GWM is no stranger when it comes to the local bakkie market having garnered a fairly decent following and appreciation for their double cabs over the past few years.
In fact, before the launch of the three P-Series 500 portfolio there were already 13 different double cab offerings.
New is the P500 Luxury and Super Luxury powered by a new 2.4-litre diesel mill with 135kW and 480Nm and at the top of the pyramid stands the P500 2.0-litre HEV Ultra Luxury, the first 325-volt electric motor hybrid petrol bakkie in the local market.
Combined with the turbo petrol engine it provides a not insignificant peak power of 255kW and 648Nm. They are all coupled to a nine-speed automatic transmission, the same setup found in the Tank 300 and Tank 500.
Especially new is a raft of luxuries and technology not easily found in a bakkie in the Ultra Luxury 2.0-litre hybrid model we drove on launch.
The P-series has always had an imposing presence and it’s no different here with a wheelbase of 3,350mm, length of 5,400mm and it stands 1,991mm wide.
The large grille houses the camera and sensors of the 360 degree camera in the big P-Series logo, which I suppose goes with the bakkie’s style, but something a little more discreet would not look out of place.
A useful touch is the electrically operated rear sliding window, a loadbox with 28 anchor points, loadbox light and a tailgate that can either drop down or split 40:60 barn door style depending on how you push the button.
On first touch the button feels a bit flimsy and I’m not convinced how durable it will be once grubby and oily fingers regularly start to use it.
Inside it’s the most luxurious bakkie on the market with a raft of features normally associated with high-end SUVs.
There’s a head-up display, a second wireless charging pad for rear occupants, panoramic sunroof with tilt and slide function, heated electronically adjustable steering wheel, massaging front seats that are heated and cooled, heating and cooling function for the rear seats all covered in comfortable Nappa leather.
A large 14.6-inch touchscreen dominates the cabin where various functions such as climate control, driving modes and vehicle settings can be accessed.
In a nod to user experience these can also be accessed via buttons on the centre console, steering wheel or the auxiliary instrument panel around the gearshift selector.
While everything is mostly digital there’s an old school beautifully crafted analog clock flanked by air vents in the centre of the dash.
Unlike some of the Chinese bakkies on the market the P500 drives and handles well with the gearbox as smooth as anything else out of Japan or America.
The launch route included Outeniqua Pass and the legendary Swartberg Pass and even unloaded the ride was subtle and not intrusive.
Initially when we headed up and over Outeniqua Pass the steering felt heavy which at close to 2.5 tons isn’t surprising but after changing the steering to Light things were a lot more comfortable and easy to control.
I suspect the P500 could be a lot faster than people think, especially over the first 100 metres or so thanks to its electric ability.
In 4H over the Swartberg Pass the bakkie felt solidly planted and secure providing peace of mind through some of the tighter corners.
We didn’t do any serious offroad driving but I suspect with a suite of offroad settings and low range it’s going to be capable when the going gets tough.
The suspension provided a comfortable set-up on the various road surfaces and after a few 100 kilometres we were suitably impressed with the overall driving dynamics.
Consumption proved to be a challenge and the best we could get was just over 13l/100km but a colleague who drove to Cape Town after the launch managed to record 11.9l/100km, a lot more acceptable.
Once we get our hands on a 2.4-litre diesel to test I reckon that would be the one to go for especially because our market tends to prefer oil burners when it comes to this segment.
The P500 2.0-litre HEV Ultra Luxury may provide a ton of tech and fantastic equipment as standard but whether our market is completely primed yet for a R1-million Chinese bakkie I’m not convinced.
The P500 range has a five-year/75 000km service plan, seven-year /200 000km Warranty, Five-year unlimited km body and paint warranty, eight-year/ 150 000km High Voltage Warranty (HEV) and a seven-year unlimited kilometre roadside assist plan.
GWM P500 Pricing in August 2024
- P500 2.4T 9AT 4X4 Luxury: R799 900
- P500 2.4T 9AT 4X4 Super Luxury: R889 900
- P500 2.0T HEV 9HAT 4X4 Ultra Luxury: R999 900.