Honda CR-V vs GWM Tank 500

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

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 500 in South Africa

GWM Tank 500

3.0T Hi4-T Luxury Plug-in Hybrid 9-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,149,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 340 kW 🔧 750 Nm ⛽ 40 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Honda CR-V vs GWM Tank 500: the short answer

Tank 500 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CR-V remains close.

CR-V starts ZAR 460,000 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · Tank 500 from ZAR 1,149,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification CR-V Tank 500
Maximum Power CR-V204 kW Tank 500340 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque CR-V335 Nm Tank 500750 Nm
Engine Size CR-V1993 cc Tank 5002999 cc
Combined Fuel Economy CR-V20 km/l Tank 50040 km/l
Ground Clearance CR-V198 mm Tank 500224 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

GWM Tank 500

3.0T Hi4-T Luxury

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

CR-V

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
  • Lower published ownership cover
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

Tank 500

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
  • Stronger published ownership cover
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Tank 500

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published warranty or service cover

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V Tank 500
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2950 mm
Length 4690 mm 5060 mm
Width 1860 mm 1996 mm
Height 1690 mm 1905 mm
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 2680 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2250 kg 3200 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Boot/Cargo Space 497 l 580 l
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 3000 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity 57 l 80 l
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 198 mm 204 mm
Payload Capacity 500 kg 855 kg
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Minimum Turning Radius 5.7 m 13 m
Front Headroom 970 mm 990 mm
Rear Headroom 970 mm 960 mm
Front Legroom 1049 mm 1050 mm
Rear Legroom 1041 mm 890 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 198 mm 224 mm
Spec CR-V Tank 500
Gearbox eCVT Automatic 9-Speed Automatic
Drivetrain Layout All Wheel Drive Front Engine All Wheel Drive
LSD Available Electronic AWD Control Yes
Transfer Case Not Applicable Not Applicable
Transmission Type Automatic Automatic
Gearbox Type eCVT Automatic 9-Speed Automatic
Gear Shift Type eCVT Automatic Automatic
Drivetrain AWD All Wheel Drive (Hi4-T Hybrid)
Axle Layout AWD AWD
Differential Lock Electronic AWD Lock Yes
4WD Engagement Available Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Available Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Number of Gears Not Applicable 9
Transmission Speeds Not Applicable 9
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Paddle Shifters Not Applicable Yes
Automatic Shift Paddles Not Applicable Yes
Final Drive Ratio Not Applicable 3.73
Clutch Type Not Applicable Torque Converter
Gear Shift Indicator Not Applicable Yes
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

In depth: how these cars differ

This CR-V and Tank 500 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: CR-V 77 vs Tank 500 100.

Efficiency index: CR-V 80 vs Tank 500 97.

Safety-equipment index: CR-V 91 vs Tank 500 100.

Practicality index: CR-V 66 vs Tank 500 83.

Ownership-cover index: CR-V 60 vs Tank 500 65.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

Tank 500 leads by 14 points

Tank 500 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while CR-V remains close.

Evidence leader 90 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 99% source coverage
90
#1 Evidence leader

Tank 500

99% source coverage 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 100
Efficiency 97
Safety 100
Practicality 83
Ownership 65
Leads by 14 points
76
#2

CR-V

94% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 91 Check Ownership 60
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 91
Practicality 66
Ownership 60
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tank 500 +23 Efficiency Tank 500 +17 Safety Tank 500 +9 Practicality Tank 500 +17 Ownership Tank 500 +5

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Tank 500

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 83/100
Ownership 65/100

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 91/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 60/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index GWM Tank 500 leads the specification evidence index with 90 pts vs 76 pts for CR-V

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Tank 500 leads. However, CR-V may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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CR-V vs Tank 500 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.