GWM's Tank 500, the hardcore off-road SUV that also courts urban luxury buyers, has received its 2027 model year update in China. The refreshed lineup, launched on October 23, consists of four trims priced between 335,000 and 375,000 yuan (about $47,200 to $52,800) as Chinese guide prices before taxes and incentives. According to NetEase Auto, the annual facelift incorporates 296 improvements across software, hardware, and safety redundancy, while keeping the body-on-frame underpinnings and three powertrain options intact.
Smart cabin and ADAS upgrades
The most visible change is a new Danxia Red exterior paint, inspired by the red sandstone landforms of China's Danxia地貌, achieved with multi-layer spraying and pearl particles. Inside, a new black-and-gray theme joins the options. The cabin now features a 15.6-inch dual-screen setup, part of a seven-screen system that supports cross-screen app streaming. The audio system has been upgraded to 22 speakers, including four ceiling-mounted units and headrest speakers for the front seats, enabling separate listening zones for driver and passengers.
All seats are wrapped in Nappa leather with standard ventilation, heating, and massage functions. Front seats gain electric folding leg rests, and a rear table is added. When the vehicle is stationary, the front seats can fold flat to create a bed mode for camping or rest. The Tank 500 retains its signature off-road credentials: a 5078mm body length, 2850mm wheelbase, 29-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 210mm ground clearance.
The headline tech upgrade is the Coffee Pilot 4 ADAS system, powered by a Thor-U compute chip and a VLA (Vision-Language-Action) large model. It uses 27 sensors, including a Hesai 192-line lidar and a forward 4D millimeter-wave radar. The system supports natural-language voice commands for functions like changing routes or adjusting following distance, and covers door-to-door NOA (navigation on autopilot) across parking and driving scenarios. It also includes features like valet parking, long-distance memory parking, and 100-meter reverse tracking to ease parking for the large SUV.
Safety has been bolstered with a fifth-generation streaming rearview mirror and a far-infrared night vision system (Coffee Night Vision 2.0). Active safety now includes automatic emergency steering, rear automatic braking, high-speed blowout control, driver incapacitation assistance, and throttle misapplication suppression. The braking system is upgraded to IBC 2.0 with dual redundancy.
Three powertrains, unchanged off-road hardware
The Tank 500 offers three powertrain choices. The Hi4-T hybrid pairs a 2.0-liter turbo engine with a 9HAT transmission, delivering a combined 310 kW (416 hp) and a WLTC electric-only range of 110 km. The Hi4-Z variant, aimed at light off-roading, uses a 2.0-liter engine with a three-speed hybrid system, producing 635 kW (852 hp) and a WLTC electric range of 201 km. A 3.0-liter V6 gasoline version with a 9AT gearbox and full mechanical four-wheel drive is also available for traditionalists. All versions retain the non-load-bearing body, tank turn, and crawl control functions.
By focusing the update on daily-use cabin comfort and smart driving rather than core off-road hardware, GWM aims to broaden the Tank 500's appeal beyond hardcore enthusiasts to urban families who want both capability and convenience.