There are some vehicles that don’t whisper their intent and spark conversation before you even turn the key. The BYD Shark 6 falls squarely in this camp. With its bold design and future-forward tech, this newcomer isn’t just dipping its toes into South Africa’s competitive bakkie waters. It’s diving in headfirst, with eyes set on shaking up a segment long dominated by the likes of the Ford Ranger, VW Amarok, Toyota Hilux – and even the elusive Mercedes-Benz X-Class.
Thanks to BYD South Africa’s PR and marketing manager, Debbie Sibiya, I had the pleasure of spending a week with this highly anticipated and confident disruptor. My journey spanned over 1 600 kilometres – through Gauteng, the North West, and Limpopo – an ideal route to test if the Shark 6 is a true challenger, or simply a flashy pretender.
Let’s get this out of the way: this is no ordinary bakkie. It’s a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and under its muscular frame, it is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine paired with BYD’s proprietary 29.58kWh Blade Battery – a featherlight, flame-resistant battery design that’s fast becoming a hallmark of the brand’s global EV strategy. Together, they produce a commanding 321kW of power and 650Nm of torque, delivering electrifying acceleration that sees it sprint from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.7 seconds. It may well be the fastest production bakkie on South African roads.
The test model came dressed in a striking Grey-Green metallic finish, gliding on 18-inch Continental tyres – an aesthetic that turned heads at every street, fuel stop, school, malls and roadside cafés. If cars were celebrities, the Shark would be the newcomer drawing a crowd at the red carpet.
Behind the wheel, it’s refined and surprisingly smooth, often making you forget you’re in a bakkie. The EV-like quietness adds a touch of elegance to the driving experience. But on long-haul drives, when the battery depletes and the petrol engine takes over, the 1.5-litre starts to show its limits – especially in Sport mode. A diesel PHEV option or a long-range BEV variant could truly make this offering invincible.
Yet the Shark holds its own off the beaten path. Its DMO Super Hybrid Platform comes with adaptive driving modes – Mountain, Sand, Snow and Mud – allowing it to shapeshift from urban cruiser to trail warrior with ease. It’s capable, composed and always eager for the next adventure.
On full charge, I achieved an electric range of about 85km and a total driving range of around 782km (697km petrol range). My average energy usage was 8.0L/100km and 5.3 kWh/100km – impressive figures for a bakkie in this class. Charging was seamless, too. I took advantage of both home charging and GridCars public stations, including a scenic stop at Zero Carbon Charge’s off-grid solar-powered outpost near Wolmaranstad in the North West. With good refreshments at Farm Flair Café and the Shark plugged in, it was an ideal blend of luxury, sustainability and convenience. The cost difference between stations was marginal (R238 at Zero Carbon Charge vs R201 at GridCars), but the experience of plugging into clean, solar-generated power was priceless.
Inside, the Shark 6 is as contemporary as its drivetrain. The 15.6-inch intelligent rotating touchscreen infotainment display and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster deliver an immersive and user-friendly interface. The cabin design is smartly executed, with quality materials and attention to detail similar to that of its German, American, and Japanese counterparts. Unlike some other Chinese entrants, nothing reset or rattled when the road got rough – everything remained solid and premium.
Starting from R959 900, the Shark 6 comes with a 5-year/100 000km vehicle warranty and an 8-year/200 000km battery warranty – reassuring in a market continuing to find its EV footing.
So, can it woo Mercedes-Benz X-Class nostalgists and Ford Ranger loyalists? I believe it can. More than just a new face, the Shark 6 is redefining what a lifestyle bakkie can be in a world that’s rapidly going electric.
Would I buy one? Absolutely. The next adventure might just involve towing a caravan to see how this PHEV warrior fares in a family getaway.
The verdict? The Shark has teeth – and it knows exactly how to use them.
