GWM Tank 300 Diesel: Towing, payload upgrades detailed

While GWM has just added a new turbo-diesel engine option to the Tank 300 off-roader, there have been more changes made to this vehicle under the skin other than just the engine.

According to GWM, the Tank 300 Diesel has received over 20 component modifications and upgrades over the existing turbo-petrol and hybrid variants.

Speaking with CarExpert, GWM Australia and New Zealand (GWM ANZ) product specialist Tim Leong said with the Tank 300 Diesel the company has upgraded the front knuckles, the rear differential casing, the wheel bearing, the brakes and calipers (specifically the front), and the prop shaft as examples.

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The company has also opted to use a part-time four-wheel drive system in the Tank 300 Diesel instead of a full-time four-wheel drive system like the hybrid variants.

As a result of all the changes, GWM has been able to increase the braked towing capacity to 3000kg, which is up 500kg on the existing turbo-petrol and hybrid variants.

Despite having a higher towing capacity, it still falls short of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Fortuner’s 3100kg figures, as well as the class-leading 3500kg offered by the Toyota Prado and Ford Everest.

The Tank 300 Diesel’s higher towing capacity pushes it into the “heavy off-road passenger vehicles” category under the Australian Government’s incoming New Vehicle Efficiency Standard emissions regulation, giving it a higher CO2 emissions target than its petrol and hybrid siblings.

Corresponding with the higher braked towing capacity, the Tank 300 Diesel also has a higher payload. With 600kg available, this is 180kg more than the hybrid and 203kg than the petrol.

The GWM Tank 300 Diesel is offered in two variants, Lux and Ultra. They’re priced from $47,990 drive-away and $51,990 drive-away, respectively, slotting between the existing turbo-petrol and hybrid offerings.

The 2.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that’s now available in the Tank 300, isn’t new to GWM. It’s already offered in the Cannon Alpha, as well as the updated Cannon dual-cab utes.

According to GWM ANZ executives, the Tank 300 Diesel likely wouldn’t have happened if local feedback hadn’t been fed back to China.

MORE: Everything GWM Tank 300