The brand-new BYD Shark 6 has landed in bakkie-loving South Africa. BYD stands for Build Your Dreams and it’s yet another example of China flexing its electrification muscles. Even more impressive is how the BYD Shark 6 is priced below the all-important R1-million mark. Retailing for R959 900, it sits like something from outer space in amongst a segment of traditional diesel workhorses.
Let’s talk numbers, because the BYD Shark 6’s powertrain is highly unique for a bakkie. It’s a plug-in hybrid that combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with dual electric motors, one mounted on each axle. In total, it delivers a combined output of 321 kW and 650 Nm of torque – this makes the BYD Shark 6 the most powerful bakkie on sale in South Africa.
BYD SHARK 6
Cleverly, the 29.6-kWh battery pack is integrated into the chassis floor, contributing to the vehicle’s structural rigidity. You get 100 km of pure electric range and a claimed/combined driving range is 800 km. However, during our test period with the BYD Shark 6, the real-world range display was closer to 600 km. Nevertheless, in theory, you can run around town on electricity during the week. And still have the security of the petrol range extender for the weekend getaway.
Of course, the battery can be charged via a DC fast charger or a more leisurely AC home charging setup. The control electronics is alway very good at keeping the battery charged up as you drive, too. One of the BYD Shark 6’s party pieces is generator functionality (accessed in the load bay) with up to 6.6 kW of power output for camping trips or load-shedding emergencies. Remember those!?
IS IT A PROPER BAKKIE?
However, most South Africans will want to know – does it work like a proper double-cab bakkie? The dimensions suggest as much – it’s huge. At 5 457-mm long with a 3 260-mm wheelbase, it’s not just comparable to class leaders, it usurps them. The rear load bay measures 1 500-mm long and wide, and 517-mm deep, offering a cavernous 1 200 litres of cargo volume.
Likewise, it more than stacks up in a game of off-road clearances. As such, the BYD Shark 6 boasts 230 mm ground clearance. The forward approach angle is a respectable 31 degrees, which will see you clear most obstacles. But your departure (19.3 degrees) and breakover (17 degrees) angles are more on the urban side. A wading depth of 700 mm is adequate for river crossings. But a plug-in hybrid with a battery pack and two electric motors doesn’t exactly scream water, now does it?
INTERIOR OF THE BYD SHARK 6
However, the interior is where the BYD Shark 6 truly differentiates itself from the traditional bakkie brigade. Firstly, you get a 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen with exquisite graphics. Then there’s the pin-shark head-up display and twelve-speaker Dynaudio sound system. It boasts brilliant semi-autonomous driving modes and all the interior mod cons you could wish for. Be in no doubt, this is a quiet, luxurious car that just happens to have load bay at the back.
It’s here that you begin to appreciate the BYD Shark 6 and its positioning as a lifestyle vehicle. Yes, there’s the practicality of a double cab, but not doused with the stink of utilitarianism. Better still, the new-age drivetrain actually excels on gravel roads. Dual-electric motors deliver instant torque to any wheel needed. This provides a significant advantage when traction is at a premium. The only downside in extreme off roading is the rather substantial kerb weight of around 2.8 tonnes. And its sheer size.
THE VERDICT
To our mind, the BYD Shark 6 is a bit like a cut-price Rivian R1T electric pick-up truck you’ll find in the United States (which we have driven). However, the Chinese have taken a more pragmatic approach with the security of the plug-in hybrid. At just R959 900, the BYD Shark 6 represents incredible value for money in the double-cab segment.
It’s too early to tell whether traditional bakkie buyers are ready to embrace plug-in hybrid technology just yet. However, the BYD Shark 6 is certainly paving the way for more modern, tech-laden double cabs. All things considered, this isn’t just another Chinese import trying to undercut the establishment on price alone. BYD is flexing its electrification muscles in a traditionally conservative segment, and it’s making the everyone take notice.
BYD SHARK 6: THE FIGURES
- BYD Shark 6 Double Cab
- Drivetrain: 1 499 cc turbo petrol + 29.6 kWh battery pack
- Power: 321 kW @ 5 000 rpm, 650 Nm @ 2 000 rpm
- Performance: 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds (claimed)
- Price: R959 900
