Things are heating up in the ute market and the BYD Shark 6 is proof. The new Shark 6 is the first plug-in hybrid electric ute (PHEV) on the market, signalling a big change for the segment that accounts for about one in five new vehicle sales.
The PHEV teams a small petrol engine with two electric motors and a sizeable battery pack. The battery pack allows it to be driven for about 80km on electricity, and the petrol engine allows it to travel anywhere in the country.
So what’s the story behind the BYD Shark 6?
The BYD Shark 6 does utes differently and represents the biggest shake-up to the segment in decades. While it has a rugged ladder frame chassis and dual-cab body — as per other load luggers — that’s about where the comparisons with Ford Rangers and Toyota Hiluxes end.
The Shark gets independent suspension front and rear and coil springs (most utes have a leaf-sprung rear-end with a live axle). It also does away with diesel propulsion and replaces it with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo engine and two electric motors. Power is mostly sourced from the electric with the engine acting as a generator to create electricity if you’re going on longer journeys.
The engine can also drive the front wheels above about 70 or 80km/h, providing added punch – something the Shark 6 isn’t lacking in. All up it makes 321kW, more than double the power of an average diesel ute. And there’s 650Nm of torque, which easily out-punches the ute big boys.
Who’s the buyer?
Anyone who buys utes, which is a broad cross-section of society. Tradies, families, grey nomads and anyone else who wants the flexibility and go-anywhere ability of a ute is on the Shark 6 hitlist.
Of course, the potential to run it on electricity and the running cost savings also make it a drawcard for those using utility vehicles for work. Little wonder BYD thinks it could appeal to plenty of fleet buyers – including government departments – keen to lower their fuel bills and ramp up the environmental cred.
Tell us about your first impressions.
Australia has had no shortage of cheap Chinese utes, but the BYD Shark 6 isn’t one of them. From the minute you slide inside it’s a car with serious substance. The cabin is spacious, even in the back seat. The nearly flat floor and decent rear legroom mean those in the back are also well-catered for.
Plus it’s nicely kitted out with everything from heated and ventilated front seats to a head-up display. There’s fake leather trim that compliments orange highlights and stitching to break up the dark grey theme elsewhere. All up it looks suitably upmarket. And it looks pretty cool from the outside, too, with some snazzy LED lights and bold BYD branding front and rear.
Give us the top lines on performance and/or efficiency/range. What’s it like to drive?
At about 2.7 tonnes the Shark is a few hundred kilos heavier than most utes, but there’s so much grunt that it doesn’t hurt performance. It’s refreshingly swift to react to throttle inputs and builds speed remarkably easily. If you’re used to diesel utes this thing will be a revelation. There’s no waiting for turbos to spin up or a gearbox to sort itself out. Press the throttle and forward progress ensues.
That extra thrust makes for easy overtaking, too. The Shark 6 has plenty in reserve and swiftly builds pace on the open road. It’s also well-behaved on the road with the independent suspension providing a firm, planted feel. No utes are sporty to drive, but the Shark 6 has more dynamism than most and sits on the road more like a well-sorted SUV than a load-lugging ute.
Off-road it’s not as adept as a Hilux, but it’ll still do more than most want or need. There’s decent clearance and a traction control system that quickly apportions drive to the wheels with grip. However, if you’re heading off-road make sure you replace the standard Continental tyres – they’re focused on eco-friendly bitumen running and are prone to punctures on gravel. BYD offers a range of accessories and upgrades, one of which is all-terrain tyres that are a must for any off-road adventure.
Tech & connectivity — what’s the word?
The BYD Shark 6 is a tech leader in the ute category.
As well as a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster it gets a 15.6-inch central infotainment screen that vividly displays images from the 360-degree camera. The screen can also rotate 90 degrees, although it’s more of a party trick than anything useful for everyday motoring.
Conveniently, You can use your phone as a key and delve into various embedded apps to customise the infotainment experience. And with over-the-air software updates the tech story can evolve throughout your ownership period.
And the lowdown on safety?
BYD says it’s targeting a five-star ANCAP rating for the Shark 6, which would match other models in the brand’s line-up. It gets airbags all around and a bunch of active safety systems, including driver monitoring, speed sign recognition, child presence detection, blind spot warning and door open warning.
And while rear cross-traffic alert is common in newer utes, the Shark 6 also picks up front cross-traffic alert, making it easier to poke the nose out of tight streets or intersections where side vision is limited.
The most memorable — or heartbreaking — thing about your drive?
There’s something cool about cruising through the outback nearly silently.
Depending on the drive mode and battery charge you can traverse rocky trails and sand hills entirely on electricity. And it’s a ute with effortless performance. Whereas diesel utes can feel cumbersome and sluggish the Shark 6 has an EV enthusiasm that’s refreshing.
There are some drawbacks, though. The biggest is for those planning to tow. The Shark 6’s tow capacity is 2500kg, a full tonne less than most other utes. While that’s fine for most ute buyers, there will be some who require the added hauling muscle.
One thing you should know before a test drive.
Plug-in hybrids only make sense if you can charge them at home. It’s the 80km-odd of EV range that is the big appeal, and while you can charge the Shark 6 at fast chargers, the car won’t always accept the full charge, so it’s not super fast.
Charge it overnight, though – it takes about 13 hours from a regular power point or four hours from a wall box – and you’ll make the most of the PHEV system.
Tell ’em the price, son!
It may be packed with tech and a game-changing drivetrain, but the BYD Shark 6 also undercuts big-name rivals on the value front. There’s only a single dual-cab model, called Premium, and it’s priced from $57,900 plus on-road costs. That puts it on a collision course with more basic models from Toyota, Ford and others. Throw in the plug-in hybrid drivetrain and the Shark 6 starts to look a whole lot more appealing.
