2026 GWM Tank 500 Review: The Budget Landcruiser Alternative?

The Australian love affair with massive, go-anywhere 4x4 wagons is legendary. If you want a comfortable family hauler that can tow a huge caravan and tackle the Simpson Desert, you usually look straight at a Toyota LandCruiser or a Nissan Patrol. But those legacy heavyweights come with eye-watering price tags. Enter the 2026 GWM Tank 500. This is a massive, body-on-frame SUV designed to offer premium luxury and serious off-road capability for a fraction of the cost.

When the Tank 500 originally launched in Australia, it only came with a petrol hybrid drivetrain. In a segment dominated by torquey diesels, that was a tough sell. GWM has since listened to the market, introducing a diesel variant to keep traditionalists happy. But they have also thrown a massive curveball by launching a high-tech Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) model. This PHEV flagship promises over 300kW of power, zero-emissions city driving, and all the hardcore hardware you need for serious weekend adventuring.

On paper, the Tank 500 looks like an absolute bargain. But is the complex PHEV system up to the task of pulling a 2.8-tonne rig through the Aussie bush? And what compromises do you have to make when you ditch the diesel? We got behind the wheel of the flagship Ultra PHEV to see if this Chinese giant truly has what it takes to disrupt the market. In this YEECAR 3.0 review, we break down the pricing, the Bentley-esque interior, the real-world fuel economy, and its hardcore 4x4 abilities. Let's get stuck into it!

HOW MUCH DOES THE 2026 GWM TANK 500 COST?

Pricing is the ultimate trump card for the GWM Tank 500. It offers full-size SUV dimensions and genuine off- road ability at mid-size SUV prices. GWM has cleverly split the range, offering traditional diesel power for touring families and a high-tech PHEV for buyers who want zero-emissions commuting.

The  range  kicks  off  with  the   Lux  Diesel  at  a  highly  aggressive  $65,990  drive-away.  To  put  that  into perspective, you would struggle to buy a base-model, stripped-out LandCruiser Prado for that money. Yet the Lux comes packed with an enormous 14.6-inch touchscreen, a sunroof, front and rear locking diffs, and seven seats. It is an absolute bargain for big families.

Stepping up to the Vanta Diesel costs $71,990 drive-away. This is the sweet spot for a lot of buyers. It adds blacked-out exterior styling, Nappa leather, heated and massaging front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a premium 12-speaker sound system. The Vanta gives you serious luxury without breaking the bank.

At the top of the tree sits the Ultra PHEV, which we tested for this review. It is priced at $79,990 drive-away. Yes, $80k feels like a lot of money for a GWM. However, you are getting a highly complex plug-in hybrid system with 300kW of power and an enormous 37.11kWh battery. The big trade-off here is that you lose the third row of seats; the PHEV is strictly a five-seater. If you need to carry seven people, you have to stick with the diesel models.

WHAT IS THE 2026 GWM TANK 500 LIKE ON THE INSIDE INCLUDING DIMENSION?

Jump inside the Tank 500, and you will be genuinely shocked. GWM  has clearly benchmarked  high-end European SUVs when designing this cabin. It gives off serious Bentley Bentayga vibes. It feels opulent, plush, and incredibly quiet.

The material quality is fantastic. The dashboard features soft-touch padding, real stitching, and a beautiful analogue clock in the centre. The silver speaker grilles look like they belong in a Mercedes-Benz. In the Ultra PHEV, you  get  stunning  quilted  Nappa  leather  upholstery.  The  seats  are  incredibly  comfortable,  offering electronic adjustment, heating, ventilation, and a fantastic massage function that makes long road trips a breeze.

Tech is front and centre. A massive 14.6-inch touchscreen dominates the dash. It runs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto seamlessly. While it looks brilliant, the infotainment system can be slightly laggy when jumping between complex menus. GWM has also moved almost all the climate controls into the screen, which can be a bit annoying when you just want to quickly adjust the fan speed. A crisp 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a massive Head-Up Display (HUD) keep the driver informed without taking their eyes off the road.

Dimensions and Practicality

The Tank 500 is a behemoth. It sits on a proper, heavy-duty ladder-frame chassis. It is noticeably larger than a Prado, and only slightly smaller than a full-size LandCruiser 300 Series.

