The BYD Shark 6 does ute very otherwise.
You get that as quickly as you’re taking off.
As a substitute of a grumbly diesel engine and a few preliminary laziness as a turbo spins up the Shark 6 eases away close to silently – and with the kind of low pace pull that electrical motors accomplish that effectively.
That’s as a result of it’s electrical motors doing all of the work to shift the dual-cab ute.
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The Shark 6 – which was initially merely referred to as Shark however has adopted “6” to permit for extra Shark utes within the BYD household – has two motors, one entrance, one rear.
There’s additionally a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, however for probably the most half it acts as a generator to create electrical energy and lengthen the vary of the 29.58kWh battery. Above about 70km/h the engine may also drive the wheels instantly.
So as a substitute of being restricted to about 80km of vary – it may be recharged from a house wallbox in about 4.5 hours – the Shark 6 can journey as much as 800km utilising its 60-litre gas tank.
Crucially, as soon as the battery has been depleted and the Shark 6 is operating in hybrid mode it’s claimed to make use of about 7.9 litres of premium unleaded per 100km.
That’s near the mixed claimed common gas use of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, though round city these two diesel utes will use extra.
2025 BYD Shark 6 PHEV ute: Worth and gear
Clearly the Shark 6 might be tempting for these desirous to decrease their ute operating prices – and companies eager to decrease their environmental footprint.
The Shark 6 seems to be set to turn out to be the primary plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) ute to hit the market when first deliveries kick off in December. There are extra coming, together with the Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV.
It’ll initially be supplied as a Shark 6 Premium. Pricing is but to be set however is anticipated to kick off at round $60,000, that means it’ll be priced towards pretty fundamental variations of the highest promoting utes.
But it’ll include a excessive stage of normal gear, together with heated, ventilated and electrically adjustable entrance seats, a head-up show, sensible key entry with the flexibility to make use of your cellphone as the important thing, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch central infotainment display screen incorporating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The fake leather-based trim does job of wanting like the actual factor and pink highlights and stitching within the cabin livens up the standard darkish supplies that make for an upmarket ute cabin.
2025 BYD Shark 6 PHEV ute: What we expect
Whereas compelling EV utes are on the way in which, for now a PHEV permits homeowners to do their on a regular basis driving solely on electrical energy however with the back-up of petrol for longer journeys and most thrust.
That’s one thing the Shark 6 isn’t missing.
Between the 2 motors and one engine there’s a full 321kW and 650Nm. That’s a lot greater than the large gamers – assume Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger – albeit tempered by its general mass.
The Shark 6 weighs 2710kg, tons of greater than rival utes.
Nonetheless, it ought to depart these huge gamers within the rear imaginative and prescient mirror when taking off from a standstill.
By means of corners, too, the Shark 6 performs with the sharp finish of city by way of ute dynamics.
Whereas there’s a ladder body structure incorporating a battery pack between the chassis rails it additionally has impartial double wishbone suspension entrance and rear in addition to coil springs.
That’s a giant departure from the leaf spring, stay axle rear-end commonplace on utes.
To be truthful, our drive was transient and restricted to the apron of an airfield, nearly completely devoid of bumps – and the corners have been made up.
But it surely was sufficient to study that the Shark 6 is effectively behaved when referred to as on to vary instructions rapidly.
Certain, it leans on its entrance wheels while you step up the tempo, however 18-inch Continental tyres assist hold issues in verify and there’s respectable physique management.
Crucially, it underwent in depth testing and growth in Australia utilizing each BYD and impartial Australian engineers.
Elsewhere, the BYD Shark 6 has a lot to lIke.
The daring look of the outside flows by way of to the cabin the place there’s a great deal of area. Within the again seat there’s good head and legroom and sufficient area underneath the entrance seats for large toes.
There’s one space the Shark 6 lags its heavy hitting rivals: what it could possibly carry.
The payload is 790kg, which is in direction of the decrease finish for a extremely specified ute.
And its towing capability is 2500kg, a full tonne behind most utes.
2025 BYD Shark 6 PHEV ute: Verdict
Nonetheless, if BYD can hold the worth of the Shark 6 under $60,000 – pricing is about to be introduced on October 29 – it may offering an fascinating eco-focussed various to the large sellers.
The one factor the BYD Shark 6 doesn’t have is a repute, nor a long time of householders to spruik its credentials. That may solely include time.
However having the ability to use it as an EV for on a regular basis operating round whereas having petrol as a back-up for longer journeys will little question enchantment to some.
And people early adopters look set to be shopping for a ute that has a lot to supply.
BYD Shark 6 worth and equipmentPrice: From about $60,000Basics: PHEV, 5 seats, 4 doorways, Ute, AWDRange: About 80km (EV solely), about 800km (electrical and petrol)Battery capability: 29.58kWhBattery guarantee: 8 years/160,000kmEnergy consumption: TBA (EV consumption), 7.9L/100km gas use in hybrid modeMotors: 1 entrance and 1 rear; 321kW/650Nm (mixed outputs)AC charging: 7kW, Sort 2 plugDC charging: 55kW, CCS combo plug0-100km/h: 5.7 seconds