GWM Tank 300 Update.New Long Wheelbase Hybrid Arrives, But Bigger Diesel is Not Coming
GWM has made several updates to its popular Tank 300 off-road vehicle in China, including a long-wheelbase variant, a powerful new plug-in hybrid powertrain, and various new technologies in the cabin. Notably, however, the more powerful diesel engine that recently appeared on the bigger Tank 500 is not coming to the smaller sibling.
If you want to keep up with GWM’s rapid-fire updates to its popular off-road vehicle or are considering buying one, here is a complete overview of what has been changed and what it means.
Overview of Changes
GWM has launched a new variation of the Tank 300 in China, called the 300L (L for long-wheelbase). The new long-wheelbase variant is set to provide more space for passengers, while its hybrid powertrain options will offer greater flexibility. On the other hand, there is no update for those who want a standard petrol or even a diesel engine – and it seems as if GWM has no intention to change that, as revealed below.
Changes Outside the Vehicle
As mentioned above, the new Tank 300L (2027) offers greater space for passengers, especially those sitting in the rear seats. The reason for this is quite simple – the new variant is built on a longer wheelbase. While most carmakers tend to use the standard solution of extending the rear overhang to increase the length of the vehicle, GWM opted to move the front axle forward to create more room for occupants. As a result, the Tank 300L (2027) in China has a length of 4886 mm, which is 126 mm more than the standard length of the Tank 300, and a width of 1984 millimeters. Its. height is 1927 millimeters.
It should be noted that the length of the wheelbase of the new variant is 3010 mm, which is 260 mm more than the equivalent measure of the standard Tank 300. As a result, occupants in the rear seats of the new Tank 300L will have more legroom, while the overall volume of the cabin will also be increased. At the same time, GWM has been able to make the new variant even more spacious than its predecessor by reducing the front overhang.
Ground clearance and approach angle
One of the most important measures for an off-road vehicle, including the Tank 300, is the approach angle – the angle at which the front of an off-road vehicle meets the ground. For the new Tank 300L, GWM has been able to increase this indicator to 38 degrees. The ground clearance of the new variant is 235 mm, which is also more than the equivalent measure of the standard Tank 300 (224 mm). Thus, GWM was able to make the new long-wheelbase variant of the Tank 300 even more off-road-capable despite the increased length and wheelbase.
Changes Under the Hood
As mentioned above, GWM has made significant changes to the powertrain of the Tank 300. In particular, while the standard Tank 300 in China is available with a standard petrol engine only, the new Tank 300L is available exclusively with two hybrid powertrains. In other words, petrol engines for the Tank 300 are no longer produced in China. As for the two hybrid powertrains, they are the Hi4-Z and Hi4-T. The former offers more power and better on-highway performance, while the latter is focused on off-road driving and has a proper mechanical four-wheel drive with locking differentials at the front and rear axles.
More specifically, the Hi4-Z powertrain combines a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine with front and rear electric motors. The result is a powerful hybrid with a combined power output of 560 kW and a torque of 1195 Nm. Such performance allows the Tank 300 with this powertrain to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.3 seconds. At the same time, a large battery (59,6 kWh) allows for up to 200 km of electric driving. On the other hand, the Hi4-Z is more focused on on-road driving and has a dedicated, decoupled drive system at the front and rear axles.
Meanwhile, the Hi4-T powertrain, which is technically a revised version of the drivetrain used in the Chinese-market Tank 300 PHEV, produces 310 kW and 750 Nm. It is the more off-road-focused hybrid powertrain, as it has a mechanical four-wheel drive system with locking differentials at the front and rear axles. The Hi4-T powertrain option allows the Tank 300 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.1 seconds. Meanwhile, its battery capacity of 37.1 kWh is sufficient for 105 km of driving in electric mode only. It should be noted that in Australia, the Hi4-T system is likely to be a more desirable option as it provides true off-road capabilities and better towing capabilities.
Changes in the Cabin
Inside the new Tank 300L (2027), drivers will see some noticeable differences from the current model in Australia. In particular, the new variant has a redesigned dashboard, a new steering wheel, a new center console, new digital displays, and a new column-mounted gear selector instead of the conventional console-mounted one.
