This is the 2025 GWM Tank 500 HEV, which at the time of writing, is Great Wall Motor Sales Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s flagship model.
Less than a month since bookings were opened, GWM Malaysia has amassed 150 bookings for its flagship SUV. Quite a feat for this Land Cruiser-rivalling SUV, moreover at this asking price.
As part of our GWM Tank 500 HEV review, we will be exploring why 150 Malaysians put their hard-earned money down for one, by spending some quality time with this luxury SUV.
Overview – Price undercuts rivals whilst offering more
Positioned above the smaller GWM Tank 300, the Tank 500 is offered in a sole HEV variant in Malaysia. This seven-seater luxury SUV is priced from RM 328,800 (on-the-road, without insurance) – comfortably undercutting key rivals, such as the recond J300-generation Toyota Land Cruiser, by quite a bit (2021 recond units still go for RM 400,000+). Mind you, the Land Cruiser isn’t even a seven-seater SUV.
Watch: 2025 GWM Tank 500 Media Launch in Malaysia Autoshow 2025
Imported (CBU) from GWM’s plant in Rayong, Thailand, our Malaysian-spec Tank 500 HEV is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that outputs 244 PS and 380 Nm, mated to an electric motor that adds another 106 PS and 268 Nm, bringing the total system output to 346 PS and 648 Nm.
Said electric motor is sandwiched between the engine and the nine-speed automatic transmission, similar to BMW hybrids, and is powered by a small 1.67-kWh lithium-ion battery pack mounted behind the rear axle.
While GWM Malaysia doesn’t provide an official fuel consumption figure, during our brief time with the Tank 500 HEV, this 2.5-tonne SUV’s fuel consumption was reading roughly 12L/100 km.
Exterior – We’ve came a long way in terms of Chinese designs
The 2025 GWM Tank 500 HEV may have its sight set on the Land Cruiser, but there’s little to confuse the two.
Up front, a larger chrome grille takes centerstage, flanked by a pair of LED projector headlights. The front bumper gets angular design motifs and a thin LED front fog light.
The sides of the GWM Tank 500 HEV get a set of multi-spoke, 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 265/50R20 tyres all-round. While the sides may seem plain, the Tank 500 HEV hides a secret – open the doors and power-retractable side steps slide out, easing ingress and egress into this luxury SUV.
Typical of any SUV worth its salt, the GWM Tank 500 HEV gets a tailgate-mounted spare tyre – a feature that has largely disappeared from modern-day SUVs. Couple that with the side-opening tailgate and the Tank 500 HEV has the right ingredients to look the part, on top of throwing back to old school, proper SUVs.
Just remember to leave sufficient space at the rear of the Tank 500 HEV, as the side-opening tailgate can take up lots of space to fully open. Owners may need to move the SUV forwards in order to fully open the tailgate. Alternatively, park the Tank 500 HEV inwards into the parking spot, which makes loading items a whole lot easier.
Interior – A lovely throwback in the modern age
Mention that the Tank 500 HEV has Chinese roots and the first thing that comes to mind is a pure touch-based system. While that is partly correct, the Tank 500 HEV that’s offered here has a decent mix of physical buttons.
Couple that with the analog clock that sits in the middle of the air-conditioning vents, goes to show that GWM knows their target market.
The large 14.6-inch infotainment display supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is definitely something to be expected from a modern-day vehicle.
That being said, during our time with the GWM Tank 500 HEV, we did notice that GWM still has room for improvement in terms of user interface. For example, with Apple CarPlay in action, the front passenger can only adjust the volume of the songs played by first exiting CarPlay, and then adjusting the volume via the on-screen controls – a physical volume control knob would’ve kept things simple.
Additionally, while the Tank 500 HEV features two front USB ports for charging, it’s a bit of a hassle to pull the cable from the driver side to the passenger side. Unlike other vehicles fitted with an electronic gear lever which allows for a floating-style centre console, the Tank 500 HEV lacks this.
Small niggles aside, the seats are sufficiently comfortable, and able to provide decent cushioning during our time with the SUV.
Driving Experience – The 2.0T hybrid sounds good on paper, but…
With 346 PS and 648 Nm on tap, it would seem like the GWM Tank 500 HEV is a very powerful SUV, no?
Well, one would need to also factor in the overall weight of said SUV, which comes in at roughly 2.6 to 2.7 tonnes (with passengers, kerb weight 2,535 kg), said powertrain might struggle a bit. After all, with a power-to-weight ratio (kerb weight, not gross weight) of roughly 133 PS/tonne (for context, a Honda City has a power-to-weight ratio of 105 PS/tonne), the GWM Tank 500 HEV can get up to speed with relative ease – just make sure that it has enough battery charge.
To best enjoy the Tank 500 HEV, one would need to take it gently and easily – just ease this luxury SUV up to speed, and it does so with stride.
Of course, we would’ve loved to see a diesel powertrain in the GWM Tank 500, but it doesn’t seem like GWM offers a diesel + RHD configuration at this point of time.
Powertrain aside, the GWM Tank 500 HEV rides really well for a ladder frame chassis-based SUV. The well-calibrated suspension deals with road irregularities with confidence, though at higher speeds, one cannot escape the signature ladder frame ride (unlike unibody vehicles, ladder frame-based vehicles have a separate body and chassis). Though no where near as “jiggly” as say as a Toyota Fortuner, GWM has done a decent enough job of tuning and calibrating the suspension to suit the stature of this vehicle.
It’s also decently quiet inside, with laminated windows on the front and rear. Wind and tyre noises are well insulated from the cabin, leading to a very cosseting cabin – just nice for those long road trips. Just remember to keep to the national speed limit.
Conclusion – The Tank 500 HEV occupies a unique spot
Given our time with the Tank 500 HEV, we reckon that GWM has cooked up a very well-rounded package. Never mind the Toyota Fortuner, GWM has the Tank 500 HEV aimed squarely at the formidable Toyota Land Cruiser, offering a comparable off-road-capable SUV, wrapped with the necessary luxury appointments – all at a more affordable price point.
As with anything in life, the GWM Tank 500 HEV isn’t perfect – we wished that it offered a physical volume knob, as well as more accessible USB charging ports for the front passenger. But all things considered, these are small niggles that shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.
For what the Tank 500 HEV offers at this price point, one would be hard-pressed to find for a better value-for-money option, especially for a new vehicle.
Bear in mind that recond vehicles like the Land Cruiser 300 are used vehicles, and should be approached as such. Do your due diligence when shopping for a recond vehicle, including finding the auction sheet and verifying that the car’s condition was not tampered with. Also keep in mind that with recond vehicles, no two vehicles are alike.
If you’re in the market for a luxury SUV that won’t break the bank and would like something different from the crowd, the GWM Tank 500 HEV definitely ticks all the right boxes.
