So when BYD invited us to test out the BYD Shark 6 DMO, its first hybrid pickup truck, I’ll be honest, there was some hesitation. I even asked Kevin if he’d be willing to go instead of me but scheduling conflicts meant I had to step out of my comfort zone and do it myself.
The typical pickup truck stereotype
Pickups are often considered big, heavy, and more difficult to maneuver. Not that a fanbase doesn’t exist. In the Philippines, pickup trucks are very popular because of their versatility. They’re a good fit for our environment; from traversing floods to hauling through rough roads to just going around the city.
It can’t be denied that their usefulness can and does outweigh most of its inefficiencies. But it also can’t be denied that they can be hard and tiring to drive — especially in the metro.
I suppose this is what BYD set out to change in developing the Shark 6 DMO. Positioned as a “lifestyle pickup truck”, the Shark 6 is out to break the usual stereotypes associated with pickup trucks.
Newbie-friendly
For the lack of a better description, I found the Shark 6 to be very noob-friendly and takes away the stress of maneuvering a pickup.
It drives more like an SUV in many ways — the steering is light, easy, and responsive. You do feel a bit of heft, but just enough to be “one with the car.”
And it keeps its composure. As I mentioned, I have little experience in driving pickup trucks and I’ll readily admit that during our test drive event, I wasn’t exactly the most precise driver. (Fine, I wasn’t precise at all)
I was watching the 360-degree video of myself attempting to drive fast, taking sharp turns over the rough and dusty terrain, and I could see my hands shuffling all over the steering wheel — uncontrollably and without any finesse.
But thankfully, I didn’t topple over or cause any accidents – and the BYD Shark 6 DMO had a lot to do with that, I’d like to think.
View this post on Instagram
With the Intelligent AWD system, which features a dual-motor setup and smart torque distribution., the Shark continuously adjusts power between front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), and all-wheel drive (AWD) in real-time, ensuring better stability, handling, and traction control even in the hands of a newbie.
And this is probably what helped me stay in control. No matter how messy my inputs were, (and messy they were) the truck always seemed to compensate to maintain control.
The Shark 6 also boasts an Intelligent Power Brake system which blends regenerative and mechanical braking for a smoother and more precise braking feel. BYD says that with it, the Shark reacts faster and with greater precision than conventional brakes.
Versatility is the real game of pickup trucks and the Shark 6 is very much aware of that offering different and easily accessible multi-terrain modes:
- Gravel (Mountain Mode) – Enhances traction and braking force to tackle 30-degree inclines even on loose surfaces.
- Mud Mode – Optimizes acceleration and stability on hard-packed mud. This allows controlled circular drifts (because why not?). It also has the power to escape mud pits up to 160mm deep.
- Sand Mode – Designed for desert-like conditions, enabling the Shark 6 to climb dunes steeper than 20 degrees and cover 130m of soft sand. It can even perform a hill-climb U-turn with a minimum turning radius of just 3m and escape from sand traps up to 200mm deep.
Additional off-road capabilities include electronic limited-slip control, which reacts in under 700ms, allowing the Shark 6 DMO to tackle cross-axle depths of up to 250mm, and a hill descent system that lets the truck crawl down steep slopes at speeds as low as 2 km/h.
The Shark also boasts 60% hill-climbing ability and a maximum climbing angle of 31 degrees, a wading depth of 700mm, and a hill descent control system with speeds as low as 2km. The multi-angle 360 camera also helps when you’re squeezing through narrow streets or foliage-covered dirt roads with little visibility.
If this were a regular pickup, I probably wouldn’t have even attempted the kind of driving I did. But knowing that the Shark 6 DMO had all this tech working in the background was rather confidence-inspiring. And I wasn’t afraid to go all out on the test track.
Not lacking in power or range
Most pickups run on diesel. And sure while it is cheaper, most trucks also chug fuel like there’s no tomorrow. Let’s add the fact that it’s pretty much bad for the environment as well.
The BYD Shark 6 DMO is a hybrid pickup truck working to address those pain points.
It pairs a 1.5L turbocharged engine with BYD’s advanced DMO hybrid system, delivering a combined 430 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque. The setup includes a dedicated rear motor drivetrain, with the front motor producing 231PS and 310Nm of torque and the rear motor delivering 204PS and 340Nm.
The Shark’s engine generates 183PS and 260Nm, working in tandem with BYD’s DMO hybrid system to optimize power distribution. It also boasts faster acceleration: 0-100% in just 5.2 seconds with other trucks in its class almost doubling that time.
