4WD could give new Mitsubishi Pajero a run

The GWM Tank 500 might look like a big and bruising off-road-ready SUV, but it's actually a time machine.. How else to describe it?. In a world in which the uptake of electrification is booming (so far this year, some 207,000 vehicles with a diesel engine have been sold, compared to 334,000 with some sort of electrification), GWM has fitted its Tank with an all-new and newly developed diesel engine, swimming strongly against the tide in the process..

But GWM makes the very solid point that 207,000 is still a very big number, and in the segments this new 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine will compete (it is also fitted to the Cannon Alpha ute), the numbers are even stronger.. In fact, the brand's data shows that, in 2025, some 92 per cent of the large body-on-frame SUV segment was diesel, along with 86 per cent of the ute market.. And yes, those numbers have been falling in 2026..

But it's still a big prize.. "I know it'll drop, but in that core space there's still an incredible amount of diesel customer base out there.. Based on either geography, or how they use it, or their budget, they still want to do it, they still want to drive diesel..

And we believe we'll have a technical advantage over many of those brands that have owned that segment for a long time," says GWM Australia's Chief Operating Officer, John Kett.. "We know that there are still customers there, and even though it's almost a sin to talk about, they're still buying." All of which is why we find ourselves behind the wheel of this new and diesel-powered Tank.. The new engine arrives in two Tank 500 variants, the Lux, currently $65,990 drive-away across the country, and the top-spec Vanta, which costs $71,990, also on the road..

GWM says that, given the relatively small jump between the two, most people will end up springing for the flagship.. The obvious big rival here is the Ford Everest, in which you can have the entry-level Active with the smaller engine on the road for around $60k at the moment.. Everything else though - from Sport all the way to Platinum - will cost you from $70k to more than $90k on the road..

It's hard to accuse GWM of skimping on the features, either.. Check our detailed price and features story for the details, but you get a heap of stuff across both grades, and especially in the Vanta.. The biggest part of this story, though, is the engine, with the 3.0-litre, four-cylinder unit producing 170kW and an impressive 620Nm..

That's a lot of torque for a four-cylinder engine, too, and while the on-the-road performance doesn't quite live up to the spec sheet promise, it never feels underpowered, either.. To further extol the virtues of diesel donks in this segment, this new powertrain has had exactly the impact on the other critical capability benchmarks you might expect;. towing is now 3.5-tonne braked for the first time, and the driving range (helped by the choice of one or two massive fuel tanks) is between 1098km and 1845kms..

And with proper low range and twin diff locks, it will go about as far off road as you want to take it, too.. Another unexpected perk is GWM's ability to dodge AdBlue, with the additive simply not required here.. Fuel use is a promised 7.1L/100km, which is impressive for a car this size, too..

Behind the wheel, the first thing you notice is the level of refinement.. I'm sure there's an office block's worth of sound deadening on board here, but it works, with this diesel feeling smoother and often quieter than some petrol and even hybrid powertrains I've driven recently.. Yes, it makes its presence known when you really plant your foot, but if you're used to diesels being loud, clattering, clanging things, you'll be pleasantly surprised here..

The Tank 500 has been fettled by GWM's Aussie ride and handling ace, and there is definitely a refreshing sense of cohesion to the drive experience.. It feels heavy in places, sure.. And the steering can be soft in that way that makes you want to telegraph your inputs a bit, but the body control is strong, and the ride good at smoothing out country bumps and imperfections..

In fact, on those sort of flowing, not-too-tight corners, you can pretty easily forget your steering a big bruiser at all.. Sharp inputs are never your friend in a car like this, and if you get too aggressive with the steering wheel you can certainly feel yourself swaying, but it's an overall impressive effort, with car matching engine and vice versa.. Off the tarmac, the Tank 500 proved ready and willing, too..

I'm no Marcus Craft, but with low range engaged and one or both diff locks activated, the GWM walked up every muddy, slippery, rutted climb we threw it at, even wearing its road tyres.. The only question mark that remains is towing.. A published towing limit is one thing, but how a vehicle feels pulling big weight is another thing entirely..

But for that, we'll have to wait and see.. The other boon in the 500 is space, with the three-tow Tank delivering one of the better third-row experiences I've had lately.. I'm 175cm, and I found that by shifting the second row forward, I had enough room in both rows to get genuinely comfy..

I know the third row is mostly reserved for kids, but this is one SUV in which you could definitely get adults back there in an emergency.. There's a piddly 98 litres of cargo space with all three rows in place, but that grows to 795 litres with the second row folded.. Drop both rows, and you get a massive 1489 litres..

I won't bore you with the details here, but safe to say all those acronyms you expect to see are present and accounted for, and after covering a heap of kays, none of them felt overly annoying.. Its five-star ANCAP rating, earned in 2024, only currently applies to the electrified versions, but GWM is confident it will apply here, too.. It's also covered by a seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, with seven years of roadside assistance and seven years of capped-price servicing..

Speaking of which, service intervals are pegged at 12 months of 15,000kms, and the first seven years of ownership will cost $3760, or $540 per service.. Ride and handling by one of Australia's finest.. A new diesel engine with plenty of power but most importantly lots of torque..

Off-road capability and fairly refined on-road manners too.. I really think GWM could be on to something with this Tank 500.. And, it seems, there's life in diesel yet..

Note:. CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with travel, accommodation and meals provided.. Note:.

The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number of automotive brands among its clients.. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author..