GWM Thailand has announced that the Tank 300 diesel version will soon be launched in Thailand, the official price set to be revealed on March 24.

Thailand’s SUV-D market has long been dominated by Toyota and Ford, with models like the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Everest leading the segment. The Ford Everest, in particular, stands out as the Tank 300’s biggest competitor, offering a similar price range and better off-roading ability.

The country’s northern region is largely covered by mountains, making light off-roading abilities very crucial. Diesel engines, with their high torque output, are preferred in these areas. Previously, the Tank 300 was only available with its HEV model. It has a 2.0L turbocharged gasoline engine delivering 244 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque, and an e-motor with 106 Ps and 268Nm.

As for Ford Everest, it comes with a 2.0L turbo diesel engine (170 Ps, 405 Nm) for lower to middle trims and a 3.0 V6 diesel turbo (250 Ps, 600 Nm) for higher trims, making it a preferred model for farm owners and small business owners that are looking for a reliable family size SUV that can do light off-roading. In addition, the Thai market has a strong preference for Diesel fuel due to its pick-up culture. Toyota Hilux is still one of the most popular cars sold in Thailand. As for HEVs, it is believed to be unreliable and have high fuel consumption.

The upcoming Tank 300 diesel version is equipped with a 2.4L turbo-charged diesel 4-cylinder one, producing 181 horsepower and 480Nm of torque. It features a nine-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel-drive system. In addition, the diesel version’s official fuel consumption rate is 7.8L/100km, which is much lower than the HEV version (nearly 11.5L/100km on urban roads as reported by actual car owners).

The entry of Tank 300 diesel marks the start of the war by GWM to Ford in the Thailand SUV-D market. We are expecting Tank 500 diesel to launch in Thailand soon if this war goes well for GWM.

Source: Autohome