Shark attack! BYD Shark plug-in hybrid ute to cost less than a mid-spec Ford Ranger or Toyota HiLux
The plug-in hybrid 2025 BYD Shark, complete with 100km of electric-only range, is set to cause an upset among established utes following reports it will be priced at $68,000 before on-roads.
According to a leak from a government website, the base BYD Shark 4×4 will be pitched in line with best-selling utes like the Ford Ranger XLT V6, which currently sells for $68,840 (plus ORCs).
The equivalent Toyota, meanwhile, is even more expensive priced at $71,530 (plus ORCs).
READ MORE: https://evcentral.com.au/shark-bites-byd-continues-teasing-roll-out-of-aussie-bound-dual-cab-ute/
Some have even reported that the leaked pricing is for a more luxurious variant in the range and the advanced electrified ute with an EV range of up to 100km might be even cheaper when official pricing drops this October.
THE BYD is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain that blend a 1.5-litre turbo four-cylinder engine with an electric motor driving the rear axle.
The Shark gets the firm’s Xiaoyun plug-in hybrid system, which packages a 29.5kWh battery and an electric motor that provides for an all-electric driving range of up to 100km.
Maximum power for the lower-output engine is 143kW, while the high-output 1.5-litre turbo kicks out around 170kW.
Combined, that means the most powerful BYD Shark pumps out 321kW, which is enough to haul it from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds – significantly quicker than the Ford Ranger Raptor which currently leads the class with its 0-100km/h sprint of 6.1 seconds.
Better still, it blends that with impressive fuel efficiency that will see it average 7.5L/100km without plugging in and a more impressive 1.5L/100km if you charge it and use the full 100km EV range. Both are recorded on the more lenient Chinese NEDC test cycle. Total range is claimed to be up to 840km.
When it comes to charging, the Shark’s Blade battery can be topped up at a DC rate of 40kW – with a 30 to 80 per cent recharge taking 20 minutes.
Featuring brash American styling, the Shark measures in at 5457mm long, 1971mm wide and standing 1924mm tall, the Shark has an impressive 3260mm wheelbase, which is said to help it class-best cabin space. The rear bench is also angled at 27-degrees for enhanced comfort.
The company claims the Shark will drive more like a luxury SUV than a regular ute, with its independent front suspension and a double wishbone rear set-up for enhanced comfort.
So far, so good but the Shark isn’t without its flaws. It can only carry 835kg – a long way off the one-tonne payload delivered by its rivals.
Towing is another weak point, because the Shark can only haul 2500kg, which sees it trail rivals like the Ford Ranger, which can tow up to 3500kg.
Clawing back points, the electrified BYD offers a vehicle-to-load capability, while inside there’s the same rotating 10.25-inch infotainment system that’s used in the Seal that offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
When it arrives, the BYD Shark will have the plug-in hybrid ute class to itself until 2025 when Ford is expected to roll out its plug-in hybrid Ranger.
