GWM Tank 300 vs BMW X1

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.

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
VS
BMW X1 in South Africa

BMW X1

M35i xDrive Petrol 7-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,182,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 233 kW 🔧 400 Nm ⛽ 12.5 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

GWM Tank 300 vs BMW X1: the short answer

Tank 300 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while X1 remains close.

Tank 300 starts ZAR 105,100 cheaper Tank 300 from ZAR 699,900 · X1 from ZAR 805,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Tank 300 X1
Maximum Power Tank 300240 kW @ 5500 rpm X1233 kW
Maximum Torque Tank 300750 Nm X1400 Nm @ 2000-4500 rpm
Engine Size Tank 3001999 cc X11998 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Tank 30035.7 km/l X112.5 km/l
Ground Clearance Tank 300224 mm X1190 mm

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

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

Tank 300

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

X1

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

Which One's Right for You?

Tank 300

  • 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

X1

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Tank 300 X1
Model Introduced Year 2024 2023
Generation 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). Third-generation U11 BMW X1, sharing its architecture and cabin concept with the battery-electric iX1.
Facelift History 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. U11 is the current South African X1 generation; no local facelift has been announced.
Facelift Launched Since 2024 Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note 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 -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV Premium SUV
Tare Mass Kg 2050 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Car
Spec Tank 300 X1
Length 4638 mm 4505 mm
Width 1926 mm 1845 mm
Height 1850 mm 1622 mm
Wheelbase 2750 mm 2692 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 224 mm 190 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 65 l 54 l
Boot/Cargo Space 490 l 540 l
Kerb Weight 2050 kg 1740 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2200 kg 2240 kg
Towing Capacity 2500 kg 750 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 12.4 m 5.8 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 1001 mm
Rear Headroom 960 mm 986 mm
Front Legroom 1050 mm 1040 mm
Rear Legroom 890 mm 925 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) - 170 mm
Payload Capacity - 575 kg
Number of Rows - 2 rows

In depth: how these cars differ

This Tank 300 and X1 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: Tank 300 98 vs X1 90.

Efficiency index: Tank 300 97 vs X1 49.

Safety-equipment index: Tank 300 100 vs X1 92.

Practicality index: Tank 300 76 vs X1 64.

Ownership-cover index: Tank 300 65 vs X1 not separately scored.

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 300 leads by 12 points

Tank 300 has a modest catalogue-index lead, while X1 remains close.

Evidence leader 88 /100
Lead 12 points
Data 96% source coverage
88
#1 Evidence leader

Tank 300

96% source coverage 4 strong categories
Best at Safety 100 Check Ownership 65
Performance 98
Efficiency 97
Safety 100
Practicality 76
Ownership 65
Leads by 12 points
76
#2

X1

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 90
Efficiency 49
Safety 92
Practicality 64
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Tank 300 +8 Efficiency Tank 300 +48 Safety Tank 300 +8 Practicality Tank 300 +12

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

Tank 300

Performance 98/100
Efficiency 97/100
Safety 100/100
Practicality 76/100
Ownership 65/100

X1

Performance 90/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 64/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index GWM Tank 300 leads the specification evidence index with 88 pts vs 76 pts for X1

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, Tank 300 leads. However, X1 may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Tank 300 vs X1 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.