BYD Shark 6 DMO: first impressions

With the launch of the Shark 6 dual off-road (DMO) pickup truck for the Philippine market, BYD Cars Philippines, under the management of ACMobility, has managed to catch “lightning in a bottle.” 

After the company’s notable thrust with the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i and Seal 5 DM-i, it once again managed to enter something new and novel, and this time around, into a formulaic car segment that turbodiesel beasts have dominated for years on end. 

At the moment, the BYD Shark 6 DMO is one of the few hybrid pickup trucks in the market, and that alone somewhat provides it an edge, especially when we consider the wants of the more environmentally conscious modern car buyer. 

So, how does it drive? To answer the said question, Zigwheels Philippines joined ACMobility for a two-day adventure to Pampanga and Zambales. Here are our first impressions of the all-new BYD Shark 6 DMO. 

A style befitting the name

The typical mid-size pickup truck available in the market right now tends to carry a brusque appearance combined with sharp-looking fine details. The same goes for the BYD Shark 6 DMO but with a boxy-looking twist. 

When looking at the truck up close for the first time, folks staring at the newly launched nameplate will have their eyes drawn to the ride’s hefty grille, its array of eye-catching LED headlamps, and its chunky front and rear bumpers. But most of its good looks are from its straight-cut angles. 

For one thing, its hood is relatively flat and is aligned perfectly with its window line and the topmost edges of its cargo tray. Mixed in with its flat tailgate and rectangular LED taillights, what you have is a vehicle that appears slick and robust at the same time. 

And, of course, the model has dimensions comparable to those of its rivals. For reference, here’s a table detailing its size figures: 

Model	BYD Shark 6 DMO
Length (in millimeters)	5,457
Width (in mm)	1,971
Height (in mm)	1,925
Wheelbase length (in mm)	3,260
Ground clearance (in mm)	230

Overall, the BYD Shark 6 DMO is as slick but also as chunky as its namesake. But for the sake of being more explicit, we can compare it to the great white - a huge marine predator that can accomplish gargantuan feats of strength when the opportunity arises. 

Smooth cruiser

During the first few hours of the BYD Shark 6 DMO, the group mainly traveled on city streets and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). In the said stint of the media drive event, the BYD-made vehicle showcased a type of smoothness that turbodiesels can’t replicate. 

For reference, the Shark 6 DMO Premium that we utilized is propelled by a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine paired with front and rear permanent magnet synchronous electric motors. The said motors are fed by a 29.6-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate Blade battery. 

Under hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode, the gasoline engine purrs while charging the battery and supplies additional power to the wheels as needed. Under electric vehicle (EV) mode, the truck is practically silent, and the only thing we can hear from the outside world is slight wind noise at around 100 kilometers per hour. 

In both HEV and EV modes, the Shark 6 DMO returned few in-cabin vibrations. Even when tackling some imperfect road surfaces on EDSA, its front and rear double wishbone suspension systems were able to isolate harshness quite well - even more so than trucks with rear leaf springs ever will. 

As we were in convoy traveling at a brisk pace, we also saw the Shark 6 DMO do short work in terms of passing slower cars on NLEX. The aforementioned, of course, is due to its very peppy powertrain, which can generate up to 429 horsepower and 650 Newton-meters of torque. 

Steady on the trail

In the afternoon of the first and second days of the media drive, we got to take the BYD Shark 6 DMO through some trails. The first was a curated path cutting through an undeveloped portion of the picturesque Alviera in Porac, Pampanga. The second was a relatively challenging unpaved section of “Daang Kalikasan” in Zambales. 

On both occasions, the BYD model demonstrated good stability, with its double wishbones able to soak up many of the bumps, potholes, and rocks we came across. 

Additionally, the vehicle managed to maintain good traction, especially in the steep and rocky (and potentially slippery) section of Daang Kalikasan. We didn’t get to fiddle with the terrain modes, but the default mode we used was more than enough to keep the ride moving forward consistently through mud and a shallow creek crossing. 

Interestingly, the units used during the two-day drive all wore highway-rated Giti tires. Even then, the unit we drove didn't experience even a smidge of slippage or loss of traction. The hill-descent control available to the model also made dealing with steeply angled trail sections a breeze. 

Further making the trail drives easier on the Shark 6 DMO is a shark and clear video feed from its 360-degree monitor. We relied on the said future, especially when scoping out the edges of the tighter sections of the two off-road trails. 

Lastly, the model has a total of 230 mm of ground clearance and 700 mm of water-wading capacity. We didn’t test the said parameters to their limits, but those are good to have, especially for buyers wanting to engage in overlanding. 

Other notable mechanical features of the BYD Shark 6 DMO include the following: 

• Front and rear disc brakes
• CCS2 charging port
• Regenerative braking
• Electronic parking brake
• Underbody protection
• 2,500 kilograms towing capacity
• Normal, Economy, Sport drive modes

Final thoughts

Obviously, we didn’t get to sink our teeth in deep enough on the BYD Shark 6 DMO to truly see how it can fit in as a daily driver. Regardless, it's good showing as a highway cruiser and as an off-roader, combined with its PHEV powertrain, has already shaped the nameplate as a strong contender in the local pickup truck market. 

Plus, there’s its price. With the Advanced and Premium trims retailed at P2.098 million and P2.298 million, respectively, the BYD-made truck is quite a steal. So, if you like what you see in this all-new ride, we highly suggest giving it a spin at your nearest BYD dealership. 

Also read: 

Denza’s initial offering in PH could be the D9 DM-i

BYD Cars PH unleashes all-new Shark 6 DMO

BYD opens Batangas dealership