BYD Shark 6 Mini Review: The Ute That is the New Black

Buckle up, campers. The BYD Shark 6 has shirt-fronted Australian glamour brands like a glitter bomb in a born-again singalong—and every Toyota, Ford, Isuzu, VW, and Kia ute just got front-row seats to their own humiliation. China has officially overtaken Thailand as Australia’s second-biggest car supplier, and this Shark 6 is leading the invasion. Since bookings opened in October 2024, 15,181 units have been snapped up in 2025 alone—four times the pitiful VW Amarok and leaving BT-50, Triton 4×4, and Kia Tasman eating dust like losers at a frat drink-a-thon. Not a trend. A full-blown, unapologetic invasion.

The Chinese ute-makers have clocked our market for what it really is: a leisure playground. Yes, there are handsome tradies prowling the forecourts for a bargain, but they’re looking in the wrong paddock. None of them are towing 3.5 tonnes. The real buyers are families, divers, climbers, jet-skiers and anyone who wants to look cool without chewing through Mother Earth like there’s a spare planet in the glovebox. They don’t want some relic from the motoring Stone Age; they want style with a conscience. And while the lifestyle they imagine is… aspirational at best, the shift is happening. Legacy brands haven’t noticed—they’re still pumping out the same dull, unimaginative lager at champagne prices.

Single trim only: Shark 6 Premium. It doesn’t need options to shame its rivals. It drives like a luxury SUV, has a rear bench you can actually sit on without requiring height-challenged first-year apprentices to sit on each other (unless they want to), a cabin so lush it purrs, and a spray-lined tray standard. Double wishbones and disc brakes front and back? Naturally. BYD knows tradies, weekend warriors, and pop-top camper owners don’t spend their lives towing caravans—that’s for old farts in business shirts, shorts, long socks, and loafers. Shark 6 drivers want comfort, brains in the tech, and a cheeky grin at every traffic light, preferably from a flannelled tradie with guns like bourbon barrels.

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ABOVE: Shark 6

PHEV tech? A revelation so good it makes other utes sit on the naughty step, sucking their thumbs and playing with their puds. 100 km EV range, DC 55 kW / AC 7 kW charging, a 29.58 kWh Blade Battery feeding 321 kW/650 Nm, and 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Fuel economy? Achievable 2 L/100 km if you can locate the bloody AC cable. If not, borrow a mate’s wall box, which cuts a painful 15 hours down to a few blissful ones. External plugs? Five: three in the tray, two on the CCS adaptor cable. Compare that to Ranger’s 40–60 km “optimistic” EV range and puny outlets—it’s basically a toddler attempting to lift a barbell while wearing boxing gloves.

The engine powers the front wheels under very specific conditions otherwise it is all EV with the engine just a generator.

Inside, it’s a cornucopia of gorgeousness. Materials that don’t make you wince, smart layout, tech that actually helps instead of making you run screaming like a psycho, and a cabin that would make a Range Rover blush. Put simply, it is luxe. Price: $57,900 RRP. Tens of thousands cheaper than top-end Japanese utes, yet faster, more comfortable, and better equipped. Amarok? Dead in the water. Ranger? Gasping for dignity. Warranty? Longer than most, except a handful of cheeky Chinese brands (and maybe KIA).

Parking the Shark 6 is its own comedy sketch. In my case, my neighbour has one. Two facing each other in my underground parking spot? It’s like watching spotty, testosterone-laden teens fumbling at their first school dance, spilling punch, and smiling wistfully while trying not to be caught grabbing a handful.

The AC charging cable? Still a bloody treasure hunt, but honestly, who cares when this ute delivers pure joy, zero compromises, and full-on mischief.

Tray, practicality, and the “fun factor”: The spray-lined tray laughs in the face of your cargo. Roof racks, pop-tops, surfboards, or a small marauding band of neighbours? Bring it. It’s not pretending to be a caravan-hauling workhorse—it’s a practical, smart, cheeky all-rounder that will leave Hilux, Ranger, and Triton owners wincing at their museum pieces.

The Drive: Punchy, playful, and unapologetically fast. Handles like a luxury SUV with the cheekiness of an otter with attitude. Acceleration? Shark 6 says, “hold my beer.” 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds while your mates in Toyota hats desperately pretend they didn’t see it coming. Suspension is supple, brakes are sharp, and it corners with a grin, not a grimace.

Final Thoughts: BYD has created a ute that’s fast, clever, practical, and completely unrepentant. It doesn’t just compete—it humiliates, taunts, and delivers a full-on slap to Australia’s 4×4 market. 321 kW, 650 Nm, usable rear seat, spray-lined tray, 100 km EV range, 0–100 in 5.7 s, premium cabin and tech. The Shark 6 is the cheeky, glitter-throwing, middle-finger-saluting king of the ute world—and you’ll adore every chaotic, campy, ridiculous second of it.

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