BYD SHARK review
BYD has dropped a shark into the pickup truck pond, and it’s really going to shake things up. The BYD SHARK is the brand’s first pickup for the UK market, after having proved its worth across Australia as the country’s best-selling PHEV. But how does it fare on UK roads, and is it worth it over the Ford or Toyota alternatives? Read our full BYD SHARK review to see if it makes a splash.
)
Pros
- 55-mile EV-only range
- Drives more like a car than a truck (in a good way)
- First PHEV pickup with DC charging
Cons
- Regenerative braking could be better
- Heavy steering at lower speeds
Interior
Our rating: 9/10
Driving position
If you’ve ever driven or sat in a pickup before, then the BYD SHARK is going to feel very familiar. But if you haven’t, let us paint the picture...
You sit very high up, with one of the best views over the road ahead – no surprise when you’re in a vehicle just shy of two metres tall.
The steering wheel can be adjusted to your liking, too. It’s not at all like a bus with a large flat wheel, but instead like an SUV, which we like.
Its seats are effortlessly comfortable too, with plush vegan leather and supportive padding. Though, if you go around a tight bend, you may find yourself sliding a bit – to be expected with a cabin this far off the ground and the fact they don’t ‘hug’ you as a sports seat would.
Everything is where it needs to be. Real buttons on the steering wheel, plenty of places to rest your arms and just an overall very pleasant place to be.
Our only gripe is how small the pedal box is for a car so big. We tested the car wearing a pair of ordinary trainers and found our foot nudging the brake pedal occasionally while on the throttle.
We can only imagine a pair of boots or wellies (proper pickup life attire) will only get in the way.
Tech and features
BYD SHARK trims
– Design
The SHARK’s cabin feels like an SUV and not so much a pickup in the absolute best way possible.
What makes it different is the general refinement and overall quality. We’ve driven pickups before that feel very utilitarian. This? It feels like any other BYD car inside.
There’s only one trim level, which means BYD can chuck all of its bells and whistles at every single car.
That means you have a 15.6-inch screen running BYD’s latest software. As with the cars, it’s smooth and very responsive – of course with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too.
You’ll also find heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up display, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system, and much more.
And one nice added bonus is the vehicle-to-load (V2L) system, which uses the exterior charge port to power any device you need (up to 6.6kW). This could be anything from an air fryer to tools being used in the bed.
Performance
Our rating: 8/10
Engines and power
BYD SHARK performance stats
– Power: 436hp
– 0-62mph: 5.7 seconds
– Top speed: 111mph
– Driven wheels: All-wheel drive
All BYD SHARKs are powered by the same 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, mated to two electric motors (one at the front, one at the rear) and an automatic gearbox.
The engine itself produces 150hp and with the electric motors it has a peak power output of 436hp and 652Nm of torque – not bad for a pickup weighing 2.7 tonnes.
This helps it reach 62mph from a standstill in just 5.7 seconds. For reference, the Ford Ranger PHEV does it in 9.2 seconds.
All of this means the SHARK is certainly no slouch. It has plenty of get-up-and-go about it, whether that’s at a junction or on a brisk country road.
Our only gripe would be that the regenerative braking could be better. We put it in its strongest setting, and even then, it couldn’t compete with the likes of Volvo and its PHEVs.
Handling and ride comfort
One test we really want to put the SHARK through was daily driving; how good is this plug-in hybrid pickup at daily tasks?
The result? Rather impressive. Admittedly, at low speeds the ride can feel a bit like, well, a pickup. It can be shuddery and a bit unsettled, but for most tasks it’s great.
After all, it's designed to support up to 790kg in the bed, so we'd expect the suspension to feel a bit bouncy when it's not loaded.
Driving around town – once you get used to its size – is a piece of cake. It moves around quite happily in EV mode and just drives like a normal car. You will notice the steering feel heavier than an SUV, but it’s about on par with a pickup.
But on the motorway is where it really shines. From coming off the slip road to entering a steady 70mph cruise, the SHARK just feels solid. It isn’t fazed by wind hitting the side of it and certainly doesn’t feel lumbered by its mass.
This is truly the best pickup experience we’ve ever had on a motorway. So, if you’re planning on taking it on longer road trips, you’re in for a treat.
Off-road
– Approach angle: 31 degrees
– Departure angle: 19.3 degrees
– Ramp-over angle: 17 degrees
– Ground clearance: 230mm unladen (210mm laden)
– Wading depth: 700mm
It would be rude to test drive an AWD pickup truck and not take it off the beaten track, wouldn’t it?
So, we joined a fleet of other SHARKs bumbling across the British countryside, encountering axle twisters, steep declines (thank goodness for Hill Descent Control), deep rivers and lots of mud.
