Omoda C9 vs GWM Tank 300

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Omoda C9 in South Africa

Omoda C9

Explore AWD Petrol Automatic
ZAR 885,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 192 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
VS
GWM Tank 300 in South Africa

GWM Tank 300

2.0T Hi4-T Hybrid Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 849,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 240 kW 🔧 750 Nm ⛽ 35.7 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tank 300
Fuel Economy Tank 300
🛡 Safety Tank 300
📦 Practicality C9
🔑 Ownership C9
Tank 300 starts ZAR 785900 cheaper C9 from ZAR 785,900 · Tank 300 from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec C9 Tank 300
Engine Power 192 kW 240 kW
Torque 400 Nm 750 Nm
Engine Size 2.0 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 11.8 km/l 35.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 165 mm 224 mm
Boot / Load Bay 660 l 490 l
Airbags Multiple airbags 8
Kerb Weight - 2050 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 7 Years / 200 000 km 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tank 300 has a slight advantage, but C9 remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tank 300 +1 pts
Efficiency Tank 300 +51 pts
Safety Tank 300 +6 pts
Practicality C9 +2 pts
Ownership C9 +4 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

C9

Strengths
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 300

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

C9

  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Tank 300

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec C9 Tank 300
Model Introduced Year 2024 2024
Generation Current South Africa C9 range First generation, launched globally in 2021 and brought to South Africa in 2024. The Tank brand is positioned as GWM's premium off-road sub-brand alongside Haval (SUVs) and Ora (electric).
Facelift History Current South Africa version listed by official source First-generation Tank 300 launched in South Africa in 2024. No significant facelift to date; software updates have refined the differential locking activation logic and refined the hybrid system on the Hi4-T variant.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Dealer Stock Note - Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Color Note - Crystal White, Hamilton Black, Mars Red, Atlantic Blue, Adventure Olive Green and Sand Dune Beige. The Adventure Olive Green is exclusive to Off-Road and Hi4-T Hybrid trims.
Spec C9 Tank 300
Ground Clearance 165 mm 224 mm
Wheelbase 2800 mm 2750 mm
Length 4775 mm 4638 mm
Width 1920 mm 1926 mm
Height 1671 mm 1850 mm
Kerb Weight - 2050 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2281 kg 2200 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 660 l 490 l
Towing Capacity - 2500 kg
Front Track Width - 1560 mm
Rear Track Width - 1570 mm
Turning Radius - 12.4 m
Load Bed Length 660 l 490 l
Load Bed Width - -
Front Legroom - 1050 mm
Rear Legroom - 890 mm
Front Headroom - 990 mm
Rear Headroom - 960 mm
Front Shoulder Room - 1430 mm
Rear Shoulder Room - 1390 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 1783 l 690 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload - -
Boot Volume 660 l 490 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 65 l 65 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2281 kg 2200 kg
Ground Clearance Max 165 mm 224 mm
Ground Clearance Min 165 mm 224 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 165 mm 224 mm
Height Mm 1671 mm 1850 mm
Length Mm 4775 mm 4638 mm
Loadbox Length Mm 660 l 490 l
Loadbox Width Mm - -
Payload Kg - -
Cargo Volume 660 l 490 l
Tare Mass Kg - 2050 kg
Turning Circle - 12.4 m
Turning Circle M - 12.4 m
Width Mm 1920 mm 1926 mm
Front Overhang - 880 mm
Rear Overhang - 890 mm
Tracking System - Optional
Boot Space Seats Folded 1783 l 690 l

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tank 300 leads by 10 points

Tank 300 has a slight advantage, but C9 remains highly competitive.

Winner 85 /100
Lead 10 points
Data 97% confidence
85
#1 Winner

Tank 300

97% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 82
Efficiency 97
Safety 100
Practicality 76
Ownership 65
Leads by 10 points
75
#2

C9

74% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 94 Check Efficiency 46
Performance 81
Efficiency 46
Safety 94
Practicality 78
Ownership 69
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tank 300 +1 Efficiency Tank 300 +51 Safety Tank 300 +6 Practicality C9 +2 Ownership C9 +4

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tank 300

Performance 82/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 76/100
Ownership 65/100

C9

Performance 81/100
Efficiency 46/100
Safety 94/100
Practicality 78/100
Ownership 69/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Tank 300 wins with 85 pts vs 75 pts for C9

In structured scoring, Tank 300 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, C9 may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Tank 300 edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: C9 46 vs Tank 300 97. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: C9 94, Tank 300 100. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: C9 69, Tank 300 65. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: C9 78, Tank 300 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: C9 81, Tank 300 82. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Tank 300 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tank 300 scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between C9 and Tank 300 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: C9 scores 81 vs 82.

Efficiency: C9 scores 46 vs 97.

Safety: C9 scores 94 vs 100.

Practicality: C9 scores 78 vs 76.

Ownership: C9 scores 69 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives Tank 300 the advantage in this comparison.