The BYD Shark 6, Australia’s first plug-in hybrid electric ute, has secured a five-star safety rating from ANCAP after local testing—though with a catch
ANCAP has stated that the Child Presence Detection system in the 2025 BYD Shark 6 “does not meet ANCAP’s functional requirements,” resulting in a zero score for that category.
BYD Shark 6 Earns Five-Star ANCAP Safety Rating with a Few Caveats
The 2025 BYD Shark 6 has secured a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, making it one of only four utes to meet the latest and most stringent safety standards.
Joining the ranks of the GWM Cannon Alpha, JAC T9, and Mitsubishi Triton, the BYD Shark 6 scored 85% for adult occupant protection and 86% for safety assist features.
Initially, its child occupant protection rating stood at 95%, but due to issues with the Child Presence Detection (CPD) system—designed to activate the air-conditioning if it detects someone in the rear after the vehicle is turned off—the score was revised to 87%.
Weight and Front-End Design Raise Concerns
Despite its high safety rating, ANCAP flagged the ute’s considerable weight (2710kg kerb) and blocky front fascia as risk factors in vehicle-to-vehicle collisions.
“Due to its size, weight, and front-end design, the BYD Shark 6 poses a higher risk to occupants of oncoming vehicles, leading to the full 8.00-point penalty in the MPDB (Mobile Progressive Deformable Barrier) test,” ANCAP noted.
For vulnerable road user protection, the Shark 6 earned a 74% score, on par with the Mitsubishi Triton but behind the GWM Cannon Alpha (82%) and JAC T9 (87%). ANCAP also highlighted the ute’s ‘marginal’ rear autonomous emergency braking (AEB) performance, though pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection was rated as ‘good.’
Competitive Landscape and Fleet Appeal
While the Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Isuzu D-Max, and Toyota HiLux also carry five-star ratings, they were tested under older, less demanding standards between 2019 and 2022.
The BYD Shark 6 is the fifth BYD model to earn a five-star ANCAP rating, following the Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin, and Sealion 6.
With a clear focus on fleet buyers who require top-tier safety ratings, BYD’s local distributor, EVDirect, is positioning the Shark 6 as a strong contender against the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux for the title of Australia’s best-selling ute.