Its hauling powers also hold strong with a towing capacity of up to 2,500 kg and a truck bed capable of handling up to 1200L in volume. It also offers multiple ways to open the tailgate: via the key fob, settings on the infotainment display, power tailgate button on the door itself, and a physical button on the main console.
As for range, the Shark 6 DMO offers up to 100km of pure electric range from its 29.6kWh battery and about 840km total when you combine the range of its gas engine.
It supports AC charging (Type 2, 7kW) and DC fast charging (CCS2, 55kW), allowing a 30-80% charge in just 25 minutes.
Interestingly, BYD Philippines shared with us a result of their self-conducted fuel efficiency test. They were able to traverse about 1,100 km on the BYD Shark 6. That left the vehicle with an empty gas tank and the battery level at 8%,
So if you really want to squeeze out some mileage on this truck, BYD Philippines proved you can but you will have to drive with more awareness to your battery and fuel consumption. Still, it’s good to know it can go beyond its published range.
It’s actually comfortable
What’s the most common complaint for pickup trucks? They’re not that comfortable — especially for passengers. A lot of them focus on utility and sacrifice comfort along the way. It makes sense, in a way, because pickup trucks are designed as workhorses.
That’s why stepping inside the BYD Shark 6 was a pleasant surprise. It’s just as posh as BYD’s other vehicles built with leatherette seats adorned with accent stitching. The premium variant even adds heated and ventilated seats.
The Shark 6 DMO also offers a rear seat backrest angle of 27 degrees. This is significantly better than most competitors and makes sitting in the back feel less upright and more relaxed, similar to what you’d expect from an SUV.
The cabin feels and looks premium. There are even rear air-conditioning vents — something you don’t always get in trucks. It’s spacious, with generous legroom, and the ride itself is smooth. Or at least smoother than the usual pickup truck.
The front and rear double wishbone suspension make a huge difference, absorbing bumps and rough patches far better than I expected.
The rear seats can seat two or even three if you don’t mind squeezing in.
Of course, it’s tech-heavy and modern
It’s BYD so you know it’s got some tech both inside and out. The 12.8-inch rotating infotainment display is still front and center and paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard along with a 50W wireless charger with ventilation.
As a tech-first girlie, I very much appreciate BYD adding ventilation because, for one, 50W is a lot and will most likely cause your phone to heat up. And two, the positioning of the wireless charger can cause it to sit under sunlight and you don’t want that extra heat on your device without some form of cooling.
There are also a lot of other comfort features in place: an 8-speaker system, a 12-inch W-HUD (premium variant only), BYD voice assistant, NFC-enabled entry, multiple charging ports, and a 2.5PM filtration system to name a few. It’s also compatible with the BYD companion app.
Adding to its versatility and its adventure-ready persona, the BYD Shark 6 is also V2L-capable and comes with a discharge gun. Multiple sockets can also be found. There’s one 2kW/15A socket while within the truck bed are three 6kW/15A IP56-rated sockets.
During the preview event, BYD showed off how the Shark 6 was able to power a small campsite utilizing the ports on the truckbed.
How it stacks up against the competition
As mentioned earlier, the Philippines does love its pickup trucks and there are a handful of choices available. But the BYD Shark 6 DMO does stand out as being one of the few hybrid pickup trucks in the Philippines.
While trucks like the Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, and Mitsubishi Triton have the reputation of being durable and reliable pickup trucks, the formula stays the same; diesel engines, body-on-frame construction, and a focus on rugged capability over anything else.
The BYD Shark 6 DMO pulls ahead of its competitors in range, tech, comfort, and design. I’ll admit that the last part is subjective; I personally like how it looks but it’s obvious that it does take inspiration from other truck designs.
Where its competitors have an edge, however, are in payload and towing. Trucks like the Ranger or Navara are able to handle more in this area compared to the Shark 6. So if hauling and towing are your priority, the Shark 6 may not be the most efficient choice.
It really is built more for adventures and versatility with the capability of being a sufficient-enough workhorse.
Final thoughts
I probably still won’t go for a pickup truck but the BYD Shark 6 DMO would be something I’d consider if I needed one.
The roughness and the ruggedness of pickup trucks aren’t totally eradicated. Instead, you’re presented with something more refined and more modern both in looks and features. It’s not scared of being elegant, in a way, and still embraces all the elements of what a pickup essentially needs to be.
