2025 GWM Tank 500 gets fresh face following software, suspension upgrades
The large off-road SUV now wears a "redesigned front sports grille" borrowed from the Chinese-market Tank 500 Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (PHEV), with fewer (but chunkier) horizontal slats.
The visually updated but still chrome-heavy Toyota Prado rival entered production in April 2025, and the change in front-end styling doesn't affect the SUV's ANCAP rating.
In fairness to GWM Australia, it's done more than simply change out the grille since launching the Tank 500 here in March 2024.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The Tank 500 received recalibrated software in December 2024, including for active safety and driver assist systems such as the adaptive cruise control and emergency lane-keep assist.
Other software changes were made to improve throttle response, as well as transitions between petrol and electric power.
These changes were made available to existing Tank 500 owners.
A revised suspension tune was quietly introduced in vehicles that arrived from late in the third quarter of 2024, with a move from Chinese to Thai market suspension tune aimed at improving its dynamics and composure on the road.
The Tank 500 hybrid now looks more like its Chinese-market Hi-4T sibling, and GWM has already confirmed a PHEV option is coming to the local lineup during the third quarter (July to September) of 2025.
GWM has, however, stopped short of confirming whether it'll be the Hi-4T or Hi-4Z.
Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability.
The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design.
Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm.
The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles.
New grille (left), old grille (right)
In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range.
Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions.
The Hi4-T system is used in the Cannon Alpha PHEV and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV.
Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T (pictured below) has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery.
While seemingly less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T is still capable of water wading 800mm and has similar approach and departure angles to the current hybrid – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less.
The addition of the PHEV powertrain will see the Tank 500 beat the Prado and Ford Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025.
Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously toldCarExpert a PHEV version would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current hybrid.
MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Here's one for the carspotters – the GWM Tank 500 now has a new grille.
The large off-road SUV now wears a "redesigned front sports grille" borrowed from the Chinese-market Tank 500 Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (PHEV), with fewer (but chunkier) horizontal slats.
The visually updated but still chrome-heavy Toyota Prado rival entered production in April 2025, and the change in front-end styling doesn't affect the SUV's ANCAP rating.
In fairness to GWM Australia, it's done more than simply change out the grille since launching the Tank 500 here in March 2024.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The Tank 500 received recalibrated software in December 2024, including for active safety and driver assist systems such as the adaptive cruise control and emergency lane-keep assist.
Other software changes were made to improve throttle response, as well as transitions between petrol and electric power.
These changes were made available to existing Tank 500 owners.
A revised suspension tune was quietly introduced in vehicles that arrived from late in the third quarter of 2024, with a move from Chinese to Thai market suspension tune aimed at improving its dynamics and composure on the road.
The Tank 500 hybrid now looks more like its Chinese-market Hi-4T sibling, and GWM has already confirmed a PHEV option is coming to the local lineup during the third quarter (July to September) of 2025.
GWM has, however, stopped short of confirming whether it'll be the Hi-4T or Hi-4Z.
Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability.
The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design.
Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm.
The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles.
New grille (left), old grille (right)
In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range.
Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions.
The Hi4-T system is used in the Cannon Alpha PHEV and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV.
Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T (pictured below) has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery.
While seemingly less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T is still capable of water wading 800mm and has similar approach and departure angles to the current hybrid – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less.
The addition of the PHEV powertrain will see the Tank 500 beat the Prado and Ford Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025.
Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously toldCarExpert a PHEV version would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current hybrid.
MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Here's one for the carspotters – the GWM Tank 500 now has a new grille.
The large off-road SUV now wears a "redesigned front sports grille" borrowed from the Chinese-market Tank 500 Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (PHEV), with fewer (but chunkier) horizontal slats.
The visually updated but still chrome-heavy Toyota Prado rival entered production in April 2025, and the change in front-end styling doesn't affect the SUV's ANCAP rating.
In fairness to GWM Australia, it's done more than simply change out the grille since launching the Tank 500 here in March 2024.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The Tank 500 received recalibrated software in December 2024, including for active safety and driver assist systems such as the adaptive cruise control and emergency lane-keep assist.
Other software changes were made to improve throttle response, as well as transitions between petrol and electric power.
These changes were made available to existing Tank 500 owners.
A revised suspension tune was quietly introduced in vehicles that arrived from late in the third quarter of 2024, with a move from Chinese to Thai market suspension tune aimed at improving its dynamics and composure on the road.
The Tank 500 hybrid now looks more like its Chinese-market Hi-4T sibling, and GWM has already confirmed a PHEV option is coming to the local lineup during the third quarter (July to September) of 2025.
GWM has, however, stopped short of confirming whether it'll be the Hi-4T or Hi-4Z.
Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability.
The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design.
Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm.
The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles.
New grille (left), old grille (right)
In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range.
Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions.
The Hi4-T system is used in the Cannon Alpha PHEV and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV.
Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T (pictured below) has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery.
While seemingly less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T is still capable of water wading 800mm and has similar approach and departure angles to the current hybrid – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less.
The addition of the PHEV powertrain will see the Tank 500 beat the Prado and Ford Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025.
Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously toldCarExpert a PHEV version would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current hybrid.
MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Here's one for the carspotters – the GWM Tank 500 now has a new grille.
The large off-road SUV now wears a "redesigned front sports grille" borrowed from the Chinese-market Tank 500 Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (PHEV), with fewer (but chunkier) horizontal slats.
The visually updated but still chrome-heavy Toyota Prado rival entered production in April 2025, and the change in front-end styling doesn't affect the SUV's ANCAP rating.
In fairness to GWM Australia, it's done more than simply change out the grille since launching the Tank 500 here in March 2024.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now.
