With the instant popularity of TANK 300, the category of off-road vehicles has attracted more and more attention. The same is true for the medium and large hardcore SUV TANK 500 that has just been officially launched.
When I first tested the TANK 500, I was very shocked. After all, such a domineering SUV, not to mention domestic cars, is indeed rare even if it is a joint venture or an imported brand. The front of the TANK 500 is very thick and the hood is also very high, making it look muscular. The whole exudes a very strong aura, quite “mighty and majestic”.
TANK 500 Appearance
If you observe this car carefully, you will find that the powerful aura is inseparable from the middle net. The middle net of TANK 500 is decorated with a large area of chrome plating, which has the feeling of American cars and is very eye-catching.
The LED headlights adopt a transparent lampshade design, and the arrangement of the lamp groups is well arranged, presenting a strong aesthetic feeling.
Viewed from the side, the body of TANK 500 is very stable, giving people a sense of security. Both the window frames and the top luggage rack are decorated with chrome-plated materials, which are very textured.
In terms of size, the length, width and height of TANK 500 are: 4878x1934x1905mm, and the wheelbase is 2850mm, which is a medium and large SUV.
The 20-inch wheels adopt a multi-spoke style, and the shape is very atmospheric. The spokes are also chrome-plated. The matching tires are Continental UC6 SUV with excellent comprehensive performance and the specification is 265/50 R20.
The side of the car is equipped with electric pedals, which are very practical for an SUV of this size and can make getting on and off the car easier.
The shape of the rear of the car is very square, and the chrome-plated decorative strip connects the taillights on both sides, adding a lot of high-end atmosphere. Of course, many friends will think that the rear of the TANK 500 is a bit similar to that of the Toyota “Prado”, but to be honest, the shapes of hard-core off-road vehicles are similar.
The side-opening tailgate is also the iconic design of many hardcore off-road vehicles. The advantage is that you can hang a full-size spare tire. Of course, if you have a narrow parking space in the city, it will be a little inconvenient. But having said that, how much time will friends who buy hardcore off-road vehicles spend in the city?
This TANK 500 is a business version. The full-size spare tire is mounted on the bottom and “hidden” at the bottom of the car.
TANK 500 Interior
If the appearance evaluation of TANK 500 is “dominant”, then the evaluation of the interior should be “luxury”. So that it is impossible to hook TANK 500 and “hardcore off-road”. The orange interior color matching and large-area wood-grain decorative panels create a strong visual impact. The materials are very delicate and the workmanship is exquisite.
The leather steering wheel feels delicate and comfortable to hold. Support electric four-way (up and down, front and rear) adjustment. Support heating, memory, shifting functions.
The 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel displays very clearly, the UI interface is very refreshing, and the driving information is clear at a glance. Of course, it would be even better if some off-road special themes can be added. In addition, this car supports the HUD head-up display system, which is very convenient for the driver.
The 14.6-inch central control screen adopts a narrow frame design, which looks like a “tablet computer”. The touch is very smooth and the response speed is very timely. In terms of functions, it supports transparent chassis, 540° panoramic image, GPS navigation, road rescue service, Bluetooth phone, mobile phone interconnection, Internet of Vehicles, OTA upgrade, WiFi hotspot, facial recognition, etc.
Equipped with three-zone automatic air-conditioning, the size of the physical buttons is large, and the rebound force is just right, which makes it easier to realize blind operation while driving. Look at the quartz clock in the middle, isn’t it a bit elegant and retro?
The gear lever made of crystal material is very beautiful, which makes people love it. The surrounding buttons are arranged neatly and orderly, and they are all very commonly used functions. Such as seat heating, ventilation, driving mode, electronic parking, four-wheel drive system locking, etc.
Equipped with Infinity audio, with 12 speakers, the sound quality is very good.
TANK 500 is equipped with a panoramic sunroof that can be opened. The lighting area is 0.8㎡, which can effectively increase the light transmittance and transparency in the car.
General reviews seldom mention car keys, but this time I have to. Because the appearance of the car key equipped with TANK 500 is really ordinary. There is a big contrast with the domineering appearance and luxurious interior, and I hope it can be designed more beautifully in the future.
