2023 GWM Tank 300 vs 2022 Jeep Wrangler: Spec battle

Snapshot

• Published power ratings rate the Tank above the Wrangler
• Big price savings on the Tank over Wrangler
• Poor Tank payload capacity sours its appeal

The Jeep JL Wrangler Unlimited is a traditional body on ladder frame chassis four-door four-wheel drive, with solid axles front and rear, and coil springs on all four corners. The JL Wrangler Unlimited is powered by a 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 petrol engine mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

There are three models in the Unlimited range: Night Eagle, Overland and Rubicon. In top-spec Rubicon trim, the JL Wrangler features a suite of off-road goodies, including front-and-rear diff locks, a selectable disconnecting sway bar and ultra-low reduction gearing in the transfer case.

A new player to the Australian 4WD market, is the GWM Tank 300, touted as being a cheaper alternative to the Jeep Wrangler. It’s a separate body on a ladder frame chassis, with a solid axle in the rear and independent suspension on the front. Power is delivered by a 2.0L petrol-electric hybrid engine that sits in-front of a 9-speed automatic transmission.

The top-spec Ultra model from GWM features front and rear locking differentials, with the lower spec Lux arriving with just a rear differential lock. Both have Crawl control and Tank Turn functions as standard to boost off-road performance.

With that out of the way, before we have a chance to drive the GWM Tank 300, we thought the only logical thing to do was to put together a list of specs of both 4WDs, compiling the information we have at hand.

On paper, does the new Tank 300 have what it takes to compete with the proven and extremely capable Jeep Wrangler Unlimited? Let the spec battle begin.

Engine and transmission

At the time of writing, both vehicles are available with one choice of engine and transmission combination. Jeep has stuck with its Pentastar V6 petrol engine across the Wrangler line-up, which is now matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

It makes less power and torque compared to the 2.0L petrol hybrid engine and 9-speed transmission found in the Tank (what a cool name btw), however the Pentastar has been around long enough to have some serious runs on the board. It is also used in a range of vehicles globally, so parts and knowledge to work on them are available. They also sound pretty cool when you sink your boot into them.

By contrast, GWM has gone with a petrol hybrid arrangement in the Tank, producing a claimed maximum figure of 224kW and 640Nm. The Tank trumps the Wrangler when it comes to claimed power figures, and we look forward to comparing them both in the future to see how these figures stack up in the real world.

Dimensions

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is longer and has a longer wheelbase than the GWM Tank 300, by 22mm and 58mm respectively. The Tank however, is wider, and taller than the four-door Jeep.

As the majority of Jeep owners will modify their Wrangler with bigger and wider wheel and tyre combinations, as well as installing aftermarket suspension lifts, these numbers will be affected by aftermarket modifications. Speaking of lift kits, I have no doubts the Tank will receive a wide range of accessories to further improve their off-road ability, but as the Wrangler is the most modifiable vehicle on the planet, there will be some catching up to do in terms of aftermarket gear.

Towing and payload

Both the Wrangler and Tank have similar maximum braked towing capacities, with the Wrangler coming in at 2496kg and the Tank just topping it at 2500kg maximum braked towing capacity.

The Jeep beats the Tank when it comes to payload capacity however, and this I feel is the biggest let down when it comes to the GWM Tank 300 – its payload capacity is crap.

With just 394kg of payload capacity to play with, you would be over limit and thus unroadworthy carrying five passengers weighing 80kg, that doesn’t take in to account luggage or aftermarket accessories like bullbars and winches. This needs to be improved; I dare say aftermarket GVM upgrades will be popular for anyone planning on touring in a GWM Tank 300, if they are made available in the future.

Off-road

In Rubicon trim, the JL Jeep Wrangler has it over the GWM Tank 300 in terms of off-road angles. The Tank does have a better departure angle, at 34 degrees compared to the Rubicon’s 31.9 degrees, but this is where it ends. The JL Wrangler Rubicon has a better approach angle, more ground clearance and a higher wading depth figure from factory. It also has a bigger fuel tank … by one litre.

Comparing the top trim Rubicon to the top spec GWM Tank 300 Ultra Hybrid, both have front and rear diff locks which is great to see. The Tank does offer Crawl control as well as a Tank Turn function, offering potentially some rather useful off-road goodies.

In saying that, and I’m not a betting man, but I’d bet the Wrangler Rubicon would be the more capable vehicle in the rough stuff. With sway bar disconnect engaged, as well as front and rear diff locks, the solid axles and mud terrain tyres of the Rubicon would have the edge off-road. Again, I look forward to the opportunity to prove this point in the near future.

Warranty

This one is a bit of a no-brainer, the GWM Tank 300 warranty is rather good coming in at 7-years unlimited kilometre. This is compared to 5-years or 100,000km (whichever comes first) for the Jeep Wrangler.

According to Jeeps website, there are 66 Jeep dealerships located Australia wide. An accurate figure for GWM is hard to track down, but going by a story published by Wheels in 2021, there were 80 GWM dealerships in Australia with the view to grow that to 90 before the end of 2022.

So, the GWM Tank 300 offers a longer warranty period, and there are more dealerships – that’s a win to the Tank it seems.

Pricing

There sure is some financial motivating to take the Tank for a test drive, as it is significantly cheaper than the Wrangler across the field. In fact, you could grab the top-tier Ultra Hybrid over the Wrangler’s base Night Eagle model, and still pocket a cool $17,742 in change.

It has to be competitive price wise though, as it is going up against one of the longest running and most established 4WDs globally, the Jeep Wrangler. Is a saving of that size enough to make you consider the GWM Tank 300 over the Jeep Wrangler JL Unlimited? I feel you’d be lying if you said no, or you’re super cashed up … and probably not looking at either if that was the case.

Verdict

It’s cheap, it has proper off-road capability on paper, and while you can see where it has received styling cues from, the GWM Tank 300 doesn’t look half bad in my opinion. But it’s not a Wrangler, and doesn’t have decades of history behind it.

I think competition is a good thing, and I eagerly await my chance to take the GWM Tank 300 for a proper off-road test in the new year to see if it is in fact any good. I feel if they increased the payload capacity to better what the Wrangler offers, more people would be inclined to take one for a test drive.

However, that payload capacity figure is so low, many Australian families simply wouldn’t be able to do what they want and need to do legally. For couples, it might be a different story – perhaps the GWM Tank 300 is more suited to those looking at the Suzuki Jimny?

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