BYD Shark 6 hybrid ute achieves five star ANCAP rating

The hybrid Chinese ute causing waves on the Aussie motoring scene just blitzed another test that has traditional ute-makers on notice.

The BYD Shark 6 has once again ended in the headlines but this time it’s for earning a five star Australasian New Car Assessment Program safety rating.

It’s another accolade for Chinese automotive manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD).

Last year the hybrid ute won News Corp Australia’s 2024 Car of the Year for its technology, performance, design and affordability.

But while some see it as a game-changer in the ute segment, others remain sceptical about its Chinese origins.

Regardless of where consumers stand, its safety rating now places it among the safest utes available in Australia.

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The BYD Shark 6 has secured a five star ANCAP rating, placing it in the top safest utes in Australia. Picture: ANCAP

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Scoring 85 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 74 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 86 per cent for Safety Assist, the Shark 6 joins a line-up of BYD models with five stars including the Sealion 6, Atto 3, Dolphin and Seal.

ANCAP chief executive Carla Hoorweg said new brands like BYD were taking safety seriously.

“With five of BYD’s current local models having now earned top ANCAP safety ratings, it’s evident that new manufacturers are prioritising safety as they enter the market to align with consumer demands,” she said.

“Following the recently rated GWM Cannon Alpha hybrid ute, we expect to see an increase in electrified options in the utility space. And so far, they’re meeting the mark.”

Like other BYD models, the Shark 6 is fitted with a Child Presence Detection (CPD) system for all three rear seating positions, with the vehicle able to automatically intervene by activating the air-conditioning to cool down the cabin if an unattended child is detected.

But the Shark did not score points for the feature, as its sensitivity does not meet ANCAP’s functional requirements.

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The Shark 6 performed well across all three of ANCAP’s crash tests, with its cabin structure remaining stable in frontal impact assessments.

The hybrid ute also comes packed with a suite of safety technologies, including dual frontal, side chest, and side head-protecting airbags, as well as a centre airbag for additional protection in side impacts.

It also features an autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system which is designed to detect pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

The ute demonstrated Good performance in AEB Pedestrian and AEB Cyclist test but showed Marginal results in reverse AEB scenarios.

Despite the strong scores, the Shark 6 did receive the maximum penalty of 8.00 points in ANCAP’s vehicle-to-vehicles compatibility test due to its size, weight, and front-end design - meaning the Shark 6 poses a higher risk to occupants of oncoming vehicles.

The Shark 6 performed well across all three of ANCAP’s crash tests. Picture: ANCAP

The ute received full points in front and side-impact crash tests.

The Shark 6 is equipped with an advanced Child Presence Detection system, which can alert the driver if the child is left inside and escalate its response by activating airconditioning if necessary.

However, the Toyota HiLux (tested in 2019) has the highest Adult Occupant Protection score of 96 per cent.

The Shark 6 has also beaten rival Ford Ranger on all categories but matching it in Vulnerable Road User Protection (74 per cent).

Originally published as BYD Shark 6 hybrid ute achieves five star ANCAP rating