TANK 500 Seat and Space
The 5-seater TANK 500 Business Edition is equipped with Nappa leather seats. The padding is soft and thick, and the sides are well-wrapped for a comfortable ride. The diamond-shaped stitching also adds a lot of high-end and elegant atmosphere. There is also the TANK logo on the headrest. The A-pillar is also equipped with a handle, which is convenient for getting on and off the car. Both the main/passenger seat support electric multi-directional adjustment. Functionally supports seat heating, ventilation, memory, massage.
The rear seats are equally roomy and comfortable. Supports backrest angle adjustment, heating, ventilation and massage functions. It is also equipped with a leg rest and a boss button. In addition, the rear row is also equipped with multi-functional armrest boxes, independent air conditioning, privacy glass, rear window side sunshades, charging ports, etc. The rear passengers are well taken care of.
In terms of space, a person with a height of 1.75 meters sits in the back row, with a head room of one punch and a leg room of more than two punches, which is very spacious.
The trunk volume is acceptable, and with the taller body, there is no need to worry about loading luggage and items.
TANK 500 Power and Chassis
TANK 500 is equipped with a 3.0T V6 twin-turbocharged engine. Equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system, the maximum power is 260kW (354Ps)/6000rpm, and the maximum torque is 500N m/1500-4500rpm. The engine code is E30Z, equipped with Miller cycle, double VGT variable cross-section double supercharging, double injection, integrated water cooling, and the thermal efficiency is 38.5%.
It is matched with the first domestic self-developed 9AT longitudinal gearbox. Compared with the previous 7DCT and 8AT, the gear ratio of this gearbox is denser, which can better distribute the power to the wheels, which is still important for off-road vehicles.
In terms of chassis, the TANK 500 uses a non-load-bearing body. The front suspension is a double-wishbone independent suspension, and the rear suspension is an integral bridge-type independent suspension. This is also the configuration of a proper hard-core off-road vehicle. In terms of four-wheel drive, TANK 500 adopts a timely four-wheel drive system. Equipped with low-speed four-wheel drive, tank U-turn, front and rear axle differential locks, etc.
TANK 500 Reviews
Finally came to the key part of this article. I don’t know if everyone has been shocked by TANK 500 after reading the previous part? Whether it is in terms of appearance, interior or configuration, the progress of Chinese cars is obvious to all, and I am quite proud of it. However, I said earlier that I am not optimistic about the sales of TANK 500. There is a reason for this, and I will explain it in two points.
1. Price
Many people say that the sales volume of TANK 500 will be like that of TANK 300. But let’s look at the price first. First, the price of TANK 300 is $28,500-44,500. Most people opt for the $28,500 Challenger and $31,100 Expedition. The pre-sale price of TANK 500 is $48,700-57,500. But don’t forget that there are purchase taxes, etc., and about $6,000 will be added to the landing, and the cost will be close to $58,100-72,800. Buying a Chinese hard-core off-road vehicle has never been done before. It is not ruled out that some friends will try it out, but after the heat is over, how long will the sales last?
According to my opinion, manufacturers might as well lower the price of TANK 500 to $41,400-50,200. Stimulate some consumers’ desire to buy and boost sales.
2. Word of Mouth
Many people on the Internet say that TANK 500 is “Baoding Luxun”, which means that TANK 500 is directly compared with Toyota Luxun. When the TANK 300 first came out, many people said that the TANK 300 could “spike” the Mercedes-Benz G, JEEP Wrangler, Toyota Overbearing, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Nissan Patrol, but what happened? What’s more, there is Haval H9 in front, so what about the reputation and sales?
Hard-core off-road vehicles have their particularities, and most car owners value stability and quality. After all, in the harsh natural environment, the car is like our loyal partner, which can protect us from wind and rain and take us out of danger. Only in this way will a good word of mouth be formed, thereby forming brand power.
TANK 500, as a “rookie” of medium and large-scale hardcore off-road, if it wants to develop for a long time and become the sales king in this area, it should increase its efforts in word-of-mouth publicity. For example, organize the “off-road challenge” to verify the performance of the car. For example, promote the purchase of units and enterprises, forming a positive effect.
Using hard power to build a good reputation is much more effective than any publicity.
