GWM TANK 700 HI4-Z arrives with 190 km of pure electric range, LiDAR on the roof, and a 2.0 turbo engine with 251 hp. Check out all the details.
While the global market succumbs to urban electric SUVs looking like space minivans, Great Wall Motors decided to do exactly the opposite. The result is a machine that looks like it came from a military base but hides one of the boldest proposals in the current automotive industry in its vault.
The Design That Doesn’t Apologize for Being Brutal
The Tank 700 Hi4-Z is not here to please. With 5,105 mm in length, 2,061 mm in width, and 1,985 mm in height, this colossus commands respect even before starting the engine. The square, muscular silhouette directly recalls off-road icons like the Jeep Cherokee of past generations but with a sophistication that surprises.
The Hi4-Z’s visual novelties include ventilation openings on the hood — a functional detail that reinforces the “tank” identity — and a redesigned front bumper with a three-section cutout. The lower spoiler is not just aesthetic; it works to improve the approach angle on extreme terrain. The 20 and 21-inch wheels fill the widened fenders with a presence that few contemporary SUVs can replicate.
At the rear, the horizontal tailgate with a hanging spare tire keeps the tradition of real 4x4s alive, while the roof spoiler and central camera reveal that this “brute” also knows technology.
The Secret Is In The Roof and The Vault
The most intriguing element of the Tank 700 Hi4-Z is precisely where you least expect it: a LiDAR module apparently mounted on the roof. This deliberate design choice is not an aesthetic whim — it is a statement of intent. Great Wall positions this SUV as a benchmark in advanced driver assistance, with 360-degree environmental perception that rivals systems found in vehicles like the updated ZEEKR 009.
But the real revolution lives under the hood. The Hi4-Z system combines a 2.0 turbo engine with 185 kW (251 hp) with a 59.05 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery. The result? 190 km of pure electric range on the CLTC cycle — a figure that places this heavy off-roader on par with urban electric sedans.
The declared combined fuel consumption of 8.45 L/100 km (approximately 11.8 km/l) shows that electrification did not come to compromise efficiency, but to enhance daily use. Great Wall considers the Hi4-Z a direct evolution of the Hi4-T, prioritizing electric range without sacrificing the essence of a vehicle prepared for severe trails.
Brute Force With Electronic Brain
The off-road credentials of the Tank 700 Hi4-Z go beyond its imposing appearance. The towing capacity is revealing: 750 kg unbraked and up to 2,500 kg braked. These numbers turn the SUV into a genuine work tool, not just a status accessory for shopping malls.
Customization is another pillar of the proposal. Great Wall offers multiple finishing packages for bumpers, an option for a sunroof and — interestingly — gold emblems that elevate the luxury tone. It is an apparently contradictory combination: the extreme utility that also wants to be sophisticated. A formula that recalls the strategy of brands like BRABUS with the Lamborghini Urus SE, albeit in a completely different segment.
The 3,000 mm wheelbase ensures generous interior space, while the exterior dimensions position the model as a direct alternative to established references in the premium off-road segment — those who, coincidentally, still do not offer plug-in hybrid versions with this electric range in China.
Great Wall’s Bet on the Niche No One Wanted
The launch of the Tank 700 Hi4-Z confirms a prediction made by Great Wall’s own president, Wei Jianjun, on February 28. An enigmatic teaser posted on social media had already hinted at the model’s distinctive outline, fueling speculations that are now coming true.
In an increasingly polarized Chinese market between affordable BYD SUVs and premium electric vehicles with advanced technology, Great Wall has chosen its own path. The Tank 700 Hi4-Z does not compete directly with either — it creates a category where authentic off-road capability, robust electrification, and technological luxury coexist without compromise.
The question that remains is whether this formula will find enough audience outside of China. For enthusiasts who lament the “softening” of icons like the Ford Explorer or the increasingly assisted steering of the Land Cruiser, the Tank 700 Hi4-Z represents a tempting alternative: the real 4×4 that finally learned how to plug in.