Pickup trucks in the Philippines have always been about utility. This is why they have diesel engines—for more torque for hauling things; why there’s lots of plastics in the interior—for easy maintenance; and why most are using stiff rear suspensions—for higher payload capacity. The Ford Ranger Raptor spiced things up a bit by being race-oriented but at its core, it just built upon a classic formula.
The BYD Shark 6 DMO is the first pickup to really go the other way. It’s like having kids that are eyeing traditional professions like being a doctor or lawyer, and here comes your youngest that wants to be an influencer. The BYD Shark looks different, acts different, and feels different—all in a good way. So, I immediately said yes when I had the chance to take it for a long drive up north. We went through highways, rural roads, and a lot of unpaved paths to see if the BYD Shark 6 can walk the talk.
One would have to shelf their notions on what a pickup truck should be once they meet the BYD Shark 6. Beginning with the startup, I was asking myself if I actually started it because there were no vibrations or the usual engine noise of a diesel mill. The Shark starts on hybrid mode by default and even then, it won’t start the engine immediately if there’s enough charge on the batteries left. Put it in EV mode and it moved around the parking lot and out of the ramp very quietly. I was laughing at how crazy it all was to me.
The reason for that quietness is the powertrain. BYD chose to utilize a 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engine as the generator for this pickup, along with an electric motor at the front and rear axle. This is complemented with a 29.6-kWh battery that results in a total power output of 435 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque. All that power and it sips gas like a small sedan resulting in a combined range of over 800 kilometers. Again, what a crazy reality.
You’d also revise your expectations for a pickup’s cabin. There are soft touch materials all over, very ergonomic seats even at the rear, a huge rotating touchscreen, a digital gauge cluster, and even a heads-up display are all standard! There are less buttons but BYD chose to save some on the steering wheel and a series of aircraft-inspired push buttons by the shifter.
There’s also hidden tricks at the cargo bed. The tailgate is opened via a soft-touch button on the top left side. It has a hydraulic assist that softens the drop of the tailgate even if you don’t hold it. Lastly, there are outlets by the cargo bed that allows you to plug devices, chargers, and appliances directly without need for converters or adapters. It has a waterproof cover so it’s safe to use even after a torrential rain (not during, okay?).
The Shark’s unique nature continues on the road. It doesn’t behave like a typical pickup. It’s more planted, the rear doesn’t jump out at every road imperfection, and the cabin is very very quiet. Wind noise doesn’t creep in until you’re at the speed limit and even then, music can just easily drown it out at a pleasant volume level.
It acts quickly with the steering so that it doesn’t feel like you’re driving a huge pickup. The Shark 6 easily conquers snappy lane changes to tight corners as if it’s a smaller car. There’s also minimal body roll giving you more confidence when taking those curves.
BYD also got the geometry right for the Shark 6. It has huge dimensions but it doesn’t feel like that once you’re in the driver’s seat. The edges of the car are easy to estimate even without the aid of the 360-camera system. We went through tight parking lots, condensed rural towns, and a lot of traffic with the BYD Shark and in all scenarios we can squeeze in and out without much trouble.
Throttle response is also the same as its hybrid brothers—the Sealion 6 and Seal 5—in that it’s more EV-ish than traditional despite being hybrid by nature. This means you can tap most of the 650 Nm of torque immediately to get past others. Overtakings are too easy and even on a steep uphill, you can just press the throttle deeper and it will immediately pull itself up faster. No drop in rpm or waiting for the turbo to kick-in.
The Shark is just as good on unpaved roads. The All-Wheel Drive system is quick to change priority in its traction control and changes can be done while on the move. Its Hill Descent Control is also commendable for being intuitive as you can change speeds with the throttle and brakes. This is better in my opinion as it lets you focus on the steering while on a difficult path. It also doesn’t deactivate itself giving you better safety on the trail.
Its cameras are also impressive. The stitching between the cameras is so good I thought there was a camera underneath the Shark 6. The Dynamic Guidelines of the cameras are also very accurate in that you can trust them in avoiding certain sections of the road.
Perhaps the biggest draw of the BYD Shark 6, even more than its power figures, is its ‘power bank ability’. It has a Vehicle-2-Load capability that allows you to power up devices and appliances via the pickup’s batteries. You don’t need adapters or power generators anymore.
