KIA Sorento 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.

KIA Sorento in South Africa

KIA Sorento

2.2 CRDi SXL AWD DCT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,299,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 148 kW 🔧 440 Nm Nm ⛽ 15.6 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 Tie
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tank 300
🔑 Ownership Tie
Tank 300 starts ZAR 999995 cheaper Sorento from ZAR 999,995 · Tank 300 from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Sorento Tank 300
Engine Power 148 kW 240
Torque 440 Nm 750
Engine Size 2151 1999
Claimed Mileage 15.6 2.8
Ground Clearance 185 224
Boot Space 219 490
Airbags 7 8
Kerb Weight 1960 2050
Seating Capacity 7 5
Warranty 7 5

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Tank 300

75
/ 100
+10
pts
#2

Sorento

65
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

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

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tank 300 +5 pts
Efficiency Equal
Safety Equal
Practicality Tank 300 +5 pts
Ownership Equal

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 300

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 15/20
Ownership 20/20

Sorento

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Sorento

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 300

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Sorento

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Tank 300

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Sorento Tank 300
Engine 2.2 CRDi D4HB Inline-4 Diesel 2.0L GW4C20D Turbocharged Petrol + Rear Electric Motor
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Turbodiesel Inline 4 Cylinder Turbocharged Petrol
Engine Type Config Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Diesel Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Turbocharged
Engine Code D4HB GW4C20D
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 16 16
Displacement 2151 1999
Engine Displacement 2151 1999
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Turbocharger Yes Yes
Cylinder Bore 85.4 82.5
Piston Stroke 94.0 93.1
Compression Ratio 15.4:1 10.5:1
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Direct Injection
Fuel Grade Required B7 Diesel Petrol
Variable Valve Timing No Yes
Engine Position Front Transverse Front Transverse
Engine Oil Capacity 6.0 5.5
Power 148 kW 240
Power 198 322
Power @ RPM 3,800 rpm 5,500 rpm
Torque 440 Nm 750
Torque @ RPM 1,750 rpm 1,500-4,000 rpm
Maximum Engine RPM 4,000 rpm 6,000
0–100 km/h 8.5 5.8
0-100 km/h 8.5 167
Top Speed 200 195
EV Range N/A 105
Battery Capacity N/A 19.1 kWh
Charging Port N/A -
AC Charging Time N/A -
Spec Sorento Tank 300
Valves Per Cylinder 4 4
Intercooler Yes Yes
Launch Control No Yes
Rev Matching No No
Performance Data Logger No No
Fuel Consumption Combined 6.4 2.8
Engine Start Stop Yes Yes
Engine Start Stop Button Yes Yes
Engine Start Button Illumination Yes Yes
Engine Check Warning Yes Yes
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
Ground Clearance Unladen 185 195
Drag Coefficient 0.35 0.34
Payload Capacity N/A -
Stabilizer Bar Yes Yes
Steering Response Normal Progressive
Skid Plates No Yes
Side Steps No Yes
Spare Wheel Temporary Spare Yes
Tyre Repair Kit No No
Seatbelt Pre Tensioner Yes Yes
Seatbelt Reminder Yes Yes
Stability Control Yes Yes
Hill Start Assist Yes Yes
Speed Limiter Yes Yes
Speed Alert System Yes Yes
Impact Sensing Door Unlock Yes Yes
Adaptive Dampers No Yes
Wireless Charging Yes Yes
Voice Command Yes Yes
Voice Command Support Yes Yes
Driver Display Digital Cluster Digital
Heads Up Display Yes Yes
Tachometer Yes Yes
Trip Computer Yes Yes
Multi Function Steering Yes Yes
Steering Mounted Controls Yes Yes
AC Type Automatic Climate Control Dual Zone Climate Control
Climate Control Yes Yes
Climate Zones 2 2
Glovebox Cooling No No
Seat Type Leather Seats High Bolster Sports Seat
Driver Seat Height Adjustment Yes Yes
Rear Seat Split Yes 60/40
Headrest Adjustable Yes Yes
Front Armrest Centre Armrest Yes
Vanity Mirror Yes Yes
12V Accessory Socket Yes Yes
Front Power Outlet Yes Yes
Rear Reading Lamps Yes Yes
Keyless Entry Yes Yes
Push Button Start Yes Yes
Push Button Start Yes Yes
Remote Engine Start No Yes
Door Ajar Warning Yes Yes
Fuel Lid Opener Remote Yes
Boot Opener Remote Yes
Power Windows Yes Yes
Power Mirrors Yes Yes
Electric Folding Mirrors Yes Yes
Electric Mirror Folding Yes Electric
Auto Dimming Irvm Yes Yes
Auto Dimming Mirror Yes Yes
Rain Sensing Wipers Yes Yes
Rear Window Defroster Yes Yes
Rear Defogger Yes Yes
Follow Me Home Headlamps Yes Yes
Tail Lamps LED LED
Automatic Headlamps Yes Yes
Headlamp Height Adjust Yes Yes
Headlamp Washer No No
Sunroof Yes Yes
Panoramic Roof Yes Yes
Roof Antenna Yes Shark Fin Antenna
Rear Wing Yes Integrated Spoiler
Aero Kit No No
Chrome Grille Yes Yes
Chrome Exterior Highlights No Yes
Ride Mode Selection Yes Yes
Electric Tailgate Yes Yes
Engine Warranty 7 Years / 150,000 km 5 Years / 100,000 km
Service Plan 3 Years / 45,000 km 5 Years / 75,000 km
Service Reminder Yes Yes

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Tank 300 wins with 75 pts vs 65 pts for Sorento

In structured scoring, Tank 300 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Sorento 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: Sorento 0 vs Tank 300 0. 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: Sorento 20, Tank 300 20. 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: Sorento 20, Tank 300 20. 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: Sorento 10, Tank 300 15. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Sorento 15, Tank 300 20. 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 Sorento and Tank 300 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Sorento scores 15 vs 20.

Efficiency: Sorento scores 0 vs 0.

Safety: Sorento scores 20 vs 20.

Practicality: Sorento scores 10 vs 15.

Ownership: Sorento scores 20 vs 20.

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