The BYD Shark 6 arrives in Australia in just one all-wheel drive variant. Priced at $57,900, before on-road costs, it’s more expensive than most rival Chinese challenger utes, but it’s more affordable than the most popular 4x4 versions of the HiLux (SR5) and Ranger (XLT) and keep in mind, it’s a plug-in hybrid, too.
It’s also worth noting the Shark 6 is dimensionally larger than the usual crop of dual-cabs from Japanese brands, it steps into an emerging size-bracket up, which it shares with the GWM Cannon Alpha.
To top it off, the standard equipment level is so high it includes things unexpected for the dual-cab segment.
From the outside, you’ll see 18-inch alloy wheels clad in Continental tyres, LED headlights and DRLs, aluminium roof racks, built-in LED lighting for the tray and puddle lamps in the doors, but the most impressive stuff is when you step into the cab.
Inside, the Shark 6 includes an array of cabin luxuries like full synthetic leather interior trimmings with power adjust as well as heating and ventilation in both front positions, a massive 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in navigation, of course with BYD’s signature rotating screen feature.
It also gets a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 12-speaker premium audio system, wireless phone charging, as well as keyless entry and push-start ignition.
There’s a lot more competition in the passenger car space, especially for EVs and PHEVs when it comes to high-end software and screen-focused designs, but in the ute space the screens and relatively slick software in the Shark 6 are luxuries usually outside the scope of the segment.
Perhaps the one downside to the Shark 6 for the time being is the lack of variety. It at least initially ships with just three colour choices, blue, white and black, with only a single interior trim option.
At the price, though, it’s hard to argue with the sheer value of the Shark 6. Sure, it’s not a budget ute option by any means, but it’s an affordable plug-in hybrid and it offers more equipment than pretty much any ute in the class.
Of course, with a ute there’s always more to consider than just cabin luxuries and equipment, and there is more to the story when it comes to capability, so read on if these factors are important to you.