GWM P300 vs GWM P500

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.

GWM P300 in South Africa

GWM P300

2.4T LT 2WD 9AT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 599,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 135 kW 🔧 480 Nm ⛽ Not Applicable km/l
VS
GWM P500 in South Africa

GWM P500

2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 999,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 255 kW 🔧 648 Nm ⛽ 9.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance P500
Fuel Economy P300
🛡 Safety P500
📦 Practicality P300
🔑 Ownership Tie
P300 starts ZAR 799900 cheaper P300 from ZAR 414,950 · P500 from ZAR 799,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec P300 P500
Engine Power 135 255
Torque 480 648
Engine Size 2400 2000
Claimed Mileage Not Applicable 9.8
Ground Clearance 224 mm 224 mm
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Airbags Not Available Not Available
Kerb Weight Not Applicable Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 5 5

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Both P300 and P500 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance P500 +27 pts
Efficiency P300 +17 pts
Safety P500 +9 pts
Practicality P300 +7 pts
Ownership Equal

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

P300

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

P500

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

P300

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

P500

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec P300 P500
Model Introduced Year Current local generation year not confirmed Current local generation year not confirmed
Generation Current South African P300 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data. Current South African P500 listing; generation notes should be kept tied to the local model year and confirmed derivative data.
Facelift History Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle. Model-year updates can affect trim, wheels, screens, safety equipment and colours. Use the latest South African price list when checking a specific vehicle.
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Double-cab pickup Double-cab pickup
Body Type Cab Pickup Pickup
Color Note Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering. Colour availability changes by model year, production batch and dealer stock, check the current colour selector before ordering.
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.4T LT 2WD 9AT Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2.0T HEV Ultra Luxury 4x4 9HAT
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment Pickup Pickup
Vehicle Type Pickup Pickup
Spec P300 P500
Ground Clearance 224 mm 224 mm
Wheelbase 3230 mm 3350 mm
Length 5416 mm 5445 mm
Width 1934 mm 1991 mm
Height 1886 mm 1924 mm
Kerb Weight Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Weight Not Applicable Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space Not Applicable Not Applicable
Towing Capacity 3500 kg Not Applicable
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded Not Applicable Not Applicable
Number of Doors 4 4
Max Payload Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Doors 4 4
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity Not Applicable Not Applicable
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max 224 mm 224 mm
Ground Clearance Min 224 mm 224 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 224 mm 224 mm
Height Mm 1886 mm 1924 mm
Length Mm 5416 mm 5445 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Cargo Volume Not Applicable Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Circle Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Circle M Not Applicable Not Applicable
Width Mm 1934 mm 1991 mm

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

P500 leads by 4 points

Both P300 and P500 are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 60 /100
Lead 4 points
Data 70% confidence
60
#1 Winner

P500

70% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 98 Check Safety 9
Performance 98
Efficiency 48
Safety 9
Practicality 75
Ownership 65
Leads by 4 points
56
#2

P300

62% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 82 Check Safety 0
Performance 71
Efficiency 65
Safety 0
Practicality 82
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance P500 +27 Efficiency P300 +17 Safety P500 +9 Practicality P300 +7 Ownership Level

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

P500

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 48/100
Safety 9/100
Practicality 75/100
Ownership 65/100

P300

Performance 71/100
Efficiency 65/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 82/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM P500 wins with 60 pts vs 56 pts for P300

In structured scoring, P500 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, P300 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 P500 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: P300 65 vs P500 48. 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: P300 0, P500 9. 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: P300 65, P500 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: P300 82, P500 75. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: P300 71, P500 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 P500 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The P500 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 P300 and P500 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: P300 scores 71 vs 98.

Efficiency: P300 scores 65 vs 48.

Safety: P300 scores 0 vs 9.

Practicality: P300 scores 82 vs 75.

Ownership: P300 scores 65 vs 65.

Final structured scoring gives P500 the advantage in this comparison.