BYD Shark 6 vs Volkswagen Amarok

The BYD Shark 6 starts from $55,900 before on-road costs, while the Volkswagen Amarok opens at $55,990. That makes the BYD Shark 6 the more affordable entry point by $90.

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 $61,490 and $61,589 respectively.

The BYD Shark 6 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Volkswagen Amarok, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BYD Shark 6 by roughly $9,505 in fuel alone.

Both the BYD Shark 6 and Volkswagen Amarok hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 85% for the BYD Shark 6 and 86% for the Volkswagen Amarok.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BYD Shark 6 packs more ADAS features with 4 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 3 in the Volkswagen Amarok.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control.

The BYD Shark 6 features a 12.8-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Volkswagen Amarok gets a 10.1-inch display and 8-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Shark 6 stands out with V2L that you will not find on the Volkswagen Amarok. 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 Volkswagen Amarok offers cloth. Climate control is 2-zone in the BYD Shark 6 and 1-zone in the Volkswagen Amarok.

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

The Volkswagen Amarok responds with a Diesel making 125kW and 405Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

The BYD Shark 6 has the clear power advantage at 321kW vs 125kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Shark 6 is 2.8s quicker. 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, 107mm longer than the Volkswagen Amarok at 5,350mm (3,270mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Amarok generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the Volkswagen Amarok 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 $2,280/year for the Volkswagen Amarok. That is a $1,901 annual difference in favour of the BYD Shark 6.

Estimated annual total: $379 (BYD Shark 6) vs $2,280 (Volkswagen Amarok). The BYD Shark 6 saves you roughly $1,901 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Shark 6) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Volkswagen Amarok). The BYD Shark 6 has longer coverage.