BYD Shark 6 vs Denza B5
What's the difference?

BYD Shark 6

$55,900 - $62,900

2026 price

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Denza B5

$74,990 - $79,990

2026 price

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Summary

2026 BYD Shark 6

2026 Denza B5

By Emily Agar

By Marcus Craft

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Turbo 4, 1.5L

Inline 4, 1.5L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded/Electric

Fuel Efficiency

7.9L/100km (combined)

3.9L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Handsome styling will win hearts
Solid equipment list
Sharply priced

Plenty of standard gear for price
Premium-style cabin
Smooth on-road, capable off-road

Dislikes

One grade limits options
Under-calibrated safety tech
Underwhelming petrol engine

Some driver-assist tech too jarring and over-reactive
Needs better tyres for 4WDing
Fuel economy not as good as hoped

2026 BYD Shark 6 Summary

The BYD Shark 6 Premium has burst onto the scene with plenty of hype and a bit of side-eye from Aussie ute loyalists.

We’re a tough crowd, especially when it comes to vehicles that need to juggle family life, work gear, and weekend adventures.

So we put this handsome newcomer to the test to see whether it delivers genuine practicality and fun, or if it’s simply talking the talk in a ute-shaped body.

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2026 Denza B5 Summary

The Denza B5 Leopard PHEV is the latest in China’s plug-in hybrid invasion of Australia.

Denza is a premium sub-brand of BYD and the B5 is a luxury body-on-frame 4WD wagon with five seats, 16 drive modes, a low-range gear-set on the rear axle, and front and rear diff locks.

It has a packed standard features list, a premium-style interior, about 100km electric-only driving range, and real off-road adventure potential.

But how does this plush plug-in perform off-road?

Read on.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 BYD Shark 6 2026 Denza B5

Verdict

The BYD Shark 6 Premium is perfect for weekend camping trips or ferrying the family around the city, but the underpowered engine, mixed handling, and quirky safety tech hold it back. If it could match its rivals’ capability while keeping its sharp looks, it would be a near-perfect package but right now, it just doesn’t.

Verdict

The Denza B5 Leopard PHEV is an impressive five-seat premium-style 4WD wagon: it’s reasonably nice to drive, it’s comfortable and it’s a capable 4WD and word on the tracks is that a new software update is set to make it even more of an effective off-roader.

It doesn’t offer the level of fuel economy you’d hope for, and there are issues with elements of its driver-assist tech suite – some of which are jarring and over-reactive – but the B5 looks and feels like a premium 4WD and represents decent value for money, especially when cross-shopped against something like a new-generation Prado.

BYD Shark 6 vs Denza B5 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

BYD Shark 6 vs Denza B5
What's the difference?