Five From Five — GWM Returns to Beer O’Clock Hill

March 13, 2026

Beer O’Clock Hill has become something of a measuring stick in Australia’s off-road scene. The steep Queensland climb is notorious for exposing weaknesses in traction, gearing, and driver patience. Loose rock, deep ruts, and an unforgiving gradient have humbled plenty of vehicles over the years, which is exactly why manufacturers keep returning to it.

This month, GWM rolled back to the climb with a small fleet and a simple goal: get every vehicle to the top.

Five vehicles attempted the hill. Five vehicles made it.

The result builds on the brand’s earlier attempt in 2025 and expands it into something closer to a repeatable benchmark. This time the lineup included a broader mix of powertrains, combining traditional diesel models with GWM’s newer electrified off-road platform.

Among the vehicles tackling the climb were the new GWM Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV and GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV, both running the company’s Hi4-T plug-in hybrid system. They joined three other models that have now also completed the climb: the GWM Cannon XSR, GWM Cannon Alpha Hi4-T PHEV, and the diesel-powered GWM Tank 300 Diesel.

One detail stood out in particular. The Tank 300 Hi4-T PHEV completed the climb in full production specification on standard highway tyres. There were no mechanical modifications, calibration tweaks, or software adjustments made to prepare the vehicle for the hill.

That matters, because Beer O’Clock Hill is not the sort of climb that rewards optimism. Momentum is hard to maintain as tyres search for grip across loose rock and stepped ruts, while traction systems are often pushed to their limits trying to manage wheelspin.

Much of the discussion around the climb centres on GWM’s Hi4-T system. Unlike hybrid systems that prioritise fuel efficiency, Hi4-T integrates electrification directly into the off-road platform. The architecture combines electric torque delivery with traditional four-wheel-drive hardware, including a low-range transfer case and locking differentials.

The idea is simple enough. Instant electric torque can help maintain controlled traction at low speeds, particularly in situations where a conventional engine might struggle to deliver smooth, progressive power. On steep terrain, that kind of control often matters more than outright power.

Across the five vehicles that have now reached the summit, three are powered by the Hi4-T plug-in hybrid system while two rely on GWM’s 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine. It provides an interesting comparison between conventional and electrified approaches to the same off-road challenge.

For New Zealand drivers, the location might be different but the terrain is familiar. Tracks around the country regularly feature steep climbs, shifting surfaces and conditions that quickly reveal how well a vehicle manages torque and traction.