MBABANE – Chinese carmaker BYD is moving in on bakkie royalty with its new Shark, a hybrid powerhouse designed to rival Ford’s top-performing Ranger Raptor — and it’s doing so with more power and a lower price tag.
The BYD Shark has entered the Southern African market with one clear target in its crosshairs: the Ford Ranger Raptor. Backed by a bold marketing pitch and strong technical specs, BYD has launched the plug-in hybrid bakkie at R959,900, undercutting the R1.27 million Raptor by over R300,000.
What has set tongues wagging in motoring circles is the Shark’s 0-100km/h time of just 5.7 seconds — more than a full second faster than the Ford Ranger Raptor’s tested 6.9 seconds. The Shark achieves this with a dual setup that combines a 1.5-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to produce 321kW and 650Nm, compared to the Raptor’s 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine delivering 292kW and 583Nm. 
Despite weighing 280kg more than its rival, the Shark still sprints faster, aided by its electric motor. It also claims a better fuel economy at 9.6 litres per 100km, versus the Raptor’s real-world average of 17.6 litres. BYD offers an 85km pure electric range, potentially bringing down running costs, especially for urban use.
The Shark doesn’t just try to outmuscle the Raptor — it’s also loaded with extras. The price includes a 7kW wall charger, vehicle-to-load socket, 2.2kW portable charger, tow bar, and roll bar. These accessories typically come at an extra cost for the Ford.
On warranty and servicing, BYD’s five-year/100,000km maintenance plan and eight-year/200,000km battery warranty go head-to-head with Ford’s four-year/120,000km warranty and separate service plan that now includes six years/90,000km.
Legacy brands like Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan and Mitsubishi previously scoffed at the idea of a 300kW bakkie. But the local appetite for high-performance utility vehicles appears strong. Ford SA continues to sell out its Ranger Raptor allocations, and now faces new competition from a fast-accelerating, fuel-conscious hybrid backed by an aggressive pricing strategy.
