A diesel Tank? 2025 GWM Tank 300 gets turbo-diesel option in China, but will the popular 4WD gain a Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X rival in Australia?

GWM’s Tank 300 off-roader is getting a diesel variant in its home market China.

The big 4x4 SUV is available in Australia in petrol and petrol-electric hybrid guise, but misses out on a diesel - for now.

Car News China has reported that the Chairman of GWM, Wei Jianjun, confirmed the diesel 300 during a recent livestream.

The engine that will slot under the chunky bonnet of the Tank 300 would be the very same 2.4-litre turbo-diesel unit that is found in the freshly launched GWM Cannon Alpha ute.

In that application, it delivers 135kW of power at 3600rpm and 480Nm of torque from 1500-2500rpm. It uses a nine-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

CarsGuide has contacted GWM Australia to see if it has any plans to introduce the diesel 300 Down Under.

If it gets the green light, it would give GWM even more fire power against traditional ute-based off-roaders like the Isuzu MU-X, Ford Everest, Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

Currently with its petrol and diesel options, the closest rival to the Tank 300 is the Jeep Wrangler.

The updated Wrangler is about to hit showrooms with a new engine. Jeep dropped the ageing 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine in favour of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol unit delivering 200kW/400Nm - that’s 9kW less power but 53Nm more torque than the old powertrain.

The Tank 300 has easily outsold the Wrangler this year, with 1445 units sold to the end of April compared to just 305 examples of the Jeep.

The top seller of the capable off-roaders is the Ford Everest (6899), then the MU-X (6730), followed by the soon-to-be-replaced Toyota Prado (3382) and Pajero Sport (2830).

Pricing for the Tank 300 ranges from $46,990 to $60,990 drive-away - depending on the grade and powertrain. In contrast, the new Wrangler runs from $75,950 to $90,450, before on-road costs.