BYD Shark 6 vs MG U9

The BYD Shark 6 starts from $53,900 before on-road costs, while the MG U9 opens at $52,990. That makes the MG U9 the more affordable entry point by $910.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $59,290 and $58,289 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Shark 6 by roughly $9,365 in fuel alone.

Both the BYD Shark 6 and MG U9 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 85% for the BYD Shark 6 and 91% for the MG U9.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the BYD Shark 6, against 6 on the MG U9.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BYD Shark 6 and 6 in the MG U9. The BYD Shark 6 adds a 360-degree camera that the MG U9 misses.

A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The BYD Shark 6 features a 15.6-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the MG U9 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Shark 6 stands out with head-up display, wireless charging, heated front seats, ventilated seats, power tailgate, V2L and Dynaudio audio — features our data doesn't list for the MG U9. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BYD Shark 6 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the MG U9 offers artificial leather.

The BYD Shark 6 uses a Plug-in Hybrid producing 321kW and 650Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds.

The MG U9 responds with a 2.5L Turbo Diesel making 160kW and 520Nm, paired to a zf 8 speed automatic driving the rear wheels.

The BYD Shark 6 has the clear power advantage at 321kW vs 160kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BYD Shark 6 measures 5,457mm long on a 3,260mm wheelbase, 43mm shorter than the MG U9 at 5,500mm (3,300mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the MG U9 generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the MG U9 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,500kg. That 1,000kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $379/year for the BYD Shark 6 and $2,252/year for the MG U9. That is a $1,873 annual difference in favour of the BYD Shark 6.

Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Shark 6) vs 5 years (MG U9). The BYD Shark 6 has longer coverage.