The new GWM P500 and Tank 500 have launched in South Africa and because I was nursing my husband following an ear op, I was unable to get to George, up the Garden Route, to give them a go. So I sent Dieter Pey in my place.
Let’s kick off with the P500, which is the big brother of the P-Series bakkie. It might be larger than its rivals – Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger – but how does it compare otherwise? Dieter finds out.
The exterior styling gives it that all-American truck vibe with wide fender flares, sharp edges and an aggressive stance. The wheelbase measures 3350 mm with a total vehicle length of 5445 mm and a width of 1991 mm. The load box has a capacity of 1140l and 750 kg payload capacity. There are 24 anchor points in the load box and a swing-out tailgate. A long press on the tailgate button lowers it like a normal bakkie tailgate and a quick press allows the tailgate to open like barn doors. The reason for this opening option is to get closer to the load box when unloading items. On paper, this feature sounds great, but after hard use, gravel roads and rattling, we will have to see how well this system holds up. After 500 km of driving on the launch event we already had issues opening the tailgate, with the latching system jamming or both mechanisms opening at the same time.
The interior is very well equipped with tech, features and storage. The 14.6-inch touchscreen welcomes you into the cabin and is also the control panel of the vehicle. Your seats can be heated and cooled and they offer a massage feature. The steering wheel can also be heated while you enjoy using your wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The rear passengers also ride in comfort with electrically adjustable rear seats, wireless phone charger and their own climate control settings. Below and behind the rear seats you can find storage boxes, even in the rear door pillar there is a storage cubby. Both the P500 and the Tank 500 have sunroofs to enjoy during the summer months. The high-quality interior is impressive, with leather seats and wooden trim, a space that you can comfortably spend loads of time in.
The P500 will be available in two engine derivatives: A 2.0L turbo hybrid petrol engine and a 2.4L VGT (Variable Geometry Turbo) diesel engine. During the launch, we drove the petrol hybrid engine which produces a total of 255 kW and 648 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a nine-speed auto gearbox. The hybrid system is a non-plug-in hybrid, so the vehicle uses re-gen features to charge the batteries back up. The power figures are impressive, considering both the P500 and Tank 500 are around 2.5 tons in weight. However, we did notice a lack of power on steep inclines when the hybrid battery system is low, it’s then that the 2.0l petrol engine has to do most of the heavy lifting. Without the hybrid system, the petrol engine produces 180kW and 360Nm of torque.
The ride quality on both vehicles is comfortable. The suspension handles the road imperfections and harsh cornering well. The P500 is leaf-sprung in the rear while the Tank 500 has coils and despite that difference, the ride quality feels similar and comfortable. The nine-speed automatic gearbox is seamless and you can also switch between driving modes on the go.
The Tank 500 has the same powertrain, interior and exterior styling as the P500, but just in a seven-seater SUV build. There are minor changes such as the P500 running with 18” wheels and the Tank 500 with 20” chrome wheels. The Tank 500 has more advanced off-road modes, such as “Expert Mode” which includes a drift and high-speed off-road racing mode. Both models have front and rear difflock along with low-range, which should make them very capable in off-road scenarios. The Tank 500 has a third row of electrical folding seats in the rear with a load capacity of 1459l when the third row of seats are down.
Now for the all-important pricing:
The GWM P500 starts at R799 900 with the P500 2.4T 4×4 Luxury model and goes up to R999 900 for the top of the range P500 2.0T HEV 4×4 Ultra Luxury model.
The Tank 500 will only have the Tank 500 2.0T 9HAT 4×4 HEV Ultra Luxury available at the price of R1 222 900.
Both the P500 and Tank 500 come with a five-year/75 000km service plan, seven-year/200 000km warranty, seven-year roadside assistance and eight years/150 000km high voltage warranty for the HEV model which outshine their rivals in this aspect.
IN CONCLUSION
To conclude, both these vehicles are stylish, boast high-quality interiors and are well-equipped on the tech front. We did have some teething issues with Android Auto, the tailgate latching system, 4H being limited to 80km/h and a few tech-related issues. The fuel consumption is claimed to be around 8.6l/100km, but during our 500km launch drive we were averaging 14l/100km, and the best we got was 10.8l/100km. Both of these vehicles are over 2.5 tons, heavier than their market rivals with a smaller engine capacity than their rivals and this can be the reason for the bad fuel consumption. These lower-capacity engines have to work extra hard to haul the weight of the vehicles, let alone if they are loaded or towing. The pricing between the GWM range and their market rivals are nearly identical, so the choice ultimately lies with the consumer and what the consumer’s needs are. If you need a large vehicle filled with comforts and tech for daily use or long-distance travelling, then the GWM range might fit that need. If you are towing, regularly driving with a heavy load or fully packed, then the smaller engine capacity and already heavy kerb weight might be an issue and you will be forgiven for sticking with what you know in the form of a Toyota-badged rival.
