BYD SHARK
New from £46,935
How long will it take to charge?
Results based on 32.20kWh BYD SHARK battery
0
For a part charge (up to 0 miles)
0
For an 0% charge 0
You can charge this vehicle in 33 minutes at its fastest charging speed of 100 kW
* We have used data from the manufacturer to estimate these charging times, they are only a guide. Charging times for some speeds may not have been provided.
Is the BYD SHARK Pickup a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Tom Roberts
"BYD wants the Shark to appeal to SUV and family drivers, AND those looking for a new commercial vehicle… and sometimes they’re the same people, sometimes not. The company appears to understand this, but that only makes the final product more confusing. On the one hand this is a very nice PHEV pick-up truck boasting a big cabin, loads of (actually quite good) tech, smooth and quiet driving manners, huge potential efficiency ratings, and a bold style. Sounds good, right? It’s everything you might want from an SUV or family vehicle. But the Shark does have limitations. For one, its claimed 80.7mpg is dependent on keeping the battery charged, and hard to achieve in the real world. For two, its towing capability is 2,500 kg while its most straight-shot competitor – the Ford Ranger PHEV – can tow 3,500 kg. And for three, it’s not a commercial vehicle… at least not from the tax man’s point of view. But you know what? Considering BYD’s popularity in the UK its limitations will be overlooked, and it now has a pick-up truck available in the UK when it could have just churned out another SUV or crossover like so many other brands."
Green Rating
BYD’s vehicle range is made up of fully electric and plug-in hybrids, and the fact it makes its own ‘Blade’ batteries noses it well ahead of competing brands, allowing it to produce zero- and low-emission vehicles quickly. However, BYD was light on the details when it answered our sustainability questionnaire. We want to hear more about how the company uses recycled materials and what its targets are to reduce water usage, for example. Anyway, the go-anywhere appeal of the Shark PHEV pick-up truck and 55 miles of all-electric range does mean its impact on the environment are less than non-hybrid pick-ups – but if you don’t keep the battery charged you’ll be burning more petrol. And it’s a pick-up truck, so it’s heavier and likely to drink more fuel! Run it properly otherwise it won’t be the green machine it could be.
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Running costs for a BYD SHARK
For a pick-up truck costing over £47K its fuel economy had better be good, and the Shark is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) so it is. Apparently, it can return just over 80mpg when the hybrid system is operating at peak efficiency. However, those figures drop to around 29mpg if you’re only using petrol power, and are probably difficult to achieve outside of test conditions. Therefore, like any other PHEV, it’s critical to charge the 55-mile battery – not just to get the big efficiency figures, but to enjoy its smoother and greener electric drive. And don’t worry about the purchase price, a good finance or lease deal will break that down. The only concerns related to running costs will hit those wanting to use it as a commercial vehicle – the tax man says it doesn't qualify because it’s a double cab that can only carry 790 kg in the load space. That means you can’t reclaim the VAT on it and it’s treated as a car for benefit-in-kind tax – although you do get the lower rate because it’s a hybrid. So, it’s swings and roundabouts… with well-maintained swings for those wanting an efficient big car, and roundabouts you fall off in front of your friends for those wanting to run the Shark as a commercial vehicle.
Reliability of a BYD SHARK
The length of a vehicle’s warranty is always a good indication of a manufacturer’s confidence it will hold itself together, so it’s reassuring to a six-year vehicle warranty and eight-year battery and drive-unit warranty. Both packages are way longer than the average lease length (two to five years), which is encouraging and always a good selling point. However, the double-wishbone suspension setup on the front and rear axles is the question mark for me. That kind of suspension is great for improved handling and control, but is more vulnerable to wear and tear and down-the-road maintenance costs. One to watch, methinks.
Safety for a BYD SHARK
It’s a packed list on the Shark’s safety front, reinforced by its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. You get a full complement of airbags and loads of driver assistance systems including intelligent cruise control, emergency lane keeping assist, blind spot detection, traffic alerts, driver fatigue monitoring, and more. There’s not a lot of binging and bonging to contend with, and I really liked the 360-degree rear-view camera’s crisp feed on the main screen. The snug seating and the huge number of grab handles in the cabin just added to how safe I felt driving the Shark on and off the road. However, unlike every other part of the 4x4 system which has its own hard button or selector switch on the central console, the hill descent control ‘button’ is hidden on the main screen’s swipe-down menu. I don’t like hiding functions on touch-screens, especially one so important to safe off-road driving.
