So, what is the Great Wall Tank 300? And why would we compare it to the likes of the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler? There are lots of reasons, as we’ll suggest below. The Great Wall Tank 300 4×4 is a stout little SUV from China along the lines of said Wrangler and Bronco. Whether you like it or not, China’s automakers are making steady inroads to improving everything about their vehicles, so maybe the Tank 300 is a warning for GM, Ford, and Stellantis.

What is Great Wall Motor?

Great Wall Motor builds lots of vehicles. In 2021, it hit over 1.2 million, with a net profit of $3 billion. So, it is a significant player in China and has a lot on the line. That’s why the midsize Tank 300 SUV is just one more notch toward competing directly with Japanese, European, and North American automakers. The difference is that it can do it much cheaper than in those other countries.

Tank 300 features an upright, retro design ala Land Rover, sitting on a separate frame with your typical independent front and live axle rear. The stout frame combines a 36-degree approach and 37-inch departure angles, which seriously gets it on off-road. It also boasts a 10-inch ground clearance. 

Does the Tank 300 have lots of power?

Power is from a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder punching out 224 hp and 285 lb-ft of torque. That spins a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. All of the above combines to result in an impressive run tackling Australia’s grueling Beer O’Clock Hill. It sits within the 700-acre spread of the Springs 4×4 Park Queensland. 

You should know that, for one, Beer O’Clock doesn’t allow novice drivers. It’s an almost 100-meter straight shot up the side of a mountain. It is very steep and soft, and it eats up 4x4s. Short, small 4×4 SUVs pose too high of a roll-over risk, so they don’t get to make attempts unless heavily braced and equipped with a stout roll cage. 

All this to say that the Tank 300 successfully conquered Beer O’Clock without too much fuss. This was done with a Tank 300 Lux Petrol model and not the Tank 300 Ultra Hybrid version. 

How much would the Tank 300 cost in the U.S.?

 “Depending on how you look at it, the GWM Tank 300 is genuinely affordable when weighed up against some of the more established competition, or right where it should be priced when leveled at other Medium SUV competitors,” says Drive AU. Converting to U.S. dollars, the Tank 300 starts at $30,000. Moving to the Lux Hybrid moves the price up to $56,000, while the top-of-the-line Ultra Hybrid sets buyers back $61,000. 

A 2023 Jeep Wrangler base price for the Willys Sport is $33,000, which compares favorably with a hypothetical Tank 300. Whether it matches its ability is another matter. Granted, the Chinese government subsidizes exports. But you’ve got to consider that once they make it into the U.S., if that ever happens, it could turn North American pricing upside down.