Shortly after returning the key fob to this jet black Tank 300 Turbo-diesel, we fired a bunch of questions at our intrepid lady journalist. Here’s what she had to say…
How long/often did you drive the new GWM Tank 300 2.4TD 4WD Auto?
We had the car for a week and I drove it for a few days.
What do you think of the styling?
I enjoy the styling – it’s modern, yet spacious. It appears relatively rugged in looks and comparable to Jeep styling. It’s not a bad looking vehicle. In fact, it definitely turned a few heads and received several favourable comments.
Did you enjoy the interior… space, versatility and comfort?
I found the car comfortable. It’s roomy inside with plenty of leg room for taller folks. I love the rear door that opens sideways and there’s loads of boot space, so it’s perfect for loading up to travel somewhere. I also enjoyed the fact that there are plenty of cup holders, storage spots and ledges for all the modern day paraphernalia of a person on the move with a virtual office.
Which tech features stood out for you, in a good or bad way?
It bings and pings a LOT. One of the more annoying features was that it kept sounding an alarm on a right turn on a dual carriage way when I had traffic next to me – this would keep up throughout the turn even though I was keeping to my lane (read: lane guidance was annoying). I would definitely turn off all driver assistance alerts – lane guidance, speed control alerts, etc. as it becomes a constant litany of alarms and alerts as you drive.
Describe the way it drives, handles/rides, responds, turns, parks?
The ride is comfortable and its turning radius is fantastic. My biggest issue was a very long lag on acceleration from stopping, and then the constant hunting for gears as you drive up and down hills, especially at lower speeds. This also meant that there was sometimes a 2-second wait before the car would respond to the accelerator pedal, and then it would surge forward with wheels squealing. It was nerve wracking trying to turn into cross traffic, and I found myself having to pre-empt possible gaps by lifting off the brake prematurely and letting it roll forward into traffic before being able to drive. It’s a less than ideal and unsafe scenario.
Considering its price of R739,900, do you think it’s good value?
Given the market it’s playing in, the price sounds good but given the vehicle drive quality I’m going to say no, I think it’s overpriced at that price point and definitely wouldn’t buy it. At maybe R150k – R200k less I would be interested. It doesn’t feel refined enough to justify the price tag.
What advice would you give potential buyers of this boxy 4WD?
Rather buy the 300 HEV (turbo petrol hybrid). It responds better and you’ll be driving with a smile on your face.
If you like, how would you summarise your experience with the Tank 300 Diesel?
Great looks, it definitely has some kerb appeal but I would prefer the turbo-petrol hybrid with some decent responsiveness to the throttle. I think my entire review would be very different then as, aside from how it actually drove, I really like this car. But I found this model frustrating to drive. The claimed fuel consumption of 7.7l/100 was a far cry from what we actually obtained – I averaged 10.6l with mixed driving and town driving being predominantly hilly. So maybe on the flat that could be obtainable.