The SHARK didn’t bat an eye, thanks to its selection of off-road drive modes: Mud, Sand, Mountain and Snow.
It just ploughed on through each obstacle and was particularly impressive on the mud, wearing standard all-terrain tyres, and through the water up to a maximum of 700mm.
Practicality
Our rating: 10/10
Boot space
BYD SHARK boot space:
– Bed loading capacity: 1,200 litres
The BYD SHARK doesn’t have traditional boot space as such. Because it’s a pickup, it has a ‘bed’ instead of a boot.
In this case, it’s 1,200 litres. By comparison, the Ford Ranger Double Cab’s is 1,233 litres, and the Toyota Hilux’s is around 1,200 litres as well.
To put that into perspective, that’s ideal for pretty much anything. Moving house, going to the tip, an airport run, moving the kids into university, a massive food shop – you name it.
And if you are going to use it for work purposes, it has two handy features you should know about. The first is the LED lights that come on at the press of a button to help you see at night.
The second is a flap hiding two three-pin plugs in the back. Need to charge an air fryer? Powered tools? Anything – it’ll do it.
Rear seats
The SHARK has a five-seat layout with two in the front and three in the back. It’s spacious as you’d expect a vehicle of this size to be.
You’ll find some USB sockets and heater controls, too.
Storage solutions
BYD’s been clever with the storage by blending double-cab workhorse practicalities with SUV luxury.
Storage includes a deep dual-tier centre console, a 50W wireless phone charging pad, large door pockets for water bottles and discrete under-seat storage for tow straps or high-vis jackets.
BYD’s also teamed up with Truckman to offer a range of OEM+ accessories, such as a tonneau cover, hardtop, swing cases, tents, etc.
BYD SHARK dimensions
– Height: 1,925mm
– Width (incl. door mirrors): 2,155mm
– Length: 5,457mm
– Kerb weight: 2,710kg
Safety
Soon after its arrival in Europe, the SHARK was independently tested by Euro NCAP, winning a full five-star rating.
This is thanks to its suite of onboard safety features, including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB with pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection), Adaptive Cruise Control with Emergency Lane Keeping Assist (ACC & ELKA), Blind Spot Detection with Door Open Warning (BSD & DOW), 540-degree HD Surround View Camera with Transparent Chassis.
Running costs
Our rating: 9/10
Fuel economy
– EV range: 55 miles
– Combined range: 419 miles
– Battery size: 32.2kWh
– MPG: 80mpg
One of the biggest considerations with any modern car purchase is working out how economical it’ll be.
And with a pickup truck, it’s normally nothing you question because they usually have big, heavy diesel engines.
But the BYD SHARK is here to buck that trend, with its claimed 80mpg and total combined range of 419 miles.
For a vehicle of this size, that’s some phenomenal work, and in our testing, it stayed true to this estimate.
By comparison, the Ford Ranger PHEV returns 88mpg and 27 miles in EV mode. But the really interesting part is how much CO2 each produces. The Ranger is around 70g/km, whereas the SHARK is an astonishing 23g/km. That’s a highly impressive saving.
Making up part of its overall range is the 55-mile-only EV range, which is stored in its 32.2kWh BYD Blade Battery. In fact, BYD claims this is the first PHEV pickup that uses faster DC charging (instead of AC), allowing a 30-80% top-up in just 21 minutes with a 55kW connection.
Reliability
Early feedback suggests the BYD SHARK’s mechanical setup – anchored by a dual-motor hybrid powertrain and BYD’s ultra-durable structural Blade Battery – is solid as a rock.
To give you total peace of mind, every SHARK comes backed by a comprehensive six-year warranty, an eight-year battery guarantee and eight years of roadside cover – making it a remarkably safe bet for a brand-new plug-in pickup.
The verdict
Interior
9/10
Performance
8/10
Practicality
10/10
Running costs
9/10
The BYD SHARK isn’t just swimming into the UK pickup market – it’s taking a serious bite out of the competition and completely redefining what a double-cab can be.
By replacing traditional diesel drag with a punchy 436hp plug-in hybrid powertrain, BYD has crafted a truck that sprints like a hatchback, cruises like an SUV and tackles off-road trails with total confidence.
Add in its class-leading 55-mile electric-only range, fast DC charging capabilities and plush, tech-heavy interior, and it makes your choice a no-brainer.
It isn't completely perfect, though. The steering feels heavy at low speeds, low-speed ride quality can still shudder like a traditional truck, and the narrow pedal box takes a bit of getting used to.
However, with its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, generous equipment list and six-year warranty, the SHARK delivers unbelievable value for money.
If you’re looking to make the leap into a modern, ultra-efficient pickup that works hard for commercial site duties and excels at weekend family trips, the BYD SHARK doesn't just make a splash – it's at the top of the food chain.
Similar to the review
