Honda Elevate 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 Elevate in South Africa

Honda Elevate

1.5 Elegance CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 399,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 119 kW 🔧 145 Nm ⛽ 16.0 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 ⛽ 2.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tank 300
Fuel Economy Elevate
🛡 Safety Tank 300
📦 Practicality Tank 300
🔑 Ownership Tank 300
Elevate starts ZAR 699900 cheaper Elevate from ZAR 369,900 · Tank 300 from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Elevate Tank 300
Engine Power 119 240
Torque 145 750
Engine Size 1498 1999
Claimed Mileage 16.0 2.8
Ground Clearance 220 224
Boot Space 458 490
Airbags 6 8
Kerb Weight 1240 2050
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tank 300 +43 pts
Efficiency Elevate +29 pts
Safety Tank 300 +18 pts
Practicality Tank 300 +10 pts
Ownership Tank 300 +14 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Elevate

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency
🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 300

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Elevate

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Tank 300

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • 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 Elevate Tank 300
Model Introduced Year 2023 2024
Generation Built on Honda’s latest compact SUV platform with improved safety and structural strength 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 Recently introduced model with latest design language and modern features 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, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red, Black 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
Spec Elevate Tank 300
Ground Clearance 220 mm 224 mm
Wheelbase 2650 mm 2750 mm
Length 4312 mm 4638 mm
Width 1790 mm 1926 mm
Height 1650 mm 1850 mm
Kerb Weight 1240 kg 2050 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 1680 kg 2200 kg
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 458 l 490 l
Towing Capacity 1200 kg 2500 kg
Front Track Width Not Applicable 1560 mm
Rear Track Width Not Applicable 1570 mm
Turning Radius Not Applicable 12.4 m
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable 1050 mm
Rear Legroom Not Applicable 890 mm
Front Headroom Not Applicable 990 mm
Rear Headroom Not Applicable 960 mm
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable 1430 mm
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable 1390 mm
Boot Space Seats Folded 458 l 690 l
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Volume 458 l 490 l
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 40 l 65 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 1680 kg 2200 kg
Ground Clearance Max 220 mm 224 mm
Ground Clearance Min 220 mm 224 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 220 mm 224 mm
Height Mm 1650 mm 1850 mm
Length Mm 4312 mm 4638 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Cargo Volume 458 l 490 l
Tare Mass Kg 1240 kg 2050 kg
Turning Circle Not Applicable 12.4 m
Turning Circle M Not Applicable 12.4 m
Width Mm 1790 mm 1926 mm
Front Overhang - 880 mm
Rear Overhang - 890 mm
Tracking System - Optional
Boot Space Seats Folded 458 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 14 points

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

Winner 74 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 97% confidence
74
#1 Winner

Tank 300

97% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 33
Performance 82
Efficiency 33
Safety 100
Practicality 76
Ownership 65
Leads by 14 points
60
#2

Elevate

95% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 82 Check Performance 39
Performance 39
Efficiency 62
Safety 82
Practicality 66
Ownership 51
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tank 300 +43 Efficiency Elevate +29 Safety Tank 300 +18 Practicality Tank 300 +10 Ownership Tank 300 +14

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

Tank 300

Performance 82/100
Efficiency 33/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 76/100
Ownership 65/100

Elevate

Performance 39/100
Efficiency 62/100
Safety 82/100
Practicality 66/100
Ownership 51/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Tank 300 wins with 74 pts vs 60 pts for Elevate

In structured scoring, Tank 300 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Elevate 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: Elevate 62 vs Tank 300 33. 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: Elevate 82, 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: Elevate 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: Elevate 66, Tank 300 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Elevate 39, 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 Elevate and Tank 300 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Elevate scores 39 vs 82.

Efficiency: Elevate scores 62 vs 33.

Safety: Elevate scores 82 vs 100.

Practicality: Elevate scores 66 vs 76.

Ownership: Elevate scores 51 vs 65.

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