After shaking up the passenger car and SUV segment in Australia with the Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin, and Sealion 6, BYD is now ready to tackle what might just be the most important vehicle types in the nation – pickup trucks, or “ute” as it’s known there.
The BYD Shark 6 has just gone on sale in Australia with a price tag of AUD57,900 (approx. RM167k) before on-road costs, making it price competitive with the other mid-range pickup truck variants in the country, while offering equipment rivalling their range-toppers, and more power than even the Ford Ranger Raptor.
In fact, pricing was so much lower than expected that even its order-taking website crashed almost immediately after launch!
More power than the Raptor, you say? Well, yes – that’s because the BYD Shark 6 is powered by a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, the first of such on a pickup truck in Australia. The series-hybrid powertrain consists of a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, acting as a generator to power two electric motors, one on each axle, which drives the wheels.
System output is rated at 436 hp (321 kW) and 650 Nm, making it the most powerful model within its class. Century sprint is achieved in just 5.7 seconds on paper, and thanks to the 29.6 kWh battery pack and a 60 L fuel tank, the BYD Shark 6 is able to travel for up to 840 km (NEDC) in hybrid drive mode, or 100 km in pure electric drive.
Using a 7 kW AC charger, the BYD Shark 6’s battery can be topped up from 30-80% in about two hours, and fairly uniquely on a PHEV, it also supports DC fast charging at up to 55 kW, taking approximately 25 minutes to add the same amount of energy.
The Shark 6 also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, with three power outlets in the truck bed and one more inside the cabin to power your other electrical appliances using the truck’s high voltage battery.
In terms of actual pickup specifications, BYD Automotive Australia says the Shark 6 is rated for a payload capacity of 790 kg, alongside a 2,500 kg braked towing capacity. Both are lower than the segment standards, although if your main concern is just to run around off the beaten track, the Shark 6’s breakaway angles are all roughly in line with its competitors.
It’s also built on a ladder frame chassis, and has independent double wishbone suspensions on both axles. Although, its high kerb weight of 2,710 kg might make it less agile on tricky terrains.
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Despite its PHEV powertrain, BYD did not try to reinvent the wheel in terms of styling… unlike a certain Cybertruck. It’s still recognisable as a pickup truck, with a tall and flat front fascia, and a normal looking truck bed design. The chunky front bumper, skid plate elements, and wraparound plastic claddings all help give the BYD Shark 6 a more rugged appearance.
In Australia, the sole Premium variant will come as standard with 18-inch wheels, aluminium roof rack, LED lighting including puddle lights, and fixed side steps.
Inside, the rotating 15.6-inch infotainment display takes centre stage, paired to a 10.25-inch instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, and complemented by features including dual-zone automatic climate control, a head-up display, black leather upholstery, and an advanced driver assistance suite that includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, front- and rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, and lane departure warning.
The BYD Shark 6 has pretty much already been confirmed for launch here in Malaysia, with BYD Malaysia Managing Director, Eagle Zhao recently stating that a model viability study for our market is already underway.
Could we see a similar pricing strategy for the BYD Shark 6 here on our shores? Well, unlike Australia, we Malaysians unfortunately do not enjoy any form of government incentives for hybrid vehicles, so chances are they probably won’t be too different in pricing to the other competitors. But of course, only time will tell for sure, so keep your eyes peeled!
READ MORE: BYD Shark coming to Malaysia? EV brand to explore new market segments as it records 10,000 cars sold