Space in the second row is genuinely limousine-like. With a long 2850mm wheelbase and a flat floor, knee room and headroom are massive. You can easily cross your legs in the back. Rear passengers get their own climate control panel, directional vents, and USB charging ports. In the top-spec models, the outboard rear seats are even heated and ventilated. The big difference is the third row. The diesel models give you two extra seats in the boot. In the PHEV, the space under the floor is taken up by the high-voltage battery, meaning it is strictly a five-seater.

The boot features a side-hinged tailgate with a heavy spare wheel mounted on the back. While it looks tough, the side-opening door is quite impractical if you are reverse-parked tightly against a wall at the shops. Boot space in the PHEV is a very usable 640 litres. However, when you fold the rear seats down, they don't sit completely flat due to the battery placement beneath them.

WHAT'S UNDER THE BONNET?

The Tank 500 lineup offers two completely different powertrain philosophies. You can choose the traditional, long-distance diesel, or the high-tech, zero-emissions PHEV setup.

The newly introduced 3.0-litre turbo-diesel is the smart choice for outback tourers. It pumps out a healthy 170kW and 620Nm of torque. Crucially, the diesel models retain a full 3500kg braked towing capacity and a decent payload of up to 760kg. It uses a traditional 9-speed auto and a part-time 4WD system.

The Ultra PHEV is an entirely different beast. It pairs a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with a powerful 120kW electric motor. Combined, it produces a staggering 300kW of power and 750Nm of torque. This is fed through a full-time 4WD system. Despite weighing a massive 2820kg, the PHEV will blast from 0-100km/h in just 6.9 seconds.

The PHEV uses a massive 37.11kWh battery pack. You can charge it at home using the 6.6kW AC charger, which takes about 6.5 hours. Out on the road, it accepts 50kW DC fast charging, getting you from 30% to 80% in 24 minutes. The big trade-off with the PHEV is utility. The braked towing capacity drops to 3000kg, and the payload is a very restrictive 610kg. If you hook up a heavy caravan and put four adults in the car, you will likely be over the legal weight limit.

HOW DOES THE 2026 GWM TANK 500 DRIVE?

Driving the Tank 500 PHEV is an experience of two halves. In the city, it is incredibly quiet and luxurious. Out in the bush, it is an absolute mountain goat. But there are a few dynamic quirks you need to get used to.

Urban Commuting and Refinement

Around town, you sit up extremely high, commanding the road. Visibility is great, though you have to be mindful of that big spare tyre hanging off the back when reverse parking. The 360-degree camera system is fantastic, offering incredibly sharp, high-definition views that make parking this beast surprisingly easy.

When the battery has charge, the Tank 500 glides around in EV mode in near-total silence. The cabin is phenomenally well insulated. You don't hear any wind noise or tyre roar. It genuinely feels like a high-end luxury vehicle. The suspension is quite soft, soaking up speed humps and urban potholes beautifully.

However, the drivetrain calibration isn't perfect. When the petrol engine needs to kick in to help the electric motor, the transition can feel a bit lurchy. The throttle is very sensitive, almost like a light switch. It can be tricky to drive  it smoothly  in  heavy stop-start traffic. The  brake  pedal also feels a  bit spongy due to the regenerative braking system.

Off-Road Capability

Take the Tank 500 off the tarmac, and it feels absolutely unstoppable. GWM has thrown every piece of off- road hardware imaginable at this car. It features a proper low-range transfer case. It has locking differentials on the front, centre, and rear axles. You get a massive 213mm of ground clearance (220mm on the diesel).

It also features high-tech software to help you out. You get dedicated off-road driving modes, an off-road cruise control system (crawl control), and even a 'Trail Turn Assist' feature. This clever system brakes the inside rear wheel on loose dirt to dramatically tighten the vehicle's turning circle on narrow bush tracks.

We took the PHEV up a steep, wet, muddy hill climb. Engaging 4L and locking the diffs made the mechanical grip sensational. The only thing letting the car down is the factory tyres. GWM fits highway-terrain Giti tyres as standard. They are absolutely useless in thick mud. If you plan on taking this car off-road, the very first thing you must do is throw the factory tyres in the bin and buy a proper set of All-Terrains.

WHAT ARE THE STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR EACH VARIANT?

GWM's strategy is simple: pack the cars with so much standard equipment that the competition looks stingy. You don't need to add expensive option packs.

