When the Tank 500 arrived as a hybrid, the pitch was LandCruiser size for half the money, with two asterisks: it drank like a petrol V6 and towed 500kg less than the class benchmark. As of September 2026 there’s a 3.0-litre diesel that deals with both, and it’s cheaper than the hybrid was.
So if you’ve been reading older Tank 500 coverage, including the earlier version of this page, the advice has changed. We haven’t driven any of them. This is a guide to which version makes sense, based on GWM’s specs and what Australian testers found.
The range right now
Drive-away prices from CarExpert’s pricing and specs:
- Lux diesel: $65,990
- Vanta diesel: $71,990
- Ultra PHEV: $79,990
The hybrid is on the way out. CarExpert describes it as discontinued, though GWM’s website was still listing a Vanta Hybrid without a price when we checked, which usually means dealer stock. It was $74,490 drive-away in April.
For scale, a LandCruiser 300 VX is $123,510 before on-road costs.
Diesel against hybrid
Diesel: 3.0-litre turbo, 170kW and 620Nm, nine-speed auto, part-time four-wheel drive with three locking differentials, 7.1L/100km claimed, 3,500kg braked towing.
Hybrid: 2.0-litre turbo petrol with an electric motor, 255kW and 648Nm, nine-speed auto, full-time four-wheel drive with a 2.64:1 low range, 8.5L/100km claimed, 3,000kg braked towing, 2,605kg kerb weight.
The hybrid is the quicker car. The diesel is the one that does what people buy a big four-wheel drive to do.
What testers found with the hybrid
Fuel use was the recurring problem. carsales averaged about 12L/100km against the 8.5 claim, with a best of 9. That’s a hybrid that smooths out the driving without saving you much at the pump.
The gearbox was the other. RACQ’s Ged Bulmer found the nine-speed hesitates while the engine and motor sort out who’s doing what, and noticed more body roll and head toss than a Patrol or LandCruiser 300. carsales described the handover between electric and petrol as inconsistent.
Off-road it did better than the sceptics expected. RACQ said it coped well in Wombat State Forest. 4X4 Australia’s Matt Raudonikis climbed rutted tracks on traction control alone without touching the lockers, though he found the suspension got flustered over small bumps and corrugations.
Everyone liked the cabin. carsales praised the fit and finish, and the equipment list is long: Nappa leather, heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, a 14.6-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch driver display and a 12-speaker Infinity stereo.
What testers found with the diesel
It’s early days, but two tests are in.
carsales’ Feann Torr drove the Vanta diesel and found the Australian-tuned chassis rides and steers well. He described the engine as quiet and torquey but lacking character. He measured only 98 litres of space behind the third row, and noted that long-term reliability and resale are unproven.
Chasing Cars drove a pre-production car and found the gearbox less indecisive than in earlier Tank 500s, but slow to kick down on hills.
One thing the diesel doesn’t have yet
A safety rating. The Tank 500’s five-star ANCAP score from 2024 covers the hybrid and PHEV. CarExpert reports the diesel isn’t covered by it. It has the same seven airbags and driver aids, but if a rating matters for a fleet or a novated lease, check before you order.
Should you grab a runout hybrid?
Only at the right price. A leftover Vanta Hybrid needs to be well under the diesel to make sense, because you’re buying the thirstier, lower-towing version of a car that’s just been replaced. If you never tow and like the idea of 255kW, make a low offer and see what happens. Our guide on buying clearance stock or waiting covers how to think about it.
Going remote in a hybrid is its own subject. We looked at that in taking a hybrid SUV up the Oodnadatta Track.
Ownership
GWM’s warranty is seven years, unlimited kilometres, with seven years of roadside assist and capped-price servicing. Toyota offers five years, extending to seven on the engine and driveline if you service at a dealer.
Two things to go in knowing. The aftermarket for bar work, drawers and long-range tanks is thinner than what a Prado or LandCruiser owner takes for granted. And resale is a question mark. Buy it to keep and that stays theoretical.
Which one, then?
Lux diesel at $65,990 for most buyers. It tows 3,500kg, uses less fuel than the hybrid ever managed in testing, and undercuts everything else this size. GWM has been running a $2,000 bonus on diesels through November.
Vanta diesel if you want the blacked-out look and extra kit for $6,000.
Ultra PHEV if most of your driving is short trips you can do on electricity and you can charge at home.
For the comparison most people are really making, see our Tank 500 vs Prado piece. And if you can wait until December, the new Mitsubishi Pajero is about to land in the same paddock.
