Less than two months. That is how long it took for BYD to expand its pickup range in Australia. Two new models. One solves a specific problem, the other targets the trade sector.
The standard Shark 6 already shook things up. Now, the Shark 6 Performance and the Dynamic Cab-Chassis models are here to finalize the argument.
More Horsepower, Better Towing
The Performance trim is the big gun. It keeps the same 29.5 kWh Blade battery. Lithium-iron phosphate. Solid stuff.
But the engine changed. The old 1.5-liter four-cylinder is gone. Replaced by a 2.0-liter twin-turbo four. The numbers matter.
Output hits 469 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Up from 430 horsepower and 479 pound-feet before. That shaves off two-tenths of a second in acceleration. Zero to 100 kilometers per hour now takes 5.5 seconds instead of 5.7.
Speed is fun. But towing is what Australian buyers care about.
The Premium model could tow 2,500 kilograms. Barely respectable. The new Performance model tows 3,500 kilograms. That is 7,716 pounds. Suddenly, it fits in the mid-size segment properly. It even has a 350 kilogram tow-ball download rating.
The price? AU$62,990. Just under five thousand bucks more than the Premium version. Is that expensive? Depends on if you actually drag things.
Cabin Downsides
Looks wise, they are identical. Boring, right?
The inside tells the real story. And it’s not a pretty one.
The Premium had a chunky center console shifter. Nice toggle switches too. The Performance model ditches all that. You get a column shifter now. The console controls look basic. Cheaper. It feels like a compromise.
Driving dynamics stay similar though. Both use double-wishbone suspension front and rear. No leaf springs here. This separates BYD from the crowd.
They added a Crawl mode now. It tweaks torque continuously. Stops wheels spinning over rocks or deep ruts. Good for getting unstuck.
The Trader’s Option
Not everyone needs the turbo V6 power. Enter the Dynamic Cab-Chassis.
Price starts at AU$55,990. It uses the same 15-liter PHEV setup as the original Premium.
But the bed is simpler. Basic. This targets tradespeople. The guys who actually use trucks to work, not just pose as off-roaders.
Right now, this version tows the same limited 2,500 kilogram figure. Weak. But BYD says a 2.0 liter version is coming later this year. When it lands, it will also tow the full 3,500 kilograms.
So wait a bit. Or pay for the performance version now.
“The Performance model may be the final nail.”
Jim Farley said Chinese pickups couldn’t tow like a Ranger. BYD just handed him a 3,500-kilogram hitch to prove otherwise. Whether you care about towing capacity or just want a truck that handles like a sedan remains to be seen.
