Honda CR-V 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.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid e-CVT Current
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 km/l
VS
GWM Tank 300 in South Africa

GWM Tank 300

2.0T Hi4-T Hybrid Plug-in Hybrid 8-Speed Automatic Current
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 Tank 300
🔑 Ownership Tank 300
CR-V starts ZAR 10,000 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · Tank 300 from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec CR-V Tank 300
Maximum Power 204 kW 240 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 335 Nm 750 Nm
Engine Size 1993 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 20 km/l 35.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 200 mm 224 mm
Boot / Load Bay 497 l 490 l
Airbags 6 8
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 2050 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 3 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tank 300 has a slight advantage, but CR-V remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tank 300 +21 pts
Efficiency Tank 300 +17 pts
Safety Tank 300 +8 pts
Practicality Tank 300 +8 pts
Ownership Tank 300 +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CR-V

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 300

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Tank 300

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V Tank 300
Model Introduced Year 2023 2024
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety 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 Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology 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 Original current-generation version 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red 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.
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg 2050 kg
Spec CR-V Tank 300
Drivetrain Layout All Wheel Drive Front Engine Four Wheel Drive
LSD Available Electronic AWD Control Yes
Transfer Case Not Applicable Yes
Differential Lock Electronic AWD Lock Yes
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Yes
Gearbox eCVT Automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 3.73
Number of Gears Not Applicable 8
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque Converter
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable Yes
Drivetrain AWD All Wheel Drive (Hi4-T Hybrid)
4WD Engagement Available Available
4WD Hi Range Available Yes
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Yes
4WD Selector Not Applicable Confirmed 4WD derivative
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Yes
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Gearbox Type eCVT Automatic 8-Speed Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Available where 4WD low range is fitted
Axle Layout AWD AWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Transmission Speeds Not Applicable 8
Gear Shift Type eCVT Automatic Automatic
Drive Mode Selector - 4WD/off-road drive mode support
Engine Position - Front Transverse
Reverse Gear Warning - Yes
Steering Turns Lock to Lock - 14.7:1

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tank 300 leads by 13 points

Tank 300 has a slight advantage, but CR-V remains highly competitive.

Winner 88 /100
Lead 13 points
Data 97% confidence
88
#1 Winner

Tank 300

97% data confidence 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 98
Efficiency 97
Safety 100
Practicality 76
Ownership 65
Leads by 13 points
75
#2

CR-V

95% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tank 300 +21 Efficiency Tank 300 +17 Safety Tank 300 +8 Practicality Tank 300 +8 Ownership Tank 300 +14

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tank 300

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 76/100
Ownership 65/100

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Tank 300 wins with 88 pts vs 75 pts for CR-V

In structured scoring, Tank 300 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, CR-V 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: CR-V 80 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: CR-V 92, 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: CR-V 51, 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: CR-V 68, Tank 300 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, Tank 300 98. 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 CR-V and Tank 300 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 98.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 97.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 100.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 76.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 65.

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