The Tank 500 received recalibrated software in December 2024, including for active safety and driver assist systems such as the adaptive cruise control and emergency lane-keep assist.
Other software changes were made to improve throttle response, as well as transitions between petrol and electric power.
These changes were made available to existing Tank 500 owners.
A revised suspension tune was quietly introduced in vehicles that arrived from late in the third quarter of 2024, with a move from Chinese to Thai market suspension tune aimed at improving its dynamics and composure on the road.
The Tank 500 hybrid now looks more like its Chinese-market Hi-4T sibling, and GWM has already confirmed a PHEV option is coming to the local lineup during the third quarter (July to September) of 2025.
GWM has, however, stopped short of confirming whether it'll be the Hi-4T or Hi-4Z.
Both are based around the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine but where they differ is in packaging, design and – according to GWM – off-road capability.
The Tank 500 is the first vehicle to use GWM's Hi4-Z system, introduced in China in January 2025 with claims of superior off-roading capability over the Hi4-T design.
Running a 185kW/380Nm version of the 2.0-litre engine combined with two electric motors – one on each axle – combined peak power is 635kW and 1195Nm.
The Hi4-Z PHEV package uses multi-link rear suspension and positions the battery pack between the front and rear wheels, allowing GWM to fit varying battery sizes to Hi4-Z vehicles.
New grille (left), old grille (right)
In China, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z uses a 59.05kWh battery pack with a claimed 201km (WLTC) electric-only driving range and 1096km total range.
Further off-road advantages include both better weight distribution and the ability to place the battery in a 'safer' location to protect it in rough conditions.
The Hi4-T system is used in the Cannon Alpha PHEV and has the same total system outputs of 300kW/750Nm and a 37.1kWh battery pack in the Tank 500 PHEV.
Compared to the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T (pictured below) has a fixed layout which means the battery has to be placed below the rear boot area, reducing cargo space and limiting the physical size of the battery.
While seemingly less capable than the Hi4-Z, the Hi4-T is still capable of water wading 800mm and has similar approach and departure angles to the current hybrid – albeit with its 223mm ground clearance being 11mm less.
The addition of the PHEV powertrain will see the Tank 500 beat the Prado and Ford Everest in offering a plug-in option, too – despite the Everest being based on the Ford Ranger, which will offer a PHEV powertrain from mid-2025.
Pricing and model grades are yet to be announced, but GWM Australia previously toldCarExpert a PHEV version would attract an estimated premium of between $6000 and $15,000 over the current hybrid.
MORE: Everything GWM Tank 500
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
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- 7NEWS
2026 KGM Rexton price and specs: Former SsangYong SUV gets more kit for more money
The seven-seat KGM Rexton large SUV has finally received additional safety tech in Australia, years after these features were added in its home market. The move to electrically assisted power steering means the Korean Ford Everest rival now has lane-keep assist, and it's also picked up adaptive cruise control – something revealed for Korean-market models back in 2020. The base ELX gains leatherette upholstery and new-look LED daytime running lights, as well as sequential indicators front and rear. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great deal. The Advance (formerly Adventure) picks up rear-seat sun blinds, the Ultimate gains a wireless phone charger, and the Sport Pack gains leather/suede upholstery and some minor trim revisions. Otherwise, the Rexton is unchanged, though prices have increased by upwards of $2500. The Rexton is a cut-price alternative to the likes of the Everest, but also has to contend with other challenger-brand models like the Mahindra Scorpio and LDV D90. Pricing Drivetrains and Efficiency All Rextons feature a part-time four-wheel drive system with an automatic locking rear differential. Dimensions The Rexton has 236 litres of luggage space behind the third row, expanding to 641L with it dropped (measured to the seatbacks) and 1806L with both the second and third rows folded (measured to the roof). Servicing and Warranty The KGM Rexton is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with five years of roadside assistance. Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. KGM Australia hasn't announced new capped-price servicing details for 2026. The outgoing 2025 Rexton has seven years of capped-price servicing, with prices as follows: Safety The KGM Rexton has never been tested by ANCAP. Standard safety equipment includes: Adaptive cruise control (NEW) Autonomous emergency braking Blind-spot monitoring Lane-keep assist (NEW) Lane departure warning Rear cross-traffic alert Reversing camera Front and rear parking sensors The Ultimate adds a surround-view camera. Standard Equipment There are four members of the 2026 Rexton lineup. The ELX comes standard with the following equipment: 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels Automatic LED headlights Automatic high-beam LED front fog lights Sequential indicators (NEW) Hill descent control Electric park brake Leather-wrapped steering wheel Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Leatherette upholstery (NEW) Dual-zone climate control Power windows with auto up/down up front The Advance adds: Power tailgate Proximity entry with walk-away locking 8-way power-adjustable front seats Power driver's lumbar Heated and ventilated front seats Heated outboard second-row seats Heated steering wheel Rear door pull-up sun blinds (NEW) The Ultimate adds: Power sunroof Privacy glass Leather upholstery Quilted door and dashboard trim Wireless phone charger (NEW) Third-row climate controls Rear auto/up down power windows Ambient lighting Illuminated sill plates The Sport Pack adds: Shadow chrome 20-inch alloy wheels Shadow chrome exterior trim Black roof rails Metallic paint Leather and suede upholstery (NEW) Suede door and dash trim (NEW) Gloss black steering wheel bezel (NEW) Colours All KGM Rextons come with a black interior. Grand White is the standard exterior finish, with the following metallic paint options available for an extra $700: White Pearl Space Black Marble Grey The Sport Pack is offered only in White Pearl or Space Black, with neither attracting an extra charge. Atlantic Blue and Graphite finishes are no longer available.
