Is there an SUV that can truly do everything, from conquering the rough stuff to turning heads with luxury, and yet doesn’t drain your bank account? Well, we brought along some friends to help us find out! It’s time for another AutoBuzz.my special again, and this time, it’s a shootout between the GWM Tank 500, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Coupe.
The car selection might raise eyebrows for some of you, but there are reasons why they’ve been hand-picked for this test. The Land Cruiser needs no introduction, and is chosen for its off-road prowess; the Tank 500, a bold newcomer promising unbeatable value, and the Benz…. well, not so much for its off-roading capabilities, but its masterclass in luxury and style.
And to put the cars to the test, we designed three challenges, each with their very own unique twists to bring out the best of the cars, our guests, and even us as drivers too! Be sure to stick around to the end of the video to find out which car won our SUV Battle.
The Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 3.4ZX is powered by a 3.4-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 415 hp and 650 Nm, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Its four-wheel-drive system offers multiple off-road modes and lockable differentials. Available only as a parallel-imported “recon” unit in Malaysia, prices are between RM450,000-RM600,000, depending on condition and variant.
READ MORE: GWM Tank 500 launched in Malaysia – luxury offroader with 2.0T hybrid powertrain, RM329k
The GWM Tank 500, meanwhile, boasts a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, plus a nine-speed hybrid automatic transmission with an integrated electric motor. Combined, the hybrid mill outputs 346 hp and 648 Nm of torque, with power sent to all four wheels via a clever four-wheel-drive system with lockable differentials, Pricing starts from RM328,800 — which means it’s at least RM100k more affordable than the Land Cruiser.
Lastly, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Coupe too features a hybrid powertrain, which combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with an electric motor for a total of 313 hp and 550 Nm of torque. Power is distributed to all four wheels through the Mercedes-Benz 4Matic+ system and a nine-speed automatic. While it is the smallest car of the bunch, its RM425,888 price tag certainly doesn’t suggest so.
ALSO READ: 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e Coupe arrives in Malaysia, replaces GLC300 Coupe – from RM426k
