GWM Philippines recently invited us to an event where the brand previewed its future lineup of cars, which included the 2024 GWM Tank 300. It's one of the brand’s latest SUVs with rugged looks and excellent off-roading capabilities. 

The new model aims to capture the segment of the Philippine market that deals with off-road enthusiasts as the automaker wants to gain a bigger piece of the local market. While it already has the GWM Cannon which is a capable off-roader in its own right, the brand wants to take on the SUV market.

We have to note that GWM still needs to release the full specifications of the Tank 300, so we will look to other markets for initial specifications.

Bronco-like exterior

Styling-wise, the GWM Tank 300 takes on the typical SUV design with a boxy shape. It carries a flat nose with round LED headlights and horizontal daytime running lights. Aside from this, it comes with body cladding and large 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires.

At the back, it has a flat tailgate and a spare tire carrier, which hasn’t been seen on a brand-new Philippine vehicle for quite a while. However, we can’t deny that the car's rear looks similar to the Ford Bronco. Regardless, GWM has put a unique twist to its styling, giving it larger taillights.

Size-wise and based on international specifications, the Tank 300 measures around 4,760 mm long, 1,930 mm wide, and 1903 mm tall, so you can expect it to go against the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Nissan Terra, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and Isuzu Mu-X.

It also has 224 mm of ground clearance, suitable for off-road enthusiasts, and a 2,750 mm wheelbase, which leaves plenty of room inside to seat five.

A high-tech cabin

Speaking of the interior, the GWM Tank 300 has a straightforward dashboard dominated by two 12.3-inch displays. The first is for the digital gauge cluster, and the second is for its infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has comfortable yet durable leather seats that come with power adjustability. 

Aside from this, the SUV comes with soft-touch materials on the dashboard and door cards, along with circular air conditioning vents, a unique addition to the cabin that breaks away from its boxy styling.

The Tank 300 also has an angled shifter, which can be confusing to use at first but is easy to get used to, along with many buttons that activate off-road features such as its front and rear locking differentials. 

The cabin also features a 9-speaker Infinity sound system, a 360-degree camera, a wireless charging pad, a sunroof, and a cooling box. 

2.0-liter power?

GWM Philippines has yet to officially release the engine specifications for the Tank 300, as the version we had on test was a unit from Dubai. However, a quick look at the registration of the SUV reveals that it has a 2.0-liter motor. 

The international specifications for the car reveal that the 2.0-liter engine produces 220 PS and 380 Nm of torque. It sends power to all four wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission.

One of the critical features of the GWM SUV is its tank turn, which gives you a smaller turning circle by individually braking the car's wheels. 

It will officially be available around November 2023, with GWM Philippines already accepting reservations for the SUV. We were given no exact prices at the event, but estimates put it around ₱2.6 to ₱2.8 million.