FiestaST
Honorary Master
BYD Shark 6 vs Ford Ranger Raptor: What should you buy?
The BYD Shark 6 is the 1st Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) double-cab bakkie in South Africa. Is the Shark 6, which has a price tag of under R1 million, a better buying proposition than the formidable (and more expensive) Ford Ranger Raptor? We compare their specs.
There’s been a lot of buzz about the new BYD Shark 6. Not only is it the 1st plug-in hybrid (PHEV) double-cab to go on sale in South Africa – it’s the most powerful bakkie variant available in our new-vehicle market, a bragging right previously held by the Ford Ranger Raptor.
Summary
The BYD Shark 6 is longer than the Ranger Raptor, but the Ford has a longer wheelbase and stands 57 mm wider. In addition, the Ranger Raptor also has a higher ground clearance. And if you intend to do deep water crossings, the Ranger Raptor also has a more generous wading depth at 850 mm.
From an off-roading perspective, the Shark 6 foregoes traditional off-roading hardware such as low range and differential locks and instead uses electronic trickery (let alone electric motors) to achieve the necessary traction with 4 main drive modes available to suit various terrain. Note that we have yet to test the Shark 6’s off-road capability on local soil, therefore, we have to reserve judgment for now.
The Ford Ranger Raptor, however, has proven itself to be exceedingly capable in the toughest of terrains and is equipped with an uprated Fox suspension with 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shock absorbers that allow for high-speed off-road driving in combination with unique drive modes… Up to 7 of those modes are available, including Baja and a useful off-roading feature known as Trail Control.
On paper, the Ford Ranger Raptor appears to be better equipped to tackle a wider variety of off-road situations, whereas the Shark 6 is perhaps not as “hardcore”, but more of an on-road-focused product with a degree of off-road capability.
The BYD Shark 6 is the 1st Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) double-cab bakkie in South Africa. Is the Shark 6, which has a price tag of under R1 million, a better buying proposition than the formidable (and more expensive) Ford Ranger Raptor? We compare their specs.
There’s been a lot of buzz about the new BYD Shark 6. Not only is it the 1st plug-in hybrid (PHEV) double-cab to go on sale in South Africa – it’s the most powerful bakkie variant available in our new-vehicle market, a bragging right previously held by the Ford Ranger Raptor.
Summary
The BYD Shark 6 is longer than the Ranger Raptor, but the Ford has a longer wheelbase and stands 57 mm wider. In addition, the Ranger Raptor also has a higher ground clearance. And if you intend to do deep water crossings, the Ranger Raptor also has a more generous wading depth at 850 mm.
From an off-roading perspective, the Shark 6 foregoes traditional off-roading hardware such as low range and differential locks and instead uses electronic trickery (let alone electric motors) to achieve the necessary traction with 4 main drive modes available to suit various terrain. Note that we have yet to test the Shark 6’s off-road capability on local soil, therefore, we have to reserve judgment for now.
The Ford Ranger Raptor, however, has proven itself to be exceedingly capable in the toughest of terrains and is equipped with an uprated Fox suspension with 2.5-inch Live Valve Internal Bypass shock absorbers that allow for high-speed off-road driving in combination with unique drive modes… Up to 7 of those modes are available, including Baja and a useful off-roading feature known as Trail Control.
On paper, the Ford Ranger Raptor appears to be better equipped to tackle a wider variety of off-road situations, whereas the Shark 6 is perhaps not as “hardcore”, but more of an on-road-focused product with a degree of off-road capability.