How comfortable is the BYD SHARK
BYD knows how to make a good car interior which is where the Shark’s identity crisis is most apparent. It feels like a premium SUV interior with black 'vegan leather' seats, red stitching, gold inlays and big screens. Pick-up truck interiors are nicer than they’ve ever been, and I’d go so far as saying the Shark’s is up there with the nicest. It’s very comfortable, spacious, and filled with storage and charging sockets. Heck, it was as comfortable to drive off-road as it was on-road…The double-wishbone suspension on the front and rear axles combined with the always-on all-wheel drive makes the vehicle feel planted – even when plunging into deep water or driving through staggered mud-filled potholes. I just wish we’d had more time to test the off-road system on open rough terrain. What little we did have on that kind of surface was great fun and impressively comfortable.
Features of the BYD SHARK
There’s a fair bit to get through here because you know how BYD goes with its equipment lists – cram it all in! Highlights include the big central 15.6-inch touch-screen infotainment display and 10.25-inch driver display behind the steering wheel. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity works but was a bit iffy, switching the view between both scenes occasionally without me asking it to, although you do get a wireless charging dock to sweeten the deal. The head-up display is easy to understand and very sharp in daylight. You can fit quite a bit of kit in the rear load space, but make sure you choose the right roller shutter or canopy to fit on the back… not all of them are water proof let alone water resistant. I did like the tailgate step that slides out of the drop-down panel, although the GWM Poer300 also has one so it lessened the impact BYD wanted it to have on me. Overall, there’s loads to like and BYD’s tech is better than a lot of other manufacturers can offer. The always on all-wheel-drive 4x4 system seems to be pretty good, despite our test on open rough terrain being VERY short. A toggle switch allows you to choose the terrain type you’re on and the truck adjusts everything for you. It’s not as clever as the Toyota Hilux BEV's fully-intelligent 4x4 system, but it’s close.
Power for a BYD SHARK
The Shark’s hybrid powertrain combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine with electric motors on the front and rear axles. The power setup slightly favours the front axle, which is what you want for a heavier 4x4 vehicle and you can feel there’s 430 horsepower at your disposal… but UK road restrictions and rough terrain won’t let you appreciate it. However, all that power helps you tow up to 2,500 kg on a braked trailer and carry nearly 800 kg in the load space. Which means the truck is heavier than it looks, because the Ford Ranger PHEV can carry over 1,000 kg in its load space and tow 3,500 kg on a braked trailer. It is what it is, and what it ISN'T is a commercial vehicle where more power and more weight-carrying capacity is critical. The Shark is a powerful family car for those looking for something more than just another SUV. I enjoyed my time with it, but BYD’s pick-up left me with a nagging question in my brain. If you’re a family that surfs or goes biking, why would you choose this when a kombi or double-cab van would likely be cheaper and more spacious? It’s a thought that continues to fester.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your BYD SHARK Pickup. This may vary between trim levels.
