BYD Shark 6 Award Winner

BYD ute wins top NZ Car of the Year award

The BYD Shark 6 has won the overall 2024 New Zealand Autocar Car of Year award.

The new plug-in hybrid double cab was judged as a class winner - picking up the Ute of the Year prize - while also winning the overall Car of the Year award, edging out the other class finalists.

NZ Autocar Editor, Kyle Cassidy, said:

"The Shark 6 is something completely different for the ute market in New Zealand, something we had to recognise with a class win here. Its plug-in hybrid powertrain will impress all those who are courageous enough to try it out."

"With a combined 321 kW and 650 Nm of torque, it's quicker than all the diesel-powered utes on the market, yet the power rolls on smoothly and quietly, with greatly reduced emissions."

BYD New Zealand welcomed the win, the second for the brand following the Atto 3 taking the award in 2022.

"We are thrilled to accept this prestigious award for the BYD Shark 6. This recognition is a testament to BYD's unwavering commitment to innovation, safety, and quality. The BYD Shark 6 meets the needs of Kiwi drivers, offering practicality, efficiency, and cutting-edge technology that truly makes sense for our lifestyles," says Sarah Williams, BYD NZ's Head of Marketing.

During the final assessment, the panel of five judges was impressed by the quality of the interior, the amount of gear on board, and just how practical it was, given the cabin space and the big tray out back.

"The interior is SUV quality, and Shark is loaded to the gunwales with tech."

Judges couldn't ignore the value on offer. Not only is the spec list long, but it is also a lot of metal for the money, backed up by a strong warranty. It's a ute that will do the job without burning through so much fuel, thanks to a good battery range and a fairly economical hybrid mode.

In addition to the Shark 6's crowning achievement, the judging panel recognised a diverse range of models across multiple classes, showcasing the breadth of innovation in today's market.

Porsche's fully electric Macan took the Premium award, MG's HS was commended for its value proposition, while Hyundai collected two accolades: the Ioniq 5 N for Performance and the Santa Fe for Family. Kia's EV5 impressed in the EV category, and Triumph's Speed 400 was celebrated as Bike of the Year for redefining what a learner-friendly motorcycle can be.

New Zealand Autocar has been the country's leading automotive magazine for the last three decades, and its website - www.autocar.co.nz - is the most visited independent source of vehicle news and reviews in the country.

Its lauded Car of the Year is the only one to bring all finalists and the judges together for a day of testing and analysis.

Read here the full story

Watch here for the full video of the judging day.

Full coverage of the Car of the Year is featured in the March issue of NZ Autocar, which is on sale 3 March.

A note about the NZ Autocar COTY Awards

Cars eligible are those new models introduced in the past 12 months. The class winners were gathered together for a final back-to-back test and assessed by a panel of five judges to declare a winner. Points for consideration include a vehicle’s overall value, specification, and level of after-sales service. Dynamics are important, as is performance, but this must be balanced with the impact on local air quality. Safety is vital, as is practicality — it has to be user-friendly.

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