Following over 12 months of rigorous testing in Australia, the BYD SHARK 6 (from AUD$57,900 plus on-road costs) is here to join the brand’s Ocean series and shake up the ute market Down Under.
The country’s first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) ute will join BYD’s growing range of new energy vehicles in Australia—including the DOLPHIN, SEAL, SEALION 6, and ATTO 3—and will feature the brand’s world-leading DM-O (dual-mode off-road) technology, which makes it a world leader in fuel efficiency.
We had a chance to attend the Australian launch of the BYD SHARK 6 in Broken Hill, spend some time behind the wheel, and talk with EVDirect CEO David Smitherman about the new plug-in hybrid ute. We don’t want to give away too much too early, but having driven every new ute on sale in Australia, you don’t have to spend much time behind the wheel of the SHARK 6 to realise that this is the vehicle that will shake up this vehicle segment the most—it’s that good.
“The SHARK 6 marks a really exciting moment for the brand as Australia’s first plug-in hybrid ute that’s been specifically made and tested on our roads, for our roads,” says Smitherman. “It’s the first plug-in hybrid ute to hit our shores, and with an electric range of more than 80km, it can be driven around town as an electric vehicle, and for those longer drives, the petrol engine kicks in to recharge the battery. With its combined driving range of more than 800km, it means range anxiety is a thing of the past.”
It’s been decades since any form of truly innovative technology has been brought into the rugged ute segment, and that’s exactly what BYD is doing here with the SHARK 6. It combines the brand’s pioneering DM-O (Dual-Mode Off-road) technology with all of the features you’d expect in a high-end ute, and it does so at an extremely competitive price. However, Smitherman wants to reiterate that the BYD SHARK 6 is also more than up to the task.
The ute has spent more than 12 months on Australian soil being developed, and he has even racked up a few thousand kilometres himself.
“We know Aussies love their utes—about one in five vehicles sold in Australia is a ute—so we understand the strong cultural ties Australians have with these types of vehicles. That’s why we’ve ensured this is our most Australian vehicle yet,” he says. “The SHARK 6 has been designed specifically for Australian conditions and has been rigorously tested here for more than 12 months.”
“I’ve just returned from a 4,500km round trip of Outback Australia, and proven firsthand that the SHARK 6 can handle the toughest terrain across remote areas. From sand dunes and rugged mountains to creek beds and beaches, the SHARK 6 didn’t miss a beat and we were extremely comfortable the whole time.”
We had some time to drive the car around a property in Broken Hill and our first impressions echoed David’s sentiment. This is a very comfortable vehicle to travel in, and it has plenty of power and technology to match. Don’t let that 2.0 litres/100km (SoC <25 per cent) fuel efficiency figure fool you either because there’s 321kW of power and 650Nm of torque sitting under your right foot when you want it. Let’s take a closer look!
Electric-First Power Built By World-Leading Technology
| BYD SHARK 6 | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Engine outputs | 135kW / 260Nm |
| Electric motor outputs | 170kW / 310Nm front 150kW / 340Nm rear |
| System outputs | 321kW 650Nm |
| Battery | 29.58kWh LFP |
| Transmission | Single speed, reduction gear |
| Driven wheels | e-AWD |
| Weight | 2,710kg (kerb) |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 2.0 litres/100km (SoC <25 per cent) |
| Electric driving range (PHEV) | 100km (NEDC) |
| Max AC charge rate | 7kW |
| Max DC charge rate | 55kW |
| Braked towing capacity | 2,500kg |
When it comes to power, the BYD SHARK 6 is an electric-first vehicle. It’s powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 135kW/260Nm, which is boosted by two electric motors. These motors produce 179kW/310Nm on the front axle and 150kW/340Nm on the rear axle for a combined power output of 320kW. That means a 0-100km/h sprint takes just 5.7 seconds, which is very rapid.
Impressively, a vehicle with this much power is also highly fuel efficient, with fuel consumption of just 2.0 litres/100km (SoC <25 per cent), and this allows it to achieve a combined range of approximately 800km. This is a hallmark feature of the BYD brand and it means the SHARK 6 is ideal for long-distance road trips.
BYD SHARK 6 Ute Puts Innovation at the Core
BYD is the world’s fastest-growing new energy automotive brand, and Smitherman gave us a little of the insight into how the brand produces such innovative products. “I was recently in China on a tour of BYD’s facilities and the first thing that hits you is the scale,” he says. “BYD has close to a million employees working on every facet of these vehicles, which means we’re able to provide world-leading technology while still making it affordable for the everyday Australian.”
“We have sold over 30,000 in less than two years. Not only does BYD have the SHARK 6, but this year we’ve also released the SEALION 6, which is Australia’s number one plug-in hybrid vehicle.”
“We can see the demand is there if this technology is accessible, and the more people that test drive these vehicles, the more popular they’ll get. That’s my challenge to anyone thinking of purchasing a new energy vehicle: take a test drive of a BYD, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the combination of innovation, comfort and power.”
Like other BYD vehicles, the SHARK 6 has packed plenty of cutting-edge equipment inside the cabin to match that impressive electric first powertrain.
BYD’s 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment display is integrated into the cabin and comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The driver’s 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster displays all the important trip information and features plenty of customisation. Meanwhile, there’s a head-up display, voice assistant, FM and DAB+ radio, satellite navigation, and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, which sounds great and makes daily use and long-range journeys particularly enjoyable.
Everything you touch and feel has been considered, from the leather-wrapped steering wheel to the heated and ventilated front seats you sit on. You could be forgiven for thinking you were sitting inside a luxury SUV.
During our time with the car, all the small things really added up to take the experience to the next level. The 50W wireless charger doesn’t just maintain your phone’s battery while using Apple CarPlay but charges it, too. Then there’s the keyless entry that makes ingress and egress easy when your hands are full, and you don’t want to dig into your pocket to find the key.
If you’re an adventurer (or tradie) features like V2L (vehicle-to-load) will also change the way you use your vehicle because the SHARK 6 can power your tools, campsites or any number of home appliances from the three powerpoints in the vehicle. For example, we used it to power three pod coffee machines at the top of a hill while watching the sunrise in Broken Hill.
Last but not least, the LED headlights with automatic high beams were great for night travel on the dark, sealed roads around Broken Hill.
You Can Make the BYD SHARK 6 Your Own
The BYD SHARK 6 has very impressive introductory pricing of AUD$57,900 plus on-road costs in Australia, and it’s available in four colours, including:
- Great White
- Tidal Black
- Deep Sea Blue
- Outback Orange (Due mid-2025)
Excitingly, local distributor EVDirect will be offering official IRONMAN 4×4 accessories through BYD dealerships that let you customise your new BYD SHARK 6 for your next adventure. These include tow bars, bull bars, a nudge bar, a roof rack, bonnet protectors, weather shields, an electric tonneau cover, a cargo liner, a sports hoop/roll bar, a tailgate seal kit, and even underbody protection and a suspension kit (shocks, height adjust struts, coil springs) which are set to arrive in 2025.
Unquestionably the biggest new car launch in Australia this year, the BYD SHARK 6 is available to purchase online right now at bydautomotive.com.au or through BYD’s growing number of Australian stores.