Both the standard and long-wheelbase variants of the Tank 300 are equipped with a new 15.6-inch touchscreen as the central display. Previously, in the Australian market, the central display was 14.6 inches. It runs the latest version of the Coffee OS 3.0 operating system, which has been optimized for artificial intelligence assistants. In addition, the new long-wheelbase variant of the Tank 300 is equipped with the latest GWM driving assistance system, Coffee Pilot 3. It uses a LiDAR sensor mounted on the roof to enable features such as Navigation on Autopilot. Meanwhile, the standard variant of the Tank 300 (petrol and diesel) is equipped with the previous generation of the driving assistance system, Coffee Pilot 2, which allows hands-free driving on the highway only.
Changes in the Exterior
As for changes in the exterior of the new Tank 300L, it has been given new front and rear bumpers, new headlights with a horizontal light guide, and a larger grille, on which the words TANK are inscribed in block letters.
Why This Update is Important to You
GWM’s Tank 300 has become one of the company’s most popular models in Australia. In particular, the Tank 300 has been able to secure a place among the top 3 best-selling vehicles of GWM Australia. As of June 2026, sales of the Tank 300 in Australia totaled 2,759 units, compared to 587 units for the larger Tank 500. In fact, sales of the Tank 300 in the first half of 2026 were more than double the sales figure for the second year in a row. That is why this latest update to the Tank 300 has been closely followed by Australian dealers.
At the moment it is unclear whether any of the changes to the Tank 300 in China will be available in Australia. However, given the popularity of the Tank 300 in Australia, there is a high probability that some of these changes will be introduced locally within a year. In particular, there is a good chance that the long-wheelbase variant of the Tank 300 will be released in Australia within a year. In addition, GWM Australia has previously announced to the local media that they are exploring the possibility of bringing the Hi4-Z powertrain to Australia.
Final Thoughts
While GWM has been updating the Tank 300, it has not been pursuing the strategy of simply making the engines more powerful. Instead, it has been focusing on making the Tank 300 more practical by introducing a long-wheelbase variant, as well as updating the infotainment system and displays. Nevertheless, the introduction of the new, bigger diesel engine for the Tank 500 suggests that GWM may have been saving some updates for later. In particular, the new 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine produces 170 kW and 620 Nm of torque, which is significantly more powerful than the 135 kW / 480 Nm engine of the current Tank 300.
At the same time, the introduction of the new hi-tech hybrid powertrains suggests that GWM is preparing to bring practical off-road vehicles to Australian customers, just as its competitors are doing. However, it is unlikely that the bigger diesel engine and the long wheelbase variant of the Tank 300 will appear in Australia for some time, if at all. In particular, GWM Australia still continues to position the Tank 300 as a family-friendly off-road vehicle.
FAQ
What is the GWM Tank 300L?
The GWM Tank 300L is a new long-wheelbase variation of the Tank 300, currently only available in China. It is only available with a powerful new plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Will theTank 300 get the new bigger diesel engine?
No. The new bigger diesel engine will only be available for the larger Tank 500. For its part, the Tank 300 is expected to be available with the same 2,4-liter turbo diesel engine that is currently available in China.
What are the two hybrid options for Tank 300L?
The two hybrid options for the Tank 300L are the Hi4-Z and Hi4-T. As for the differences between them, the Hi4-Z is much more powerful and focused on on-road performance. On the other hand, Hi4-T offers proper mechanical four-wheel drive with locking diffs and is better suited for off-road conditions.
Is the Tank 300L confirmed for Australia?
Not yet. GWM Australia has said it is considering bringing the more powerful hybrid option Hi4-Z to the Australian market.
How much bigger is the Tank 300L than the standard model?
The new long-wheelbase variation of the Tank 300 is 126 mm longer than the standard model. In addition to the increased wheelbase (3010 mm), the new variant also has a larger body.
Does the longer wheelbase compromise off-road performance?
On the contrary, GWM has managed to increase the approach angle of the new variant to 38 degrees and the ground clearance to 235 mm.
How popular is the Tank 300 in Australia?
The Tank 300 is one of the best-selling GWM cars in Australia. In the first half of 2026, sales of the Tank 300 reached 2,759 units, compared to only 587 units for the larger Tank 500.
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