even 300 4x4s too.
Our test started at GWM’s Baoding proving ground, where our task involved driving the 400 over a basic angled metal ramp. Nothing meaningful could be learned, sadly.
Better was being led to a river crossing and sandy dry river bed, where we opened up the 400 a smidge. A Chinese chaperone ensured we didn’t do anything too dynamic (we were shouted at), but can report this drivetrain has considerable shove and mighty torque surge.
Such limited testing meant we could learn little, and driving mainly on loose surfaces didn’t help. Steering felt over-light and lacking much feel, but GWM’s in-Australia ride and handling fettling would no doubt tidy this up.
Body control felt reasonable, but when our Chinese chaperone took the controls for a rocky hill climb, the sheer weight of this Tank 400 was impossible to mask. It crashed over the bumpy surface, not helped by our lead-foot driver seemingly believing he was in a Safari rally car rather than a leather-clad 3000kg 4×4 with four on board.
But I reckon this Tank 400 Hi4-Z would smartly be aimed at the more urbane Aussie. GWM has its more off-road focussed Hi4-T plug-in hybrid setup (as in the Cannon Alpha PHEV), but the Hi4-Z loses the mechanical linkage between front and rear axles.
That means the giant battery can be mid-mounted under the floor as there’s no driveshaft to worry about.
It’s similar to the Denza B5’s setup, and GWM calls it an “intelligent electric 4WD”, but it lacks the triple locking differentials able to send 100 per cent of drive to a single wheel, and 3500kg towing capacity.
Even so, our Hi4-Z has low range, front and rear locking diffs and likely, but unconfirmed, 2500kg towing. Which would be plenty for many, or as we know, an irrelevance for many 4×4 owners who never need a tow bar.
While this Tank 400 and Tank 300 are near identical in size (the 400 has a 100mm longer wheelbase at 2850mm), their styling is markedly different.
The 300’s cute Jeep Wrangler-esque face contrasts with the 400’s edgier styling, while the latter looks more sealed-road ready with its body-coloured wheel arches. It’s quite appealing in the metal, with aggressive off-road looks that find favour with the urban crawler.
It’s a similar story inside. The Tank 400 feels plusher than a 300, more in keeping with the larger 500. The 400 loses the 300’s chunky centre gear shifter and employs a column shift, allowing two large wireless phone charge pads and spacious centre console.
But GWM Australia’s team said if the 400 were coming for us, they’d lobby to have the gear shifter remain centrally mounted, as in general, off-roaders prefer it this way. That’s less of an issue, you’d think, if the 400 truly was aimed at the more casual 4×4 set.
As we’ve found with most GWMs, they don’t hold back on the luxe and inclusions. Our test car included power, heated, ventilated and massage front seats trimmed in leatherette, which proved comfortable and plush enough, albeit not at true premium levels.
A giant 15.6-inch infotainment screen is distractingly large, but its functionality (once you get used to the endless menus) is good, as is the camera quality and off-road information. Other goodies include a 12.3-inch digital driver display, head-up display, fridge with heating mode and tri-zone climate control.
No driveshaft means a flat floor, roomy rear passenger compartment, and our range-topper featured a 15.6-inch rear entertainment screen dropping down from the roof.
There’s fair boot space (accessed through a side-hinged tailgate) as the Hi4-Z setup means no batteries under the floor. The spare being tailgate mounted also helps, with GWM quoting space of 789 litres, rising to 1803L with rear seats folded.
A negative is no third-row option. This would have really separated the 400 from the 300 as a more versatile on-road biased family 4×4, but alas, it appears seats six and seven aren’t likely for this Tank.
Regardless, as the Denza B5 has done, this Tank 400 has the enticing numbers and features that bring many into showrooms. With this Hi4-Z setup and mighty 200km (if it can get close to that) pure electric range, that’s a serious wake-up call for PHEV rivals in this space.
If GWM can price this Tank competitively, it’ll do business. No doubt. If we consider the Tank 300 starting from $50,000 drive-away the basic petrol, and $60,000 the PHEV, a Tank 400 with advanced Hi4-Z setup would likely come closer to $70,000.
A Denza B5 PHEV is from $75,000, so that sort of ballpark would keep it competitive. Others? The Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV costs $77,760 plus on-roads, and its pure electric range is just a meagre 52km…which is a quarter that of the Tank’s claim.
We know GWM can quickly make things happen when it comes to tapping into market demand, and plug-in hybrids are hot right now.
A Tank 400 with Hi4-Z plug-in setup would raise eyebrows, so don’t be surprised if it hits our shores before long.