During our trip that consists of around 40 people, Overland Kings set up a campsite at the dirt course near Alviera in Pampanga. One BYD Shark was used to power up 4 Iwata air coolers, 1 portable aircon unit, and around 4 fridges. The other one was used for a Starlink and an espresso machine. This was repeated in our campsite in Mangatarem River Park in Pangasinan. One unit was used to power 6 Iwata air coolers while another one was used for the kitchen. A third one was used again for the tent with a portable aircon. If ever you run out of charge, just start the engine to charge the batteries. Running low on fuel? Go to a nearby gas station. Problems solved.
If the BYD Shark 6 can sustain a campsite for 40 people, it can definitely sustain couples and barkadas with their camping or overlanding trip. You can even go crazy and bring a small washing machine with a dryer so you can stay off the grid for longer.
At a glance, the BYD Shark 6 looks like a modern pickup - but it’s more than that. It’s still capable of traditional pickup things with its 835-kilogram payload and 2,500-kilogram towing capacity, but it focused on something else. There’s comfort for all occupants which is new to those who are used to a pickup’s second row. A lot of tech is also present in the cabin that has premium materials all over - something that’s new to those used with Japanese pickups. Lastly, it drives like a good SUV.
If you’re allured to the BYD Shark because of that, it will certainly introduce you to something new. For sure, you’ll try some light camping activities to try out its Vehicle-to-Load capability and flex a bit to your friends. Tailgate parties at gas stations on NLEX or SLEX will also be more comfortable as you can bring an aircon when it's a hot and humid night.
The BYD Shark 6 DMO starts at P 2,098,000 for the Advanced model, and the Premium is P 200,000 more. Naturally, you’d think they’ll remove a lot of features for the base model because that’s what most brands do, but that’s not the case here. If your budget can’t make the cut for the top-of-the-line trim, you’ll only lose out on ‘things one can live without.’ I’m talking about the Advanced Driver Assist System (which can be offset by being an alert and responsible driver), Heads-Up Display, High Beam Assist, Aluminum Roof Rail, Sports Bar on the cargo bed, 4-way lumbar support and Heating/Cooling function on the Driver’s Seat, Negative Ion Purifier, PM2.5 Cabin Air Filter, and Trailer Power Interface. None of which are crucial in what makes the BYD Shark 6 fun on and off the road.
After 2 days with the BYD Shark 6 and having driven it on different roads, highways, and unpaved paths, I say it’s one of the few cars you can buy on an impulse and won’t regret. Going for a different direction in the pickup segment not only presented new possibilities, it also set the bar high for what we can get for the price point.
Words and Photos by Vincent Villa
Is this an advertorial? The author is like reading a brochure from byd.
ReplyDeleteThe price gap with ICE pick-up is more than the gas savings.
ReplyDeleteI don't see the advantage over traditional pick-ups, less reliable and less capable pick up
Expect savings by as much as 45% savings using HEV mode and 71% using electricity. The best part, if you invest on solar, savings is as much as 95% on fuel. A friend of mine who currently owns a Ford Raptor reckon that he can save as much as P14,000 a month or P168,000 per year by selling his Raptor for this. That's a savings of P1.34M for the life of its 8 year warranty. Wow!
ReplyDeleteGiys, it has 160km/h top speed 🤢
ReplyDeleteThis BYD Shark pickup truck is way more reliable and fuel efficient than the Ford Ranger Raptor
ReplyDeleteBYD hired the same technical people from Australia who are previously involved in the development of Ranger T6,Colorado/D Max and Hilux when they've created the BYD Shark pickup truck
Just because they hired these people doesn't mean its reliable. Still unproven. BYD has a history of being on fire.
DeleteIm not sure if savings and reliability is correct. When an engine keep starting and turning off, you increase wear and tear because engine takes time to lubricate the motor properly and if reaches it proper temperature. And when the engine turns off so oil goes back to oil pan and no oil is left as it is shaken back due to vibrations. So imagine that happening so many times a day, a week, a month and years. Engines are designed best run continuously. So savings and reliability hmmm
ReplyDeleteIts not a question of "if" but a question of "when" BYD will be the no. 1 car company in the world. Two years ago, it was projected to be in 2030 but that projection is recently updated to year 2028. So get the hang of it.
ReplyDelete