Gwm Tank 500 vs Ford Territory

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 Tank 500 in South Africa

Gwm Tank 500

3.0T Hi4-T Luxury Petrol Automatic
ZAR 1,149,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 340 kW 🔧 750 Nm ⛽ 2.5 km/l
VS
Ford Territory in South Africa

Ford Territory

1.8T Dark Edition DCT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 733,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Tank 500
Fuel Economy Territory
🛡 Safety Tank 500
📦 Practicality Tank 500
🔑 Ownership Tank 500
Territory starts ZAR 1149900 cheaper Tank 500 from ZAR 1,149,900 · Territory from ZAR 520,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Tank 500 Territory
Engine Power 340 140
Torque 750 320
Engine Size 2999 1798
Claimed Mileage 2.5 13.5
Ground Clearance 224 190
Boot Space 580 448
Airbags 8 6
Kerb Weight 2680 1635
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 5 4

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Tank 500

76
/ 100
+8
pts
#2

Territory

68
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Tank 500 has a slight advantage, but Territory remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Tank 500 +7 pts
Efficiency Territory +8 pts
Safety Tank 500 +2 pts
Practicality Tank 500 +3 pts
Ownership Tank 500 +4 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 500

Performance 20/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 16/20
Ownership 20/20

Territory

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 8/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 16/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Tank 500

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

Territory

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

Which One's Right for You?

Tank 500

  • 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

Territory

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Tank 500 Territory
Body Type SUV Available
Daytime Running Lamps Yes LED
DRL Yes Available
LED Headlamps Yes LED
Led Taillights Yes Available
Fog Lights Yes Available
Body Cladding Yes Plastic Cladding
Roof Rails Yes Standard
Fog Lamps Yes Halogen
Led Headlights Yes Available
Front Fog Lights Yes Available
Alloy Wheel Design 5-Spoke Premium Alloy 18-inch Alloy
Rear Wiper Yes Available
Chrome Exterior Finish Yes Yes
Door Handle Finish Body Coloured Chrome Finish
Roof Type Metal Roof Available
Rear Spoiler Yes Available
Wing Mirror Type Electric Adjustable Available
Exterior Colour Options 6 Pearl White
Rear Fog Lights Yes Available
Spec Tank 500 Territory
Number of Doors 5 5
Seats 5 Available
Seating Capacity 5 5
Length 5060 4630
Width 1996 1935
Height 1905 1706
Wheelbase 2950 2716
Ground Clearance 224 190
Kerb Weight 2680 1635
Fuel Tank Capacity 80 Available
Boot Space 580 448
Doors 5 Available
Front Overhang 880 Available
Rear Overhang 890 Available
Front Track Width 1560 1550
Rear Track Width 1570 1540
Front Headroom 990 Available
Rear Headroom 960 Available
Front Legroom 1050 Available
Rear Legroom 890 Available
Front Shoulder Room 1520 Available
Rear Shoulder Room 1480 Available
Gross Vehicle Weight 3200 2150
Boot Volume 580 Available
Boot Space Seats Folded 780 1500
Turning Radius 13.0 Available
Towing Capacity 3000 1200
Load Bed Length - Available
Load Bed Width - Available
Max Payload - Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Gwm Tank 500 wins with 76 pts vs 68 pts for Territory

In structured scoring, Tank 500 emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Territory 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 500 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: Tank 500 0 vs Territory 8. 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: Tank 500 20, Territory 18. 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: Tank 500 20, Territory 16. 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: Tank 500 16, Territory 13. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Tank 500 20, Territory 13. 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 500 edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Tank 500 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 Tank 500 and Territory in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Tank 500 scores 20 vs 13.

Efficiency: Tank 500 scores 0 vs 8.

Safety: Tank 500 scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: Tank 500 scores 16 vs 13.

Ownership: Tank 500 scores 20 vs 16.

Final structured scoring gives Tank 500 the advantage in this comparison.