BYD Shark 6 DMO

Upon entering the BYD Shark 6 DMO, you’ll be surprised by how comfortable and refined its cabin feels. It comes with a great blend of pleasant soft-touch panels and hard plastics all around. You have plenty of room in the front, while its second row can effectively accommodate three adult passengers. Its leather seats provide top-notch cushioning and ergonomics even on longer trips. The Premium trim’s driver and front passenger seats are also equipped with heating and ventilation functions.

Meanwhile, drivers have access to a 10.25-inch LCD instrument cluster, a leather-wrapped multicontrol steering wheel that is good-to-the-touch, and an aircraft-like gear lever. However, only owners of the Premium trim have a head-up display. Inside, you also get a wireless charger, four USB charging ports (front: 2, rear: 2), a 12V power socket, a 220V rear cargo V2L power outlet, as well as multiple bottle and cup holders.

Furthermore, for entertainment and information accessibility, this pickup truck comes with a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment display that offers wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB, Bluetooth, voice assistant, 4G connectivity, and a BYD Cloud Service. Its infotainment is connected to an 8-speaker sound system. Similar to other new-gen Chinese vehicles, the majority of this truck’s interior features are touch-controlled via the infotainment display. 

The BYD Shark 6 DMO’s design looks brash and smart at the same time. It flaunts a very distinct-looking pickup truck facade illuminated by boxy or rectangular LED headlamps with C-shaped DRLs. For a more premium modern touch, a light bar connecting the two DRLs is also placed over its front grille. Additionally, an imposing ‘BYD’ lettering is displayed on its grille–proudly showing-off its roots wherever it goes. Underneath the grille, is a blacked-out bumper with a silver skid plate.

Moreover, this pickup truck features a two-toned silhouette, accentuated by blacked-out window trims, fenders, and side sills. For easier passenger ingress and egress, it also comes with side steps. It runs on unique-looking 18-inch alloy wheels.

At the back, the Premium trim gets a sports bar for a more expensive, sporty look overall. Similar to the front, an LED tail bar connecting its C-shaped LED taillamps give its rear end a clean, hypermodern vibe. Both variants are given bedliners with a spray-on. And, for more storage, the Premium trim also gets aluminum roof rails on top. This pickup truck also comes with front and rear fog lights and a high-mount brake lamp for enhanced visibility at night.

Both variants of the BYD Shark 6 DMO are 5,457 mm in length, 1,971 mm in width, and 1,925 mm in height. This model line comes with a 3,260-mm wheelbase and a 230-mm unladen ground clearance. Aside from these, this pickup truck offers an impressive 2,500-kg towing capacity.

The BYD Shark 6 DMO comes with front and rear Double Wishbone suspension. Admittedly, this pickup truck is a bit difficult to maneuver through tight traffic and narrow spaces because of its pretty huge frame. But, on the plus side, it can effortlessly absorb bumps and other road imperfections inside the city. Additionally, it can also take on light to moderate off-road trails. Ultimately, this PHEV offers a comfortable and pliant riding experience, which you wouldn’t usually expect from a pickup truck.

The Shark 6 is powered by BYD’s DMO technology that combines two permanent magnet synchronous motors with a 1.5L turbo high-efficiency generator, which serves as a range-extender. Its front motor produces 231 PS and 310 Nm of torque, whereas its rear motor produces 204 PS and 340 Nm of torque. Combined, its motors deliver 435 PS and 640 Nm of torque. 

Its electric motors are powered by a 29.6 kWh BYD Blade battery pack that offers a 100-km NEDC driving range. Combining both the battery pack and the fuel from the engine’s tank will give you a maximum extended range of 800 km. This plug-in hybrid pickup truck utilizes an all-wheel drivetrain and is equipped with three drive modes: Normal, Economy, and Sport.

With all of these in mind, its hybrid powertrain offers smooth and instantaneous power delivery. This pickup truck makes light work of quick overtakes on free-flowing highways thanks to all of its available power and torque on tap. Additionally, its cabin remains quiet and very peaceful courtesy of its impressive sound insulation system. Overall, like other BYD vehicles, the Shark 6 DMO can serve as a cost-efficient daily city driver and, at the same time, a capable long-distance tourer.

In terms of safety, both variants of the BYD Shark 6 DMO are equipped with a 360-degree-view camera system with a see-through mode, a radar system with six sensors, and cruise control (adaptive for the Premium trim). However, only the Premium trim also gets a predictive collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, emergency lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert and braking, as well as a blind spot detection system. 

This pickup truck utilizes ventilated discs for both front and rear braking. Its braking setup is also supported by a hydraulic brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, distributed traction control system, auto brake hold, and a comfort braking feature among others.

In my opinion, the BYD Shark 6 DMO is currently among the locally-available midsize pickup trucks that deliver the highest level of versatility and daily city usability. It delivers an impressive balance of ruggedness and comfort; power and efficiency.