New BYD Shark Plug-in Hybrid Pick-up Unveiled: Can It Rival The Toyota Hilux?

BYD has finally unveiled the much-awaited plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pick-up, the Shark. According to the brand, the Shark will slot into the mid-size pick-up segment and will rival the popular Toyota Hilux. However, the Chinese pick-up will have a massive advantage over the Hilux with its PHEV powertrain.

For now, the Shark is only available in Mexico and is offered in two variants: GL & GS. Here are the pricing details:

The BYD Shark takes design cues from its namesake, the shark, for a look that’s both powerful and sleek. The front features vertically stacked LED headlights reminiscent of the Ford F-150, a prominent grille with the BYD logo taking centre stage, and a tough-looking skid plate for added protection.

The overall design is a classic double-cab pickup with a muscular stance, accentuated by high ground clearance and large wheel arches. In the back, rectangular taillights connected by a lightbar mirror the design in the front, and a debossed BYD logo adds a finishing touch to the tailgate.

Other exterior features:

BYD designed the Shark’s interior to blend practicality with modern aesthetics. The cabin uses soft-touch leatherette for a premium feel and with the double-cabin layout, it can seat 5 passengers in comfort. It also features up to 10 storage compartments scattered throughout the cabin for keeping your belongings organised.

Much like other BYD cars, the Shark comes loaded with a ton of features and massive digital real estate. Here are the highlights:

The Shark is powered by a 1.5L turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine combined with dual electric motors and a 29.5kWh battery pack. The pick-up also has AWD courtesy of having a motor on each axle. Here are the performance figures: 

Pick-up trucks are very popular in the UAE and the Shark will fit right in. It features a powerful PHEV powertrain, off-road specs such as AWD, higher ground clearance and suspension to cope with the dune bashing. Additionally, the Shark is efficient and environmentally correct. 

We expect BYD to launch the Shark sometime this year in the UAE and could be priced starting at AED 200,000. In comparison, the Toyota Hilux’s top-spec GR variant is priced at AED 170,000 and is not as well-equipped or as efficient as the Shark. This could mean the Shark is sure to get a lot of visitors to the showroom when launched in the UAE.

Find used BYD cars for sale in the UAE and new BYD cars for sale in the UAE.

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