Verdict
At RM328,800, the GWM Tank 500 asks RM138,140 more than the RM190,660 Volkswagen Tayron. That buys a 241 hp, 380 Nm 2.0-litre hybrid-assisted powertrain, AWD, 20-inch wheels and a six-year unlimited-mileage warranty, against the Tayron’s 148 hp, 250 Nm 1.5-litre 48V mild hybrid, FWD and two-year cover. But the locally assembled Tayron is 278 mm shorter, costs RM120 a year in road tax versus RM439, and has a far more useful 345-litre boot against 98 litres. For most Malaysian seven-seat family use, the Tayron is the rational buy; the Tank is for buyers who specifically need its extra hardware and cabin kit.
Pick the GWM Tank 500 if you want 241 hp, 380 Nm, AWD, a 75-litre tank and features including a panoramic glass roof, head-up display and 20-inch wheels.
Pick the Volkswagen Tayron if you want to spend RM138,140 less for a CKD seven-seat SUV with a 345-litre boot, Dynamic Chassis Control Pro and powered hands-free tailgate.
Key differences
- Price: GWM Tank 500 RM328,800; Volkswagen Tayron RM190,660.
- Power and torque: GWM Tank 500 241 hp and 380 Nm; Volkswagen Tayron 148 hp and 250 Nm.
- Driveline: GWM Tank 500 all-wheel drive; Volkswagen Tayron front-wheel drive.
- Size: GWM Tank 500 5,070 mm long and 1,905 mm tall; Volkswagen Tayron 4,792 mm long and 1,660 mm tall.
- Boot space: GWM Tank 500 98 litres; Volkswagen Tayron 345 litres.
- Annual road tax: GWM Tank 500 RM439; Volkswagen Tayron RM120.
Tank 500
- 241 hp and 380 Nm with all-wheel drive.
- 75-litre fuel tank and full-size spare tyre.
- Six-year unlimited-mileage warranty, plus eight-year/200,000-km high-voltage battery cover.
- RM138,140 more expensive than the Tayron.
- Annual road tax is RM439 versus RM120.
- 98-litre boot is 247 litres smaller than the Tayron’s.
Tayron
- RM138,140 lower purchase price and locally assembled in Malaysia.
- 345-litre boot, powered contactless tailgate and auto parking.
- Dynamic Chassis Control Pro, front centre airbag, plus pedestrian and cyclist detection.
- 148 hp and 250 Nm trail the Tank 500’s 241 hp and 380 Nm.
- Front-wheel drive versus the Tank 500’s all-wheel drive.
- 55-litre tank and space-saver spare tyre versus a 75-litre tank and full-size spare.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM328,800 | RM190,660✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable valve timing with hybrid assistance | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing with 48-volt MHEV assistance |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 241 hp✓ | 148 hp |
| Torque | 380 Nm✓ | 250 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 105 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 268 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 1.75 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | Nine-speed Hydraulic Automatic Transmission | 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) |
| Gears | 9 | 7 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.6 seconds |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,070 mm | 4,792 mm |
| Width | 1,934 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,905 mm | 1,660 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,850 mm | 2,790 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 75 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 98 litres | 345 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 265/50R20 | 235/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 265/50R20 | 235/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Full-size Spare | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental CrossContact RX | Hankook Ventus evoSUV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Thailand (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-links |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Dynamic Chassis Control Pro |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front & Rear Side Bags, Curtain Airbags & Front Centre Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Second Row Seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat and 2 Outer Middle Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Projector LED Headlights | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Massaging Function and Seat Ventilation | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding with Centre Armrest, 50:50 Split Power Folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 4 USB Ports, 1 Wireless Charger | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 1 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Back Row |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Shade, Rear Window Shades | Manual Rear Window Blinds |
| Audio | 14.6" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 12-speaker Infinity Sound System | 12.9" Discover Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 8-speaker Volkswagen Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Manual | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 6 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/200,000-km High Voltage Battery Warranty | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Tank 500 & Tayron for sale
Tank 500 vs Tayron FAQ
Is the GWM Tank 500 or Volkswagen Tayron better?
The Volkswagen Tayron is the better buy for most buyers: it costs far less, has a 345-litre boot and lower annual road tax. Choose the GWM Tank 500 only if its AWD, 241 hp/380 Nm output, larger tank and longer warranty are priorities.
What is the price difference?
The GWM Tank 500 costs RM138,140 more than the Volkswagen Tayron.
Which SUV has the larger boot?
The Volkswagen Tayron has the larger boot at 345 litres, compared with 98 litres in the GWM Tank 500. That is a 247-litre advantage for the Tayron.