Double cab's leisure features find favour

The GWM P500 2.0T HEV 4x4 Super Luxury AT has launched in South Africa, and the bakkie takes aim at the more premium, leisure-focused offerings from rival brands. Car Magazine's Marius Boonzaier writes.

- Marius Boonzaier

The P500 is the new pinnacle product in GWM's local T P-Series portfolio, which, before this new flagship's introduction, comprised 13 double-cab offerings spearheaded by the 2.0TD LTD 4x4, which employs the company's 120kW/400Nm 2l, four-cylinder turbocharged oil-burner, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The P500, however, goes without the latter engine option; instead, it's available with a 2,4%, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel, churning out 135kW and 480Nm and the same electrified petrol unit found under the bonnets of the Tank 300 and 500.

At the local launch in the Garden Route region of the Western Cape, we sampled the Ultra Luxury petrol-electric version.