Verdict
The Volkswagen Tayron is the rational Malaysian buy at RM190,660, undercutting the GWM Tank 500 by RM138,140 while costing RM120 a year in road tax against RM439. It also gives all seven occupants more usable luggage room: 345 litres versus 98 litres. The Tank counters with AWD, a 241 hp 2.0-litre petrol hybrid system assisted by a 105 hp motor, plus 380 Nm from the engine and a panoramic glass roof. Choose it only if those drivetrain and luxury gains matter more than the substantial price gap.
Pick the GWM Tank 500 if you need AWD, its 241 hp 2.0-litre hybrid-assisted powertrain and a panoramic glass roof.
Pick the Volkswagen Tayron if you want the RM138,140 lower purchase price, 345-litre boot and nine airbags.
Key differences
- Price: GWM Tank 500 RM328,800; Volkswagen Tayron RM190,660.
- Powertrain: Tank 500 2.0-litre, 241 hp and 380 Nm with a 105 hp motor; Tayron 1.5-litre, 148 hp and 250 Nm with 48-volt MHEV assistance.
- Driveline: Tank 500 all-wheel drive; Tayron front-wheel drive.
- Boot space: Tank 500 98 litres; Tayron 345 litres.
- Safety: Tank 500 six airbags; Tayron nine airbags.
- Size: Tank 500 5,070 mm long and 1,905 mm tall; Tayron 4,792 mm long and 1,660 mm tall.
Tank 500
- AWD with a nine-speed hydraulic automatic
- 241 hp engine plus 105 hp motor
- Panoramic glass roof and head-up display
- RM138,140 more expensive
- 98-litre boot is 247 litres smaller
- Six airbags versus nine
Tayron
- RM190,660 price and RM120 annual road tax
- 345-litre boot with sliding 40:20:40 second row
- Nine airbags and auto parking
- Front-wheel drive instead of AWD
- 148 hp and 250 Nm trail the Tank 500's 241 hp and 380 Nm
- No panoramic glass roof or head-up display
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM328,800 | RM190,660✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439 | RM120✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable valve timing with hybrid assistance | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing with 48-volt MHEV assistance |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 241 hp at 5,500 rpm✓ | 148 hp |
| Torque | 380 Nm at 1,700 rpm✓ | 250 Nm at 1,500 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 105 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 268 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 1.75 kWh | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | Nine-speed Hydraulic Automatic Transmission | 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) |
| Gears | 9 | 7 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.6 seconds |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,070 mm | 4,792 mm |
| Width | 1,934 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,905 mm | 1,660 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,850 mm | 2,790 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 75 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 98 litres | 345 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 265/50R20 | 235/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 265/50R20 | 235/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Full-size Spare | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental CrossContact RX | Hankook Ventus evoSUV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Thailand (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-links |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloy | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Dynamic Chassis Control Pro |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front & Rear Side Bags, Curtain Airbags & Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Second Row Seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat and 2 Outer Middle Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Projector LED Headlights | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Massaging Function and Seat Ventilation | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding with Centre Armrest, 50:50 Split Power Folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 4 USB Ports, 1 Wireless Charger | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 1 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Back Row |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Shade, Rear Window Shades | Manual Rear Window Blinds |
| Audio | 14.6" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 12-speaker Infinity Sound System | 12.9" Discover Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 8-speaker Volkswagen Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Manual | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 6 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/200,000-km High Voltage Battery Warranty | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Tank 500 & Tayron for sale
Tank 500 vs Tayron FAQ
Is the GWM Tank 500 or Volkswagen Tayron better?
The Tayron is better for most buyers because it costs RM138,140 less, has a 345-litre boot and nine airbags. The Tank 500 is the choice for AWD, substantially higher engine output and its 105 hp electric motor.
What is the price difference?
The GWM Tank 500 costs RM328,800 and the Volkswagen Tayron costs RM190,660, so the Tank 500 costs RM138,140 more. Annual road tax is also RM439 for the Tank versus RM120 for the Tayron.
Which has the more practical boot?
The Volkswagen Tayron does, with 345 litres versus the GWM Tank 500's 98 litres. The Tayron also has a 40:20:40 split-folding, sliding second row, while both are seven-seat SUVs with 50:50 split-folding third rows.