2026 GWM Tank 500 Lux Diesel Equipment Highlights:

• 18-inch two-tone chrome alloy wheels with a full-size spare

• Automatic LED headlights with cornering lights

• Electric sunroof and rear privacy glass

• Side steps and keyless entry

• Front and rear differential locks with hill descent control

• 14.6-inch central touchscreen with Coffee OS

• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster

• 8-speaker sound system and wireless phone charger

• 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory

• Heated front seats and dual-zone climate control

• 7-colour interior ambient lighting

GWM Tank 500 Vanta Diesel Adds:

• 19-inch black alloy wheels with Continental tyres

• Blacked-out grille and roof rails

• Panoramic glass sunroof

• Power-retractable side steps and soft-close tailgate

• Large Head-Up Display (HUD)

• Nappa leather-accented seat trim

• Heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats

• Ventilated second-row seats and power-folding third-row seats

• 12-speaker premium sound system with active noise cancellation

• 64-colour interior ambient lighting

GWM Tank 500 Ultra PHEV Adds (over Lux Diesel):

• Panoramic glass sunroof and soft-close tailgate

• Power-retractable side steps

• Head-Up Display (HUD)

• Nappa leather-accented seat trim

• Heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats

• Heated, ventilated, and massaging second-row seats

• 12-speaker premium sound system with active noise cancellation

• Note: The PHEV loses the third row of seating entirely.

IS THE 2026 GWM TANK 500 SAFE?

The Tank 500 comes fully loaded with active safety tech. GWM has clearly listened to feedback on previous models, as the safety systems are much less intrusive and annoying than they used to be.

Standard Safety Equipment Highlights:

• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)

• Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist

• Lane-Keep Assist and Emergency Lane-Keep Assist

• Blind-Spot Monitoring

• Rear Cross-Traffic Assist

• Safe Exit Warning

• Traffic Sign Recognition

• Driver Fatigue Monitoring

• High-definition 360-degree reversing camera

• Front and Rear Parking Sensors

• 7 Airbags (including front-centre airbag)

The adaptive cruise control works well on the highway, though it occasionally takes a few seconds to lock onto the  car  in  front.  The  driver  monitoring  system  is  much  better  calibrated  now.  It  only  chimes  when  you genuinely take your eyes off the road for too long, rather than beeping constantly at minor head movements.

HOW MUCH DOES THE 2026 GWM TANK 500 COST TO RUN?

Fuel economy is the biggest talking point of the PHEV version. If you use it correctly, it is brilliant. If you use it poorly, it will cost you a fortune at the petrol pump.

GWM claims an EV range of 120km on the NEDC cycle. In the real world, you can expect around 70 to 80 kilometres of pure electric driving. For most suburban commuters, that is easily enough to handle the daily school and work run without ever starting the petrol engine. If you plug it in every night, your fuel bill will be near zero.

However, when the big 37kWh battery goes flat, things get ugly. The small 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine has to haul around 2.8 tonnes of metal all by itself. In heavy city traffic with a flat battery, we saw fuel consumption spike to  14.0 to  15.0L/100km.  If you do  not have a driveway or a garage where you can charge this car overnight, do not buy the PHEV. The diesel model is a much smarter, more consistent choice for long-distance touring or heavy towing.

Warranty Coverage and Servicing

GWM offers an excellent long-term ownership package to build trust with Aussie buyers:

• Vehicle Warranty: 7 Years / Unlimited Kilometres

• High-Voltage Battery Warranty: 8 Years

• Roadside Assistance: 7 Years

• Service Intervals: 12 Months or 15,000 Kilometres

YEECAR’S VERDICT ON THE 2026 GWM TANK 500

The 2026 GWM Tank 500 is an incredibly ambitious, highly impressive off-road SUV. To get this level of interior luxury, cabin space, and hardcore 4x4 hardware from a legacy brand, you would have to spend well over $100,000.

The Ultra PHEV ($79,990) is an absolute powerhouse. It is quiet, fast, and incredibly capable in the dirt. But it demands a very specific lifestyle. If you don't charge it constantly, it drinks fuel like a V8. It also suffers from a jerky throttle and a very restrictive 610kg payload.

For the vast majority of Aussie families, the Vanta Diesel ($71,990) is the absolute sweet spot of the range. It gives you the blacked-out styling, the incredible Nappa leather massage seats, a massive  131- litre long-range fuel tank, and the all-important seven seats. It is an absolute bargain for families who want to tour Australia in supreme comfort without taking out a second mortgage.