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A much-needed ‘Crawl Model’ has been added to the BYD Shark 6’s off-road arsenal, with the software update said to significantly improve technical capability
BYD Australia has confirmed its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid dual cab will soon gain a new ‘Crawl Mode’ to boost the ute’s low-speed off-road ability.
The update will debut on the new Shark 6 Performance – which fits a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine for the first time – and updated MY26 Premium, promising to improve the Shark’s hill descent control on slippery terrain, as well as improving torque vectoring to each driven wheel.
BYD has confirmed existing Shark 6 Premium owners will gain the update over-the-air at no extra charge, while the forthcoming Dynamic Cab-Chassis misses out due to limitations relating to its smaller 12.8-inch multimedia screen (down from 15.6 inches).
The update is expected to roll-out to existing Shark owners ‘in the coming months’, and will be limited to traction control improvements. BYD has hinted that a Shark 6 with true mechanical differential locks could join the model range at a later date, which you can read about in our separate article.
It remains to be seen if Shark’s latest improvements to traction control will close the gap on segment-leading rivals – like the Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max – which promise enhanced off-road capability through offerings like differential locks, mechanical low range, and conventional four-wheel drive.
Expanding to the lucrative PHEV ute segment, both the Ford Ranger PHEV and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV have elected to follow this traditional design process, where the Shark has forged its own path using dual electric motors and forgoing a conventional gearbox.
In previous testing, Chasing Cars praised the Shark 6 Premium for its simplified, efficient hybrid drivetrain and solid value proposition, though found limitations in its off-road capability. A lack of ground clearance and wheel articulation were cited as the Shark’s biggest weak points.
More on the Shark’s off-road capabilities can be found here: BYD Shark 6 Premium 2025 off-road review
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