KIA Sportage 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 Sportage in South Africa

KIA Sportage

2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 823,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 132 kW 🔧 265 Nm ⛽ 13.9 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 Tie
📦 Practicality Tank 300
🔑 Ownership Sportage
Sportage starts ZAR 36,905 cheaper Sportage from ZAR 662,995 · Tank 300 from ZAR 699,900

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Sportage Tank 300
Maximum Power 132 kW @ 5500 rpm 240 kW @ 5500 rpm
Maximum Torque 265 Nm @ 1500 rpm 750 Nm
Engine Size 1591 cc 1999 cc
Claimed Mileage 13.9 km/l 35.7 km/l
Ground Clearance 181 mm 224 mm
Boot / Load Bay 466 l 490 l
Airbags 7 8
Kerb Weight 1570 kg 2050 kg
Seating Capacity - -
Warranty 7 Years / 150,000 km 5 Years / 100,000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Tank 300 holds a noticeable edge over Sportage, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tank 300 +41 pts
Efficiency Tank 300 +43 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Tank 300 +11 pts
Ownership Sportage +6 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Sportage

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 300

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Sportage

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Tank 300

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Sportage Tank 300
Model Introduced Year 2022 2024
Generation Fifth generation (NQ5); global launch 2021, SA 2022 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 Fifth generation (NQ5) launched SA 2022; no facelift yet 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 2022 2024
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Gravity Blue, Steel Grey, Intense Red, Glacial White Pearl, Interstellar Grey 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 Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Drivetrain Note Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 2WD 1.6T-GDI GT-Line S DCT -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published published
Segment SUV SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1570 kg 2050 kg
Spec Sportage Tank 300
Drivetrain Layout FWD Front Engine Four Wheel Drive
LSD Available No Yes
Transfer Case Not Applicable Yes
Differential Lock No Yes
Paddle Shifters Yes Yes
Engine Position Front Transverse Front Transverse
Gearbox 7-Speed DCT 8-Speed Automatic
Final Drive Ratio 3.63 3.73
Steering Turns Lock to Lock 15.2:1 14.7:1
Number of Gears 7 8
Transmission Type Dual Clutch Transmission Automatic
Clutch Type Dry Dual Clutch Torque Converter
Gear Shift Indicator No Yes
Drivetrain FWD All Wheel Drive (Hi4-T Hybrid)
4WD Engagement Not Applicable Available
4WD Hi Range Not Applicable Yes
4WD Lo Range Not Applicable Yes
4WD Selector Not Applicable Confirmed 4WD derivative
Automatic Shift Paddles Yes Yes
Differential Type Front Not Available -
Differential Type Rear Not Available -
Front Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Gearbox Type 7-Speed DCT 8-Speed Automatic
Low Range Ratio Not Applicable Not Applicable
Low Range Not Applicable Available where 4WD low range is fitted
Axle Layout FWD AWD
Rear Differential Lock Not Applicable Yes
Transfer Case Guard Not Available -
Transmission Speeds 7 8
Gear Shift Type Automatic Automatic
Drive Mode Selector - 4WD/off-road drive mode support
Reverse Gear Warning - Yes

Overall Verdict Score

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

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

Tank 300 leads by 18 points

Tank 300 holds a noticeable edge over Sportage, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 88 /100
Lead 18 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 18 points
70
#2

Sportage

97% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Efficiency 54
Performance 57
Efficiency 54
Safety 100
Practicality 65
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tank 300 +41 Efficiency Tank 300 +43 Safety Level Practicality Tank 300 +11 Ownership Sportage +6

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

Sportage

Performance 57/100
Efficiency 54/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 65/100
Ownership 71/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 GWM Tank 300 wins with 88 pts vs 70 pts for Sportage

In structured scoring, Tank 300 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Sportage 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: Sportage 54 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: Sportage 100, 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: Sportage 71, 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: Sportage 65, Tank 300 76. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Sportage 57, 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 Sportage and Tank 300 in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Sportage scores 57 vs 98.

Efficiency: Sportage scores 54 vs 97.

Safety: Sportage scores 100 vs 100.

Practicality: Sportage scores 65 vs 76.

Ownership: Sportage scores 71 vs 65.

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