2023 GWM Tank 300 earns five-star safety rating

The 2023 GWM Tank 300 four-wheel-drive from China has been issued a five-star safety rating in Australia, ahead of its arrival in showrooms next month.

It is set to be the first model in Australia from the Great Wall Motors (GWM) group's Tank off-road division, with the hybrid five-seater taking aim at the Jeep Wrangler.

The GWM Tank 300’s five-star safety rating – issued by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) – came courtesy of the off-roader scoring more than 80 per cent across all four major testing criteria.

GWM’s off-roader achieved scores of 88 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 89 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 81 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection (pedestrians and cyclists), and 85 per cent for its Safety Assist technology.

The Child Occupant Protection result was awarded through full marks in the front and side dynamic tests, as well as a 0.19-point penalty for its restraint installations.

An 88 per cent Adult Occupant Protection rating was achieved thanks to perfect scores in the side, far-side impact, and rescue and extraction tests. The Tank 300 came within two points of full marks across all other criteria.

The GWM Tank 300 scored 85 per cent in the Safety Assist category courtesy of no point penalties for its seat belt reminders, driver monitoring systems and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) junction assist functions. Its speed assistance, lane support and AEB car-to-car results were less than a point shy of full marks.

ANCAP’s 81 per cent score for the Tank 300’s Vulnerable Road User Protection came from a perfect score for upper leg impacts, while its lower leg impacts, AEB forward pedestrian and cyclist detection also performed well.

The crash test report noted the front of the Tank 300’s bonnet led to weak and poor results for pedestrian head collisions, attributing to its 5.21-point penalty out of 24 for head impacts.

The GWM Tank 300 went on sale earlier this month, with the Chinese off-roader priced from $55,990 drive-away – about $25,000 less than the cheapest Jeep Wrangler.