LONDON: BYD’s Shark DMO (dual mode off-road) plug-in hybrid pick-up has earned a maximum five-star safety rating in the latest round of tests by independent organisation Euro NCAP.
The official test report – based on an assessment last year by Australasian safety organisation ANCAP and incorporating additional evaluations by Euro NCAP – notes good protection in the frontal-offset test, as well as the evaluations for full-width rigid barriers and side barriers.
The Shark notches up overall Adult and Child Occupant ratings of 82% and 86%, with Euro NCAP also crediting the new pick-up for its protection of the 6- and 10-year-old dummies in the side barrier impact, and its 'child presence detection' system, which warns when it recognises that a child may have been left in the vehicle.
In the other two areas of the test, focusing on other road users and safety-assistance systems, the Shark's autonomous emergency braking (AEB) performs well in reactions to cyclists, and has a good response to motorcyclists – helping the car to a 74% score in the Vulnerable Road Users section.
And in the final area of the test, Safety Assist, Euro NCAP awards 87%, noting how the AEB is good in reaction to other vehicles and crediting both the lane-departure support system and the speed assistance system, which can set the limiter automatically based on identified local speed limits.
BYD executive vice president Stella Li said: “Our key strength is our ability to take ideas out of the lab and put them into the hands of customers – to turn intelligence into reality. The Shark's Euro NCAP result is further proof of how our engineering and electronics skills can come together to achieve this – and all in a pick-up that's capable as a workhorse, as comfortable as an SUV, powerful and agile on and off road, and efficient enough to drive up to 90km on electric power alone."
The Shark's five-star verdict is the ninth such rating earned by BYD since the brand’s arrival in the European passenger-car market in 2022, following models like the Dolphin Surf, Dolphin, Seal, Seal U DM-i and Sealion 7.
With seating for five in its double-cab layout, the Shark offers a comfortable cabin.
And it brings Vehicle-to-Load, allowing a range of devices to be powered – for work and play – from either of two onboard power sockets.
The Shark's Super Hybrid DMO powertrain features two electric motors – one on the front axle with 231PS and 310Nm of torque, and another at the rear producing 204PS/340Nm.
The combined maximum system output is 436PS and 650Nm of torque, enough for a 0-100kph acceleration time of just 5.7 seconds.
Yet its 32.2kWh Blade Battery – installed into the ladder-frame platform using Cell-to-Chassis tech for additional protection – can work with the 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine to give combined range, on a full charge and a full tank, of 419 miles (674km).
Cabin comforts include vegan-leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and a 12-speaker Dynaudio sound system.
Useful technologies include a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel accompanied by a head-up display, a 15.6-inch infotainment screen with navigation, voice assistant and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote control via the BYD app for advanced heating and cooling of the cabin, a 50W wireless smartphone-charging pad, exterior 'puddle' lights, front and rear parking sensors with a 360-degree view camera, and keyless entry and keyless start.
