Large and opulent, this GWM Tank 500 HEV in Thailand wants to change perceptions on Chinese luxury SUVs

Perhaps the best example of a car having a name that thoroughly suits it, this is the 2023 GWM Tank 500 Hybrid, which is nothing less than uh, a tank through-and-through.

Disappointingly it lacks tracks and a big ol' gun up top (not even optional...), but the Tank 500's game is to pamper, rather than punish; treat rather than trod...you get the gist.

Thailand gets two variants of it: Tank 500 Hybrid Pro, and the 500 Hybrid Ultra. 

Exterior: Larger than life

The numbers come at you: it's 5,078 mm long, 1,934 mm wide, and 1,905 tall, resting on a 2,850 mm-long wheelbase. For a 7-seater SUV, very few other carmakers make something this largesse.

Shouty is as the design goes as well, with a gaping chrome maw taking up a good half of the front fascia. Flanking that are a pair of LED headlights, which have integrated daytime running lights (DRLs), and complemented by LED fog lights.

Also read: GWM Tank 500 previewed in Thailand; Chinese Land Cruiser with 11 off-road terrain modes

Move to the side and the shape is reminiscent of American brickhouse SUVs, with a tall ride height and 20-inch wheels and tyres. The side step is electric too, and extends and retracts with opening and closing of the doors.

Also read: Grander than a Land Cruiser? GWM Tank 500 Hybrid makes RHD debut at 2022 Thai Motor Expo

The rear takes a few pages off the 4x4 off-road playbook, with an electric swing-out tailgate that also holds a spare tyre. LED taillights are standard fare, and so are rear LED fog lights, and a rear view camera because lord knows you'll need it.

Interior: Tech-laden, comfort oriented

Beneath the mammoth doors is a two-tone interior, decked in fine Nappa leather. There's multi-coloured, music-reactive ambient lighting along the trims too.

In the middle is a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which also pipes sound through an Infinity 12-speaker audio system. For the driver, there's a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that's helped along by a head-up display (HUD).

Also read: Video: More than just cute looks, here's why the Ora Good Cat is important for Malaysia's EV industry

The equipment list takes up another paragraph, as the Tank 500 for Thailand comes with seperate PM 2.5 air filtration system, a wireless charger, and dual-zone automatic air conditioning.

Rather stylishly there's an analogue clock in the centre of the dash, which makes its mega-Bentley feel one notch higher. If that is a good preface, then the seats should complete the trick – the heated/ventilated units a 8-way power-adjustable for the driver and 6-way for the front passenger.

Also read: Soon, the safest cars will be made by China, not Sweden - GWM's WEY and Ora, Maxus tops Volvo in Euro NCAP 2022's best performers

Second row passengers get a central armrest, sunshades, and air-conditioning vents too. These seats here are also electronically adjustable; easier to move them around for people to sit in row three behind.

Powertrain: Big power, 11 driving modes

The heart of the Tank is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, mated to an electric motor to produce a comvined 350 PS to 616 Nm, paired to a 9-speed dedicated hybrid automatic transmission (DHT). 

It's got a massive list of 11 driving modes, electric differential lock for the front and rear axles, and a specific U-turn system that brakes the rear wheels to reduce the Tank 500's turning radius at low speeds.

Also read: 5 things we now know about GWM in Malaysia; CKD work in the pipeline

Prices for the GWM Tank are yet to be announced. Prior to its introduction, GWM's presence in Thailand already includes the Haval H6, Haval Jolion, and Ora Good Cat.