2026 GWM Tank 500

GWM Tank 500

GWM’s Tank 500 lands with all the subtlety of a rugby scrum, squarely targeting those who want big-boned, go-anywhere presence like a Land Cruiser 300 or Defender 110, but without the eye-watering R2-million-plus hit to the wallet. Right now, you’ll find just five 2026 listings on the local market, which tells you everything about how fresh this newcomer is—dealers are dipping toes, not making waves. Pricing is sharp: R1,110,900 to R1,228,950, with a sweet spot just under R1,150,000. Under the bonnet, there’s a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol hybrid mated to a nine-speed semi-auto and standard four-wheel drive, so the Tank 500 isn’t playing at being a city poser. Its main rivals, the Land Cruiser 300 GX-R and Lexus GX 550, both orbit in a much pricier stratosphere. Every one of those five Tank 500s comes in the 2.0T 9HAT 4X4 Ultra Luxury spec—no basic trims to muddy the waters, and that’s the point. Technically, two are “used,” but with an average of just 470 km, they’re more like demo stock than true second-hand buys. What the Tank 500 does better than most is pack in value where it matters: heated and ventilated leather seats, a panoramic roof, and real off-road kit, all for less than you’d pay for the base Toyota, on paper at least. In Joburg’s notorious traffic, the hybrid setup should mean far less pain at the pumps compared to any V8 alternative. The real question? Whether GWM’s dealer network has the aftersales muscle to back up the promise—because that’s what’ll sway South Africans who still trust a Toyota badge over a tempting price tag.