Australia’s 4X4 community has found its latest battleground—and it’s not a new trail, but a new ute.
The BYD Shark 6 plug-in hybrid has rolled onto the Aussie off-road scene with a bold promise: modern electrified power meets classic bush-bashing grit. But as footage of the Chinese-built ute tackling some of Australia’s most notorious tracks hits social media, the reaction has been... fiery.
Some see the Shark as a brave new step forward. Others say it’s a fish out of water.
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The Video That Lit Up the 4WD World
It all kicked off when Team Bree Offroad posted footage of a Shark giving it full throttle up the infamous “Beer O’Clock Hill” at The Springs 4X4 Park in south-east Queensland.
The climb is brutal—steep, rocky, and unforgiving—and this particular Shark copped it hard. The high-speed charge damaged its chassis and cooling system, leading Team Bree to declare the vehicle “destroyed.”
That single run ignited a war in the comments section.
Critics were quick to rename the BYD acronym from “Build Your Dreams” to:
- “Bring Your Duct Tape”
- “Back Yard Design”
One user simply called the attempt “plain stupid abuse of a perfectly good car.”
But not everyone was out for blood.
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Plenty of seasoned off-roaders stepped in to defend the car. One commenter said, “It wouldn’t matter what kind of vehicle it was. If it was driven in that gung-ho, brain-dead manner, anything would have broken.” Another chimed in: “Line any other 4WD up and hit that hill the same way—you’ll get the same result.”
In short: it wasn’t the Shark. It was the send.
Redemption in the Mud?
Just when the Shark looked like a cautionary tale, it bounced back in another clip—this time posted by 4WD TV.
Same car. Different setting. Deep mud. And the Shark? It “ripped up the hill” with surprising ease. The driver handled the terrain like a pro, and the vehicle clawed its way upward “like a rat up a drainpipe.”
Cue round two of the internet’s off-road brawl.
Some off-road purists mocked the electric powertrain and Chinese badge, joking that EV owners should “stay in your cities” and that the driver was “lucky the CCP didn’t remotely immobilise him part way up.” (Yes, really.)
Others were more impressed: “Not bad for a bloody Chinese ute,” one post read.
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Savage Test, Solid Outcome
Off-road accessories brand Savage Tech Australia joined the conversation with their own Shark, which they took up the same brutal climb.
In their words: “We didn’t break anything except the myth that the Shark can’t handle it.”
Yes, the car got muddy and took a few scrapes, but there was no structural or mechanical failure. “Everyone online is saying the Shark is wrecked. No issues at all—still in one piece. She loves it.”
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The Elephant in the Mud: Traction Control Troubles
Not all feedback has been glowing. Both CarExpert and Driving Enthusiast Australia have called out the Shark’s traction control system, showing how it struggles in low-grip conditions where traditional turbo-diesel utes hold firm.
And plenty of 4WD fans agree.
One user said, “I’ve seen enough videos of these Sharks ‘wheeling’ to know the traction systems are complete junk.” But others are more hopeful: “With some local development and rewritten software, these will be a great proposition.”
That’s not a bad take. Australia’s aftermarket scene has turned plenty of so-so 4WDs into trail legends. The Shark could just be next in line—with the right tweaks.
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Sales Speak Loudest
Love it or loathe it, the Shark is winning buyers. It ranked 6th most popular new car in Australia last month, sandwiched between heavyweights like the Toyota Prado and Ford Everest. That’s no small feat.
While it may not yet have the rock-solid off-road cred of a HiLux or Ranger, it’s clearly hitting the mark with Australians keen on a more fuel-efficient, electrified ute that doesn’t look like a spaceship.
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⚡ Why It Matters to EV Fans
For Australia’s EV community, the Shark’s foray into 4WD territory matters. It’s one of the first plug-in hybrid utes brave enough to throw itself into our toughest terrain—and yes, it's copped some flak, but it's also opened up new possibilities.
This isn’t just about trail climbs and social media brawls. It’s about proving that EVs—and hybrids—can evolve beyond city streets and highways, into the rugged heart of Australia.
Are there bugs to iron out? Definitely. But if we want electric 4WDs to replace diesel giants someday, then someone has to go first.
The Shark took a beating. But it’s still swimming.
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