SUVs are garnering a lot of popularity among buyers in Malaysia but most go for the soft-roader front-wheel driven crossovers. Some would rather go for something that looks macho and capable of going off-road, but few are available in the market.

Adding to that particularly niche market of proper adventuring vehicles will be GWM’s Tank 300. Though the Tank 300 could be a rival to the Toyota Fortuner, it has looks that are reminiscent of those meaty four-wheel drive machines of yesteryear like the Land Cruiser Prado.

Tank is a sub-brand of GWM (Great Wall Motors) alongside Haval and Ora. GWM Malaysia currently offers only the Ora line-up of EVs but it plans to introduce the Haval H6 Hybrid and Tank 300 later this year along with the Ora 07.

Also read: Ora 07 previewed in Malaysia - Up to 408 PS/680 Nm, 640 km range, launching later this month

The orange Tank 300 unit that was previewed here is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine (227 PS/387 Nm) which is hooked up to an 8-speed part-time 4WD automatic transmission.

There’s no word from GWM Malaysia on plans to introduce a hybrid version which made its world debut in Thailand. The hybrid powertrain consists of a 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit (245 PS/380 Nm) and a 106 PS/268 Nm electric motor.

Also read: GWM Tank 300 Hybrid Concept Car debuts in Thailand, next hybrid for ASEAN?

Further details and specifications would be announced later during the Tank 300’s local launch so for now, many of the features for the Malaysian-spec units are speculations based on the sole preview model.

You can’t really ignore the Tank 300’s chunky looks which not only take inspiration from the likes of the older Prado and Pajero but also modern off-roaders.

Also read: The first Mitsubishi Pajero - from Paris Dakar Rally champ to progenitor of family SUVs

The Ford Bronco comparison is apparent through the circular LED headlights with each housing a daytime running light strip that runs across. The side profile and the chunky plastic wheel arches also remind us of the Jeep Wrangler while the swing-out one-piece tailgate is as old-school cool as the Suzuki Jimny.

Also read: Naza teases Suzuki Jimny Rhino Edition for Malaysia, what's the story behind the rhino?

The greatest hits of off-roader tribute continue inside with an upright yet modern dashboard that has a whiff of Mercedes-Benz G-Class in design. The turbine-shaped air vents particularly have a strong Teutonic vibe but smack dab in the middle circle houses an analogue clock surrounded by controls for the window demister, front seat heaters, and the hazard light.

The centre console contains an array of buttons including an electronic parking brake, a knob to adjust the 4WD system, and a button to activate the tank turn function. The latter locks the rear inside wheel to allow the under 5-m long SUV to manoeuvre around tight spaces.

The orange unit seems to be well-equipped with features like a wireless charging pad, leather upholstery, automatic air-conditioning, a pair of 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment as well as a Harman Infinity sound system.

The Tank 300 is planned to make its Malaysian entrance in Q3 2024 but how much do you think it should cost? The Fortuner starts from RM 195,880 while over in Thailand, the Tank 300 starts from THB 1.649 million (~RM 218k).