GWM Tank 300 Review (2026): A Proper Off-Roader at a Bargain Price

Most Chinese brands chase the mainstream SUV buyer. GWM went somewhere different with the Tank 300: a chunky, retro-styled, genuinely capable off-roader that undercuts the established names by a serious margin. It looks like a baby Defender, costs like a mid-spec SUV, and it can actually go bush.

How much is it?

Off-road ability

This is the Tank's reason to exist. It runs proper dual-range 4WD, diff locks on higher specs, 220mm of ground clearance and steep approach and departure angles. Where most sub-$55k SUVs are soft-roaders at best, the Tank 300 will genuinely tackle rutted tracks, sand and mud. For weekend adventurers it offers hardware you normally pay a lot more for.

On road and inside

On the bitumen it drives like what it is: a ladder-frame off-roader, so the ride is firmer and the handling more upright than a car-based SUV. The 167kW/387Nm petrol four is adequate rather than rapid (0-100km/h around 9.5 seconds) and it likes a drink. Inside, the cabin is surprisingly plush for the money, with big screens, synthetic leather and a 550-litre boot, and the retro design carries through nicely.

The catches

Two things to weigh. Towing is capped at 2,000kg on the petrol, below a dual-cab or large wagon, so serious towers should look elsewhere. And fuel use is high, this is a heavy, boxy 4WD with a thirsty petrol engine. If efficiency matters, a hybrid SUV makes more sense; the Tank is for buyers who actually want off-road ability.

Safety and ownership

Five-star ANCAP, a full driver-assist suite, and GWM's seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with capped-price servicing. That warranty is a strong reassurance for a rugged vehicle from a newer brand.

The verdict

The GWM Tank 300 delivers genuine off-road capability and standout style for thousands less than the established 4WDs. It is thirsty, tows modestly and drives like the ladder-frame truck it is, but if you want a capable, characterful adventure 4WD on a budget, nothing else gets close on value. Compare it in our best 4WDs guide or see the wider best Chinese cars roundup.