2026 GWM Tank 300 facelift revealed, 761 PS Tank 300L PHEV headlines the update

KUALA LUMPUR: GWM has dropped the full details on the facelifted Tank 300 ahead of its China launch on July 19, and the headline act isn't the new grille.

It's a stretched, 761 PS plug-in hybrid that does 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. In a body-on-frame off-roader. 

Also Read: KLIMS 2026: GWM Malaysia shares a glimpse of the HAVAL H7 Hi4 PHEV

The PHEV is now the Tank 300L, and the L actually means something

The plug-in hybrid versions have been renamed the Tank 300L, and for once the badge isn't marketing fluff. The 300L measures 4,886 mm long, 1,984 mm wide and 1,927 mm tall, which makes it 126 mm longer, 54 mm wider and 24 mm taller than the petrol and diesel models. The wheelbase is the real shocker though, growing a full 260 mm to 3,010 mm.

GWM did this by pushing the front axle forward, and the reason is simple. It needed room for the new road-biased Hi4-Z powertrain and its much bigger battery.

Hi4-Z: the numbers are frankly ridiculous

The Hi4-Z pairs a 2.0 litre turbo four making 245 PS and 380 Nm with a 245 PS/400 Nm front motor and a 272 PS/415 Nm rear motor, plus a locking rear differential and a three-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. Total system output is 761 PS and 1,195 Nm, which explains that 4.2-second century sprint.

The 59.6 kWh NMC battery sits within the wheelbase and delivers 200 km of EV range on the WLTP cycle. Pair that with the 77 litre fuel tank and total range stretches to 1,122 km. DC fast charging gets you from 30 to 80 per cent in 16 minutes.

The more off-road focused Hi4-T carries over unchanged. That one combines the 2.0 litre turbo with a 177 PS/495 Nm motor, a nine-speed auto and a proper mechanical driveline with locking centre and rear diffs, for a total of 421 PS and 750 Nm. Its 37.1 kWh battery is good for 105 km of WLTP EV range, with total range at 913 km thanks to a smaller 70 litre tank.

Better off road too it seems, not just faster

Moving the front axle forward shortens the front overhang, so the approach angle improves from 33 to 38 degrees. Departure angle stays at 34 degrees, and ground clearance goes up 10 mm to 235 mm to help offset the longer wheelbase.

The regular Tank 300 keeps its 2.0 litre turbo petrol and nine-speed auto with the same 220 PS and 380 Nm. Despite earlier reports of a power bump, there isn't one. The 2.4 litre turbodiesel gets a token increase to 184 PS from 181 PS, with torque unchanged at 480 Nm.

New face, new toys

Up front, the rectangular T logo is gone, replaced by big "TANK" lettering across a redesigned grille. The 300L adds a chunkier front bumper with integrated driving lights and tow hooks, both previewed by the rugged Hooke concept at Auto Shanghai last year, while fender vents ahead of the front doors disguise the longer nose.

Overlanders will appreciate the M6 threaded mounting points on the outside and tripod-style quarter-inch mounts inside for lights and action cameras. Six auxiliary switches on the roof console power accessories at up to 300 watts each, or 1,040 watts in total.

Inside, there's a larger 15.6-inch touchscreen running GWM's latest Coffee OS, joining last year's updates like rectangular centre vents, a column-mounted gear selector and a roomier centre console. The steering wheel also goes back to a three-spoke design, ditching the odd two-spoke unit from the 2025 model.

The 300L gains a roof-mounted lidar and extra cameras, enabling highly automated city and highway driving plus enhanced park assist on top of the usual driver aids.

GWM Malaysia only just launched the Tank 300 HEV here in May 2026 at RM260k, so don't expect this facelift, let alone the wild Hi4-Z, to land on our shores anytime soon.

Still, with Toyota Fortuner and Ford everest somewhat holding down the ladder-frame SUV space locally, a 761 PS plug-in hybrid off-roader would certainly shake things up if it ever goes on sale in Malaysia. 

Also Read: KLIMS 2026: GWM Ora 5 hybrid crossover revealed, confirmed for Malaysia