GWM Poer300 review

Let’s get one thing out of the way: GWM Poer300 is pronounced “GWM Power 300”. Yes, it sounds like it could be a new slang term for the aftermath of a dodgy visit to Taco Bell, but we assure you, it’s not. 

The Poer300 is a pick-up truck built by GWM (Great Wall Motors), a Chinese brand with a growing footprint in the UK. You might have heard of the fully electric GWM Ora 03 (previously the Funky Cat), but it also sells the hybrid Haval Jolion Pro family SUV. 

Unlike those cars, the Poer300 isn’t electric, but diesel-powered. As such, it’s in direct competition with the Ford Ranger, as well as the Isuzu D-Max and KGM Musso. How well does the Poer300 fare? Read on to find out. 

What's new

- September 2025: The GWM Poer300 goes on sale with prices starting at £31,495

How fast is it and which engine is best?

The GWM Poer300 is presently only offered with one engine: a 2.4-litre four-cylinder diesel. It has 181bhp and 354lb ft of torque, meaning 0-62mph in 11.0sec. Acceleration is competitive with its rivals, even if the engine sometimes needs working hard.

As well as one engine, there’s just the one gearbox available with the Poer300, and it’s a nine-speed automatic gearbox. It’s often slow to react, meaning you have to anticipate some lag when pulling away from junctions. We wish it were snappier. 

We also wish there were more engines and gearboxes to choose from. By contrast, you can get the Ford Ranger as an automatic or manual, and there are four and six-cylinder engines available. Most are diesel but some are petrol. There’s even a Ranger plug-in hybrid (PHEV). 

On a more positive note, the Poer300 has a maximum towing capacity of 3500kg, which matches the Ranger, Isuzu D-Max and KGM Musso.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

You could argue that super-sharp handling is a low priority in a pick-up truck, but it still helps to have confidence when cornering. The Poer300, ultimately, doesn’t inspire much. The light steering, while helpfully effortless around town, fails to weigh up at speed, lessening your sense of connection with the front wheels. There’s plenty of body lean, too. 

The Ranger has more car-like handling, with precise steering and better composure on twisty roads.

Similarly, the Ranger rides more comfortably, soaking up bumps well. The Poer300, by comparison, jitters and fidgets over any surface that isn’t silky smooth, and this is especially noticeable on the motorway.

It’s worth noting that the Musso, while not as class leading as the Ranger, still has a better, more well-rounded driving experience than the Poer300.  

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The Poer300 isn’t that quiet. There’s plenty of engine, wind and road noise, more than you get with the Ranger.

Driving smoothly can be hindered by the sluggish gearbox, but little else gets in the way. 

“During my hour-long motorway commute, I can’t say I was a fan.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

You could say the GWM Poer300’s interior looks smarter than your average, rough-and-ready pick-up truck. There’s some metal-effect trim around the air vents, a chunky gear selector and two screens – one being the driver’s display and the other an infotainment system. 

Everything feels robust and there are some soft-touch materials on the dashboard, doors and armrests. The Poer300 runs it close with the Ford Ranger for interior quality.  

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

As you’d hope, the Poer300 has a high driving position that helps give you a grand view out and around. Just remember that, if you go for the top-spec Vanta trim, it adds a black rear ‘sports bar’ that slightly hinders your view over the shoulder. 

Every Poer300 gets LED headlamps and rear parking sensors, while mid-range Ultra and Vanta trim adds front-parking sensors and a 360-degree camera. 

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The 12.3in infotainment touchscreen is reasonably crisp and responsive, and it helps that there are some physical shortcut buttons below it. You also have physical buttons for the drive modes and 4x4 system. 

Still, to alter the climate control temperate, you have to prod around the screen, unlike in the Ranger where these controls are physical. 

Every Poer300 gets a handy wireless phone charger, with the pad located in front of the gear selector. 

“For a pick-up truck that’s priced on the cheaper end of the spectrum, I was impressed with the interior.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

The GWM Poer300 is roomy up front and every version is a double cab, meaning there are three rear seats. There’s a good amount of leg room, but head room is a little tight if you’re over six-foot tall. 

How much room does it have for luggage?

There are some useful cubbies dotted around the interior, but what you really want to know is how the load bay stacks up, right? Well, we have good news. 

The load bay is square shaped, measuring at 1.5m by 1.5m. It’s deeper than a Ford Ranger’s, but the volume works out about the same. The Poer300 also has a one-tonne payload, which, again, is similar to the Ranger. 

“I found those rear seats useful, but I can see why you might prefer a single cab version for load bay and tax reasons.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The GWM Poer300 is competitive in its pricing. As a cash purchase, every version costs between £32,000 and £38,000. Sure, the most basic Ford Ranger undercuts that former figure, but other versions shoot up. They don’t even fit in that price range. 

The Isuzu D-Max is another pricier rival. Only really the KGM Musso matches the Poer300 on cost, but that’s more an exception than the rule. 

The Poer300 officially averages 32.7mpg, which is similar to equivalent D-Max, Musso and Ranger models. Mind you, it’s worth noting that the Ranger – unlike other trucks referenced in this review – has a PHEV variant. It and the D-Max are available as single-cab trucks, too, which is another thing you might want to know because it’ll lower your company car tax. 

As for equipment, the Poer300’s entry-level Lux trim gets leatherette seats, auto-fold side mirrors and push-button start. If you’re after a workhorse, we can see why you’d settle for it. 

We’d spend the reasonable premium asked for the mid-range Ultra trim, though. It gets luxuries like heated and ventilated, electrically adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel and a sunroof. 

On the other hand, pay a little less attention to the top-spec Vanta trim, because all it really brings are some black styling details. It’s not worth the extra cost. 

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

If you look at our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, you unfortunately won’t find GWM or the Poer300. 

If something were to go awry, you have a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty to fall back on. That near-enough matches the warranty Isuzu and KGM provides, while beating the three-year warranty from Ford. 

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

There’s no Euro NCAP safety rating for the Poer300 yet, but at least it has plenty of standard safety tech, like automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and lane-change assist. Every Poer300 gets adaptive cruise control, too. 

“If you can’t stretch to the Ranger, I’d consider a Musso before looking at the Poer300. It’s better to drive.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Buy it if…

- You’re looking for a low-cost truck

- You want luxuries like heated and ventilated seats

- You want Ranger-rivalling space

Don’t buy it if…

- You want a smooth ride and confidence-inspiring handling

- You want a responsive gearbox

- You want a single-cab truck (because it’s double-cab only)

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