Audi Q3 vs GWM Tank 500

The Audi Q3 starts from $61,600 before on-road costs, while the GWM Tank 500 opens at $59,990. That makes the GWM Tank 500 the more affordable entry point by $1,610.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $67,760 and $65,989 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Audi Q3 by roughly $3,990 in fuel alone.

Both the Audi Q3 and GWM Tank 500 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 87% for the Audi Q3 and 85% for the GWM Tank 500.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi Q3 packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the GWM Tank 500.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Audi Q3 and 7 in the GWM Tank 500.

The Audi Q3 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the GWM Tank 500 gets a 14.6-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Audi Q3 stands out with power tailgate and ambient lighting that you will not find on the GWM Tank 500. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Audi Q3 gets leather upholstery while the GWM Tank 500 offers synthetic leather.

The Audi Q3 uses a 4-cylinder inline petrol with turbocharging, MHEV technology and Cylinder on Demand (CoD) producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed s tronic to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.1 seconds.

The GWM Tank 500 responds with a Hybrid making 255kW and 648Nm, paired to a 9-speed auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

The GWM Tank 500 has the clear power advantage at 255kW vs 110kW. In the real-world sprint, the GWM Tank 500 is 0.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Audi Q3 measures 4,531mm long on a 2,681mm wheelbase, 547mm shorter than the GWM Tank 500 at 5,078mm (2,850mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the GWM Tank 500 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 488L in the Audi Q3 and 795L in the GWM Tank 500, giving the GWM Tank 500 a 307L advantage. The GWM Tank 500 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the GWM Tank 500 leads with a 3,000kg braked capacity vs 2,000kg. That 1,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,625/year for the Audi Q3 and $2,423/year for the GWM Tank 500. That is a $798 annual difference in favour of the Audi Q3.

Estimated annual total: $1,625 (Audi Q3) vs $2,423 (GWM Tank 500). The Audi Q3 saves you roughly $798 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Audi Q3) vs 7 years / 999,999km (GWM Tank 500). The GWM Tank 500 has longer coverage.