GWM Tank 300: Built for South African Adventure

South Africa asks a lot of an SUV. One weekend it is expected to tackle a rutted gravel pass on the way to a farm, and the next it needs to glide through city traffic on the school run. The GWM Tank 300 was conceived with exactly this kind of mixed lifestyle in mind. Its upright, boxy stance is a deliberate nod to classic off-roaders, but beneath the squared-off bodywork sits a thoroughly modern ladder-frame platform with serious all-terrain ability.

Under the bonnet you will find a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine paired with an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. In South African conditions this combination feels effortless, with 167 kW and 387 Nm on tap for confident overtaking and relaxed cruising. An intelligent 4WD system with multiple terrain modes lets you dial in the right settings for gravel, sand, mud or rocky tracks, while low-range gearing and front and rear differential locks are there for when the road disappears altogether.

Inside, the Tank 300 surprises many buyers who still think of hardcore 4x4s as rough and basic. The cabin is dominated by twin 12.3-inch screens, one for the digital instrument cluster and one for the infotainment system. Soft-touch materials, supportive seats and a wide centre console make it feel more like a premium SUV than a traditional off-roader. Driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and a 360-degree camera take the stress out of long highway stretches and tight parking garages alike.

For South Africans who split their time between tar and trail, the real appeal of the Tank 300 is how easily it moves between those worlds. It feels composed and quiet on the N2, yet when you turn off towards a mountain pass or remote campsite it has the hardware to keep going long after a soft-roader would turn back.

Ground clearance is a generous 224mm, and the approach and departure angles (33 and 34 degrees respectively) mean you can tackle steep obstacles with confidence. The water wading depth of 700mm is also particularly useful during our summer storm seasons or when crossing shallow river drifts in the interior.

If you would like to explore the full specification sheet, pricing and current offers, visit the dedicated Tank 300 page and book a test drive with The Maritime Group in Gqeberha or George.