GWM Tank 300 Buyer's Guide: Petrol or HEV? What Do You Get for an Extra RM10,000?

In Malaysia, the GWM Tank 300 is offered in just two variants: the Petrol version and the HEV hybrid. The former retails at RM250,000, while the latter is tagged at RM259,800—a price difference of RM9,800. This premium is neither too steep nor too negligible; it essentially reflects the actual manufacturing cost increment of an HEV powertrain.

Before weighing Petrol versus HEV, let us clear up an important detail: in mainland China and several overseas markets, the hybrid variant is badged as the Hi4-T, which is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The Hi4-T is not sold in Malaysia; our market gets the self-charging HEV instead. Therefore, avoid referencing the China-spec figures, as they are not applicable to Malaysian buyers.

Exterior:

To begin with, both variants share identical proportions, measuring 4760*1855*1903mm with a wheelbase of 2750mm. The visual distinctions boil down primarily to the wheels and exterior colour options.

The striking orange paint scheme is exclusive to the Petrol version and unavailable on the HEV. In addition, the Petrol model rides on 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels wrapped in road tyres. If you want maximum road presence and photogenic appeal for social media, the Petrol variant delivers sharper aesthetics. The HEV drops the orange shade, downsizes to 17-inch alloys, and gets an exclusive Sand Beige finish.

A quick caveat here: sales personnel might claim that the Tank 300 HEV comes standard with AT tyres, but the factory rubber consists of Continental CrossContact AX6 units. These are not full-fledged AT tyres, but rather highway-terrain (HT) rubbers with mild off-road capability. The Tank 300 Petrol, meanwhile, is fitted with road-biased, comfort-oriented Michelin Primacy HT tyres.

Consequently, if serious off-roading is on your agenda, you will still need to fork out extra cash for genuine AT tyres regardless of which variant you pick. The HEV merely carries the visual ruggedness straight out of the box.

Interior and Features:

Looking first at the baseline Petrol variant, standard equipment includes dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, front ventilated/heated seats with driver's seat massage, a 9-speaker Infinity sound system, 64-colour ambient lighting, a sunroof, and faux Nappa leather upholstery.

Pleasingly, the Tank 300's dashboard retains plenty of physical switchgear, with dedicated toggles and rotary dials for drive mode and 4WD selector controls. This stands in refreshing contrast to many modern Chinese SUVs that bury essential functions deep inside touchscreen menus.

On top of the Petrol variant's kit list, the HEV adds automated parking assist and remote vehicle telematics via a smartphone app, while leaving the rest of the cabin specification identical.

Cabin Space:

The Tank 300 adopts a conventional 5-seater layout, offering 400L of boot capacity that expands to 1635L with the rear seats folded flat. Practicality is decent and on par with class benchmarks, though interior volume is not this vehicle's main selling point. Space is completely unaffected between the Petrol and HEV variants, so prospective buyers need not worry about hybrid hardware intruding into boot space.

Powertrain and Performance:

In simple terms, that RM9,800 price delta is almost entirely justified by what lies beneath the bonnet.

The Petrol variant is powered by a 2.0T four-cylinder petrol unit outputting 220 PS and 380 Nm of torque, mated to a ZF-sourced 8AT automatic gearbox. It requires minimum RON97 fuel, and real-world fuel economy is thirstier, averaging roughly 9.8-14.7L/100km.

Furthermore, the Petrol model features a part-time 4WD transfer case that requires manual operation—knowing when to engage 4H, drop back into 2H, or lock into 4L. While off-road purists will appreciate this hands-on engagement, everyday drivers looking for hassle-free motoring may find it an unnecessary learning curve.

The HEV, by contrast, feels substantially more effortless. Pairing a 2.0T mill with an electric motor and a compact 1.67 kWh battery pack, it produces a combined system output of 346 PS and an immense 648 Nm of torque. Output figures across the board blow the pure petrol model out of the water. Its dedicated hybrid transmission, the 9HAT, also delivers noticeably smoother shifts and superior fuel efficiency.

That said, even in HEV guise, the Tank 300 was never engineered as an eco-cruiser. Do not expect it to match the frugal fuel consumption of a monocoque hybrid crossover—its upright, boxy profile creates immense aerodynamic drag, and it tips the scales at a hefty 2.3 tonnes kerb weight!

Safety Features:

Both variants are identical on the safety front, featuring 6 airbags and a comprehensive ADAS suite comprising Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), and more. Being a dedicated ladder-frame 4x4, the Tank 300 features high structural rigidity across its chassis and body shell, providing exceptional passive crash protection.

Verdict: Which Variant Should You Pick?

Looking strictly at the sticker price, there is a gap of nearly RM10,000 between the two. However, do the sums: the HEV version delivers vastly superior performance, noticeably better fuel economy, and adds auto-parking convenience without compromising on base features. It represents genuine value for money.

Even if you intend to tackle tough jungle trails or rock-crawling expeditions, the HEV's battery is sub-2 kWh and packaged safely within the vehicle body. Unlike PHEVs or BEVs with sprawling underfloor battery packs, there is little danger of structural battery damage during hardcore off-roading.

Provided your purchasing budget permits, our money is firmly on the HEV variant.