Driving the new GWM Tank 500 today – a seven-seat Chinese built hybrid 4WD in Lux and Ultra grades – both powered by a petrol/electric hybrid system combining a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, an electric motor and a small 1.76kWhour battery with a nine speed automatic transmission, intelligent four- wheel drive with up to 14 driving modes, low range and rear differential lock in a body that sits somewhere between a Toyota Landcruiser Prado and larger 300 model. The GWM Tank 500 looks like a LandCruiser copy, offset by an imposing chrome grille and T badge that’s overdone in the Chinese tradition for what is essentially a workhorse. I drove the entry Tank 500 Lux at $66,490 drive-away which undercuts traditional seven-seat rivals by a considerable margin yet is loaded with a huge amount of technology, comfort and convenience features that more than match its dearer rivals. The build quality hard to fault, the equipment list not lacking and the go-anywhere ability impressive in a body that seats 7 in relative comfort – in terms of features its hard to fault and lacks for nothing however it is how well its features perform that reflects the difference in pricing and many features simply lack finesse. Details next segment. I’m David Berthon

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