Tank 500 PHEV from Great Wall Motor Co. - large plug-in SUV with electric twist

Reviewed: ad hoc news Classics & Longseller desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-28, 06:43. Details in the imprint.

The Tank 500 PHEV from Great Wall Motor Co. greets you with a tall chrome grille, thick door handles and a heavy thud when you pull the door shut, more like a classic off-roader than a city crossover. Inside, soft leather and a wide touchscreen meet a plug-in powertrain built for silent starts.

How the hybrid system feels

The Tank 500 PHEV pairs a turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor and a sizeable battery, so it can crawl through morning traffic in near-silence when charged. Drivers report that the initial shove from the electric motor makes this heavy SUV feel more responsive off the line than its diesel cousins.

In everyday use, you tap a drive-mode button near the gear lever to switch between pure electric, hybrid and engine-heavy settings, a tactile click that suits the rugged theme. When the battery is full, many owners manage typical school runs and shopping trips mostly on electricity, keeping the engine for longer highway stretches.

Space, comfort and surfaces

With three rows of seats, the Tank 500 PHEV targets families that need space but still want the image of a rough-terrains SUV. The second row offers generous legroom and a flat floor, while the third row is more for children or occasional adults on shorter rides.

Designer Wei Jian, who worked on the cabin, has spoken publicly about combining traditional off-road cues with modern luxury, and it shows in the mix of stitched leather, metal-look switches and ambient lighting strips. You feel thick steering-wheel rims and solid switchgear, but some reviewers criticise the amount of glossy piano-black plastic that easily picks up fingerprints.

On-road manners and off-road image

On paved roads, testers note that the Tank 500 PHEV rides comfortably but not softly, with a firm edge that reminds you of its ladder-frame construction. The steering is light for parking manoeuvres, yet there is still a sense of mass when you guide it through tighter city streets.

Off the highway, its high ground clearance and selectable four-wheel drive settings let owners tackle gravel roads, mild trails and winter conditions with confidence. Enthusiasts appreciate the mechanical feel of the drive-selector knob and the substantial side mirrors, which make the car easier to place on narrow rural roads.

Range, charging and fuel use

The plug-in system typically offers enough electric-only range for daily commuting, so long as you remember to plug in at home or work. Real-world reports suggest that careful drivers can keep gasoline usage surprisingly low across mixed weeks if they prioritise charging.

Charging at an AC wallbox usually takes a few hours, fitting into an evening at home or a longer stop by day. Some users mention that the charging port door feels a bit light compared to the rest of the robust bodywork, a minor but noticeable contrast when you handle it repeatedly.

Infotainment and driver assistance

The central touchscreen brings navigation, media and vehicle settings into one hub, with a digital instrument cluster backing it up. While the interface looks tidy, new owners sometimes need a few days to learn the deeper menus, especially for advanced hybrid and off-road functions.

Great Wall Motor Co equips the Tank 500 PHEV with a modern set of driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping. A 360-degree camera system helps when parking such a large SUV, and drivers like the sharpness of the images on the display, particularly the top-down view.

Market positioning and price

In its home market, the Tank 500 PHEV is positioned as an upper-mid-range plug-in SUV, more affordable than imported luxury brands but larger and more feature-rich than compact crossovers. It targets buyers moving up from smaller SUVs or traditional sedans who still care about long-distance comfort.

The pricing structure reflects its blend of size, technology and perceived status, appealing to families and small-business owners who want one vehicle that can handle weekday duties and weekend trips. Great Wall Motor Co also uses the Tank sub-brand to build a distinct image focused on rugged SUVs within its broader portfolio.

Context and Great Wall shares

Great Wall Motor Co uses the Tank 500 PHEV to underline its shift from purely combustion models toward electrified vehicles in mainstream and premium-leaning segments. Great Wall Motor Co shares (ISIN CNE100001S05) are listed in China, and the Tank 500 PHEV contributes to investors' view of the company's electrification strategy, although the latest trading price and venue data are subject to daily market updates.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.