- BYD has introduced two new versions of the popular plug-in Shark 6.
- The Performance model gets a new 2.0-liter turbo with more power.
- Pickup’s towing capacity has also jumped from 2,500 kg to 3,500 kg.
The BYD Shark 6 has carved out a solid foothold in Australia since launch, emerging as a credible alternative to the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and Mazda BT-50. In fact, it was the country’s 18th best-selling vehicle last year. Towing has remained its weak spot, but that looks set to change with the arrival of a new flagship, the Shark 6 Performance.
And the timing is, let’s say, interesting. The announcement lands just a few weeks after Jim Farley took aim at Chinese pickups like the Shark 6 and their credentials as proper workhorses.
“They haven’t been doing it like our Ranger or the Hilux for decades,” Farley told Drive. “They don’t have all the chassis knowhow, all the towing and payload, and all the experience.” Coincidence, perhaps, though the new variant appears calibrated to answer at least part of that criticism.
Performance Hybrid Upgrade
Whereas the original model, known as the Shark 6 Premium, has a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid with 430 hp (321 kW) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm), the Shark 6 Performance now boasts a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder hybrid, boosting power to 469 hp (350 kW) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm). This extra grunt allows it to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.5 seconds, down from 5.7 seconds.
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More relevant is what sits behind those numbers. BYD has upgraded the Shark 6 Performance to tow up to 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs), putting it on par with key rivals and well above the standard model’s 2,500 kg (5,511 lbs) braked capacity. That figure lines up neatly with the Australian Ranger’s 3,500 kg ceiling. What remains unclear is payload, another area Farley was quick to highlight, and one BYD has yet to detail.
Beyond outright capability, there is some added finesse. BYD has added a Crawl Mode to the Shark 6 Performance, designed specifically for climbing over rocks, steep terrain, and deep ruts. In Crawl Mode, the hybrid truck is capped at 12.4 mph (20 km/h) and continuously adjusts torque to minimize traction loss.
Competitive Pricing Remains
Fittingly, the Shark 6 Performance is pricier than the standard Premium, starting at AU$62,900 (equal to around US$44,200 at current exchange rates) or AU$5,000 (US$3,500) more, excluding on-road costs. However, this still allows it to comfortably undercut the competition.
Joining the Performance in the new Shark 6 range is the Dynamic Cab-Chassis. This model is specifically targeted at tradesmen who don’t need the fancy bed of the regular trucks, but would rather have a strong alloy bed complete with eight tie-down points and two storage boxes. It can be configured with or without this bed and will start at AU$55,900 (US$39,300), using the same powertrain as the mid-range Shark 6 Premium.
