15/06/2025

theSunday Special XV ON SUNDAY JUNE 15, 2025

and is basically the control centre for the car. Everything except for the four-wheel drive functions is activated through this screen. In true classic off-roader fashion, the four-wheel-drive functions have separate hard buttons. Up ahead is another digital screen as the instrument cluster, this time measuring 12.3-inches and giving you all the essential data needed as you go about your daily drive. You also get a full panoramic roof but more importantly, it comes with a power retractable shade. This is super important for our Malaysian climate. At the back, the rear passengers get copi ous amount of legroom. The car is big, and you feel it from the inside as well. Passengers also get ventilated seats, roof mounted air-conditioning vents (as they should be) and two USB ports for their devices. For entertainment, you get wireless Carplay and Android Auto, with music piped into the cabin through a 12-speaker Infinity sound system. Fit, finish, quality of everything is fantas tic. The interior makes you feel like your money has been well spent. But once you start poking and prodding around the cabin, you will notice that the wood trimming is not actually wood. Which is fine because that is common practise these days and it still looks good anyway. It definitely does not look cheap. And then once you spend a little more time in the front seats particularly as a pas senger, you will notice that there is no vol ume button. So, in case you want to increase or

You basically feel the car hopping over surfaces, and there are tiny jiggles which intrude back into the cabin. At first, this confuses you because you shouldn’t feel this in a premium SUV that costs upwards of RM300,000. But the more you spend with the car, the more tol erable it becomes. Good cars have a way of masking all the bad stuff and the Tank 500 does it quite well. Then there is the refinement of the cabin which is exemplary for other car makers. GWM has used double-glazed windows all

Even the Adaptive Cruise Control works seamlessly between braking and accelerat ing. It is only when a car wedges itself ahead of you that the system gets confused. It is even perfect to be driven in as well, and if you are worried about getting in and out of the car, there is an electronic footstep that pops out to greet you when you need to get in and out of the car. This step folds out every time you open and close a door. I couldn’t help but wonder how long it will be able to keep that up till it gives up, then I found out it can be turned off and kept permanently in place. Phew. So, is it good enough to spend your money on? At RM328,000, the Tank 500 is among the most expensive Chinese cars in Malaysia. Granted, it is built in Thailand and it offers good build and ride quality, it is still something that some may struggle to look past. But this is a segment that is largely untapped. For the same money, you get an entry level BMW X3 and a Mercedes-Benz GLC costs significantly more. Both of which are smaller, feel cheaper and have lesser overall tech than the Tank 500. Feeling shortchanged by the Europeans yet? And just to help you sleep better, GWM Malaysia offers a comprehensive warranty package such as a six-year unlimited mile age warranty on the car itself. A further eight year or 200,000km war ranty on the high voltage battery and a life time warranty for the engine, transmission and the hybrid system. There are some terms and conditions that are applied on the warranties, so be

Moving on Boot space is massive to say the least. The Tank 500 is a seven-seater and you summon up the two extra seats by pressing a button. They lay back down electronically as well. Legroom for the rear two seats isn’t that great so perhaps it is best kept for the kids or the vertically challenged. How does it feel like to drive and be driven in? The suspension of the Tank 500 is rather conventional with a double wishbone inde

Panoramic roof gets an electronic shade as well, thankfully.

The interior is a nice blend of luxury and comfort.

Rear seats are generously spacious.

The third row seats are cramped.

decrease the volume of the music, you either have to swipe downwards on the screen to access the volume menu, or you have to get the driver to do it via the hard button on the steering wheel. Younger passengers may not mind it since they’re exposed to screens from the very beginning anyway. But the real irri tation here is that you cannot swipe down when you’re using Carplay or Android Auto. Instead, you must go back to the main menu and then swipe down. I personally found it very irritating, but GWM Malaysia recommended to use the voice command feature instead. This works fine but needs some getting used to because sometimes all you want to do is turn it all down a couple of notches and chill out, without actually talking.

pendent at the front, and multi-link live axle coil sprung rear. You don’t get any of that electronically adaptive suspension which is understand able because the Tank 500 is an off-roading machine. But it is built using a traditional body on-frame method. This means the cabin, engine bay, cargo area is built as a separate unit and later bolted onto a rigid frame which resembles a ladder. It is common for pick-up trucks, heavy duty commercial vehicles and large SUV’s to be built this way because it is more dura ble and stronger especially for off-road use. But the downside to this is that ride quality takes a hit. If you have ever sat in the back seat of a Toyota Hilux or an Isuzu D-Max, you will know what I mean.

throughout the cabin. This is quite unique for this price point because most car makers only use it around the front window panels. This then results in an interior that remains whisper quiet even at high speed. Power delivery is decent enough though, as mentioned earlier, there is no urgency during acceleration. Though you get a lot of torque (648Nm is no joke), it certainly does not feel like it is going anywhere very quick. But from the captain’s seat up front, you feel like you are in total control of the road with good visibility all around. From what I experienced on the high way, the Tank 500 will cruise all day long while keeping you in total comfort. In traf fic, it isolates you from all the hustle and bustle of the world outside.

sure to read the fine print before signing on the dotted line. With all the above in mind, I would say that the Tank 500 is a much better buy especially when you consider what BMW and Mercedes-Benz have to offer. Specifications Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged, four-cyl inder hybrid with electric motor Transmission: 9-speed automatic Power: 346PS Torque: 648Nm Suspension: Double wishbone independ ent (Front)/Multi-link Live Axle Coil Spring (Rear) Price (As tested): RM328,000 We like: Value for money. We don’t like: Feels like it needs more power.