Verdict
The GWM Tank 500 costs RM328,800 against the Volkswagen Touareg’s RM384,972, so the RM56,172 gap is not small. The GWM gives Malaysian buyers seven seats, a 1,998 cc petrol hybrid/REV set-up, 1.8 kWh battery, RM439 road tax and a longer 6-year warranty. The Touareg is the faster, stronger five-seater: 2,995 cc, 335 hp, 450 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and 250 km/h flat out. It also has the far larger boot, 810 litres versus 98 litres.
Pick the GWM Tank 500 if you need seven seats, RM439 annual road tax and a 6-year warranty more than outright performance.
Pick the Volkswagen Touareg if you want 335 hp, 450 Nm, a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time and an 810-litre boot in a five-seat SUV.
Key differences
- Price: GWM Tank 500 RM328,800; Volkswagen Touareg RM384,972
- Seats: GWM Tank 500 7; Volkswagen Touareg 5
- Power and torque: GWM Tank 500 241 hp/380 Nm; Volkswagen Touareg 335 hp/450 Nm
- Boot space: GWM Tank 500 98 litres; Volkswagen Touareg 810 litres
- Road tax: GWM Tank 500 RM439/year; Volkswagen Touareg RM1,632/year
- Warranty: GWM Tank 500 6 years; Volkswagen Touareg 5 years
Tank 500
- Seven-seat cabin
- Lower RM439 annual road tax
- Longer 6-year warranty
- Only 98 litres of boot space
- Less power and torque than the Touareg
- No 0-100 km/h figure listed
Touareg
- 335 hp and 450 Nm
- 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time
- 810-litre boot
- Seats only five
- Higher RM1,632 annual road tax
- Shorter 5-year warranty
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 328,800✓ | RM 384,972 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable valve timing with hybrid assistance | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | 241 hp | 335 hp✓ |
| Torque | 380 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | V |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 84.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.8 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 105 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 268 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 1.75 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Nine-speed Hydraulic Automatic Transmission | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 9 | 8 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 6 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,070 mm | 4,878 mm |
| Width | 1,934 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,905 mm | 1,702 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,850 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 75 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 98 litres | 810 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 265/50R20 | 285/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 265/50R20 | 285/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Full-size Spare | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental CrossContact RX | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Thailand (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Ladder-frame | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electronic for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Second Row Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Night Vision | — | Yes |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Projector LED Headlights | HD Matrix LED Headlights |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| 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 Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding with Centre Armrest, 50:50 Split Power Folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 4 USB Ports, 1 Wireless Charger | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 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 Rear |
| 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 | 15" Innovision Cockpit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Dynaudio Consequence Sound System (730-Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & 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 |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| 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 |
| 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✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/200,000-km High Voltage Battery Warranty | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 439✓ | RM 1,632 |
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.
Tank 500 vs Touareg FAQ
Is the GWM Tank 500 or Volkswagen Touareg better?
The GWM Tank 500 is better for seven-seat use and lower road tax. The Volkswagen Touareg is better for performance and luggage space, with 335 hp, 450 Nm and an 810-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Touareg costs RM56,172 more than the GWM Tank 500, based on RM384,972 versus RM328,800.
Which one has more boot space?
The Volkswagen Touareg has much more boot space at 810 litres. The GWM Tank 500 is listed at 98 litres, but it counters with seven seats against the Touareg’s five.