- 10.25in Driver's Display
- Driver Seat - Electric Lumbar Support - 4 Ways
- Driver Seat - Electrically Adjustable 8-Ways with Manually Adjustable Headrest
- Driver Seat - Ventilated and Heated
- Driver and Front Passenger Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity Mirror
- Flip-up Armrest
- Folding Rear Seats with Manually Adjustable Headrests
- Front Passenger Seat - Electrically Adjustable 6 Ways with Manually Adjustable Headrest
- Front Passenger Seat - Ventilated and Heated
- Illuminated Driver's Footwell
- Illuminated Front Passenger Footwell
- Illuminated Glovebox
- Rain-Sensing Frameless Wipers
- Remote Air-Con On
- Remote Start
- Second Row Centre Armrest - 2 Cupholders
- Sunglasses Holder
- Two Spoke Vegan Leather Steering Wheel
- 11kW On-board Charger - OBC
- Coordinated Regenerative Brake Systems - CRBS
- Intelligent Speed Limit Control - ISLC
- Vehicle To Load Function - V2L
- 12-Speaker Dynaudio Sound
- 12V Power Output
- 15.6in Infotainment Touchscreen
- 4G Network Connection
- Apple CarPlay - Android Auto
- Cloud Services - 10 Years Free Cloud Service and 1.0GB Entertainment Data per Month, Free for 2 Years. From First Activation
- DAB Radio and FM Radio
- Front USB Ports - 1x 60W Type-C - 1x 7.5W USB Type-A
- GPS Navigation System - Includes a 3-Year Free Trail Subscription
- In-Car WIFI Hotspot
- Mobile Phone Bluetooth Key
- OTA Remote Upgrades
- Rear USB Ports - 1x 60W Type-C - 1x 18W Type-C
- Shark Fin Antenna
- Smartphone Wireless Charging - 50W
- 18in Alloy Wheels - Six-Spoke - Black and Silver
- 265/65 R18 Tyres
- Aluminium Roof Rack
- Continental Tyre
- Defrosting Anti-Fog Front Windscreen
- Exterior Mirrors - Auto Folding - Heated - Body-Coloured
- Fixed Side Step
- Front and Rear Fog Lamps
- Full Size Spare Tyre Fitted to Undercarriage
- Illuminated Charging Port
- One-Touch Automatic Windows with Anti-Pinch Feature
- Rear Windows and Rear Windscreen - Privacy Glass
- Rear Windscreen - Heated - Defogging - Defrosting
- 2x Front Parking Radar
- 360 Degree View Camera
- Adaptive Cruise Control - ACC and Intelligent Cruise Control - ICC
- BYD Intelligent Voice Control
- Blind Spot Detection - BSD
- Door Opening Warning - DOW
- Driver Distraction Warning - DDW
- Driving Modes - Eco - Comfort - Sport - Mud - Sand - Snow - Mountain
- Forward Collision Warning - FCW
- Front Cross Traffic Alert - FCTA and Front Cross Traffic Brake - FCTB
- Heads-Up Display - W-HUD 12-Inch
- Intelligent Speed Limit Warning- ISLW
- Rear 4 Parking Sensors
- Rear Collision Warning - RCW
- Traffic Sign Recognition - TSR
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System - TPMS
- Adaptive Front Lighting (AFL)
- Cornering Lights
- Follow Me Home Headlights - Auto-on / Delayed-off Function
- Front Puddle Lights
- LED Daytime Running Lights
- LED Headlights - Automatic On - Off
- LED Rear Lights with High Mounted Brake Light
- Automatic Emergency Braking - AEB
- Automatic Vehicle Hold - AVH
- BYD Electronic Smart key
- Blind Spot Indicator Light
- Comfort Stop - CST
- Controller Deceleration Parking - CDP
- Distributed Traction Control System - dTCS
- Drive Assembly Undershield
- Driver Fatigue Management - DFM
- Drivers Airbag
- Electric Parking Brake - EPB
- Electronic Brake Distribution - EBD
- Emergency Lane Keep Assist - ELKA
- Front Centre Airbag
- Front Child Presence Detection - CPD
- Front Passengers Airbag - Deactivation Switch
- Front Seat Belts - Height Adjustable
- Front Side Airbags
- Hill Descent Control - HDC
- Hill Hold Control - HHC
- Hydraulic Brake Assistant - HBA
- ISOFIX Points on Rear Passenger Seats
- Intelligent Power Brake System
- Keyless Entry and Keyless Start
- Lane Departure Assistant - LDA
- Mechanical Child Safety Lock
- Mobile NFC Key
- Occupant Monitoring System (OMS)
- Outer Rear Seat Belts - Pre-Tensioned
- Pre-tensioned and Force Limiter - Front Seat Belts
- Rear Child Presence Detection - CPD
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert - RCTA and Rear Cross Traffic Brake - RCTB
- Rollover Control System - RMI
- Seat Belt Warning - Driver - Passenger - Second Row
- Side Curtain Airbags
- Vehicle Dynamics Control - VDC
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The BYD Shark can’t decide if it’s a plush SUV or hard-working pick-up truck, but an identity crisis is unlikely to stop people taking an interest
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