Great Wall Motor’s Tank brand has introduced the Tank 500 Hi4-Z hybrid off-road SUV, designed to compete with BYD’s newly launched Fang Cheng Bao brand, which has been gaining traction in the off-road vehicle segment.
The Tank 500 Hi4-Z, which is positioned more for urban use than rugged off-road performance, comes with a starting price of RMB 363,800 ($49,830), undercutting the RMB 379,800 starting price of the Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8.
The new model shares the same exterior design as the Tank 500 Hi4-T, the first new energy vehicle (NEV) from Tank launched in June 2023, but features a distinctive red and white gradient paint. In terms of performance, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z boasts improved power, fuel economy, and battery life compared to the earlier model.
It is powered by a 2L engine producing 180 kW of maximum power and 380 Nm of peak torque, paired with dual electric motors that generate 215 kW of power from the front motor and 240 kW from the rear motor. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds.
With a Li-ion ternary battery pack offering a capacity of 59.05 kWh and a WLTC range of 201 kilometers, the Tank 500 Hi4-Z provides a combined range of 1,096 kilometers when both the fuel tank and battery are full. It also features an 800V high-voltage platform, enabling fast charging capabilities that allow the battery to charge from 30% to 80% in just 15 minutes at up to 163 kW.
The launch of the Tank 500 Hi4-Z comes amid increased competition from BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao brand, which delivered 11,418 vehicles in December, including 5,012 units of the Bao 8, its first hybrid SUV. Tank, however, remains a dominant player in China’s off-road SUV market. The brand sold 21,879 vehicles in December 2024, marking a 26.38% year-on-year increase, and finished the year with 231,001 units sold, up 42.12% compared to 2023.
