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GWM Tank 300 or Tank 500? How to Know Which One You Actually Need
Bartons GWM Wynnum
GWM Tank 300 or Tank 500? How to Know Which One You Actually Need
Most people asking whether to get a Tank 300 or a Tank 500 are really asking three things: how many people do I need to seat, how much am I going to tow, and do I want the biggest cabin GWM offers or something a bit more manageable in the driveway. The Tank 300 covers five seats and a genuine 4x4 footprint. The Tank 500 covers up to seven seats, the flagship tech, and now its own diesel option with the highest towing capacity in the range. Work out which of those three questions matters most to you and the choice gets easy fast.
We get asked this one a lot on the floor at Wynnum, usually from people who have already fallen for the Tank look and just need help working out which size actually fits their life. It is a timely question too, with the all new Tank 500 3.0L turbo diesel arriving at Wynnum today, closing off what used to be the biggest reason to pick the smaller Tank 300 over its bigger sibling. Here is how we'd talk you through it now.
How many seats do you actually need?
The Tank 300 is a five seat vehicle, full stop. If you are a couple, a young family, or you just do not carry more than five people on a regular basis, that is not a compromise, it is simply the right size car. The Tank 500 opens up a third row on the Vanta Hev hybrid, taking it to seven seats, which matters if you are regularly ferrying grandparents, a sports team run, or a family of five plus friends. Worth knowing before you fall in love with a specific Tank 500 online though, the Ultra PHEV variant drops back to five seats, so the third row is not automatic across the whole range.
How much are you really going to tow?
This is the section we needed to rewrite the moment the all new Tank 500 3.0L turbo diesel landed at Wynnum. Until now, if you wanted a diesel Tank, the Tank 300 was the only way in, and it still gives you a capable 2.4L turbo diesel alongside its petrol and PHEV options. But the Tank 500 is no longer hybrid and PHEV only. Its new 3.0L turbo diesel puts out 170kW and 620Nm through a 9 speed automatic, tows up to 3500kg braked, and claims a combined fuel use of 7.1L per 100km with no AdBlue required. That is 500kg more towing capacity than the hybrid and PHEV Tank 500 variants, which stay at 3000kg. The one thing to weigh up is that the new diesel runs a part time 4WD system rather than the full time 4WD on the hybrid and PHEV, so if you tow regularly it is worth a chat with us about which drivetrain suits your trips best.
Do you want the biggest screen and cabin tech GWM offers?
The Tank 500 is the flagship, and the cabin reflects it. A 14.6 inch touchscreen, a 12 speaker Infinity sound system, and on the Ultra PHEV, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats plus electric side steps that extend when you open the door. The Tank 300 is not basic by any measure, with a 12.3 inch screen, a 9 speaker system and Nappa leather accented seats on the Ultra grades, but if the full tech list is what is drawing you to the Tank badge in the first place, that is a genuine reason to size up to the 500.
What do you get no matter which one you choose?
Both models carry GWM's maximum 5 star ANCAP rating, the Tank 300 tested in 2022 across its petrol, diesel and hybrid range, and the Tank 500 tested in 2024 under ANCAP's tighter protocol, applying to its hybrid and plug in hybrid variants. Both also come backed by the same 7 year unlimited kilometre warranty and GWM Care support, so you are not trading away peace of mind by picking the smaller vehicle. That is the reassuring part of this decision. You are choosing a size and a seat count, not choosing between a safer option and a riskier one.
The short version
| If you want | Look at the |
|---|---|
| A compact diesel 4x4 for five | Tank 300 |
| Seven seats and the flagship cabin | Tank 500 |
| Maximum towing capacity | Tank 500 3.0L diesel |
| The easier size for tight driveways and parking | Tank 300 |
Want the full spec by spec breakdown, engine numbers, ANCAP detail and warranty terms side by side? See the full Tank 300 vs Tank 500 comparison.
Still not sure which size is right?
We at Bartons have been family owned and serving Brisbane's Bayside since 1945. Come sit in both at Wynnum and we will help you work it out.
Book a Test Drive Ask Us a QuestionFrequently Asked Questions
Will the Tank 300 feel small after driving a Tank 500?
Only if you specifically need the extra seats or cabin width. On its own, most people find the Tank 300 plenty of vehicle, it is only next to its bigger sibling that it reads as the smaller option.
Is the Tank 500 harder to park at home?
It is the larger of the two, being a full size body on frame SUV against the Tank 300's mid size footprint, so it is worth measuring your driveway and garage before you commit, particularly if space is already tight.
Can I get a diesel Tank 500?
Yes, as of the all new 3.0L turbo diesel that has just arrived. It joins the existing Vanta Hev and Ultra PHEV, and brings the highest towing capacity in the Tank 500 range at up to 3500kg braked.
Do both Tanks come with the same warranty?
Yes. Both the Tank 300 and Tank 500 carry GWM's 7 year unlimited kilometre warranty, with separate conditions applying to commercial use.
Specifications current at time of publishing and vary by variant. Confirm current specification, drive away pricing and ANCAP details for the exact variant you are considering with the team at Bartons Wynnum GWM.
