BYD Shark 6 wins NZ Car of the Year
BYD’s Shark 6 has been crowned the overall winner of the Driven Car Guide AA Insurance 2025 New Zealand Car of the Year awards.
It marks back-to-back successes for the Chinese brand after its Sealion 6 won the 2024 title.
The Shark 6, a hybrid ute, was one of nine category winners vying for this year’s gong after it took out the lifestyle/adventure section.
Judges note the vehicle has a dual motor off-road powertrain that combines a plug-in battery with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and AWD.
It offers an EV range of 80-100km, boasts vehicle-to-load functionality with six power outlets and has a 2.5-tonne tow rating.
In announcing the overall winner on December 5, the Driven Car Guide described the Shark 6 as a “no-guilt ute” that is versatile, satisfying to drive, a great all-rounder and has a low-emissions profile.
BYD saw off competition from Kia, Leapmotor, Lyriq, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru and Tesla to scoop the top prize after the category awards were handed out a week earlier.
