BYD Shark 6 vs Jayco Penguin

What's the difference?

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.

At nearly $25,000 the Penguin can't really be called cheap, but what does make it worth a look is the completely contained living space – the sitting, sleeping and cooking are all done inside, and that's a boon when the weather turns.

It's ideal if you want the comfort of a caravan without the bulk of one, and the ease of towing a more traditional camper-trailer offers, without the struggle of set-up.

Comfort is clearly a priority in the Shark 6 Premium. There’s loads of cabin space and the powered front seats are properly plush for a ute, with four-way lumbar support plus heating and ventilation which is a luxe touch you really notice on long drives.

Up front, storage is excellent with a glovebox and dash cubby, large door bins, a deep centre console, two phone trays with a wireless charger, a USB-A and C port, cupholders and a sunglasses holder. Everything has its place, and it’s easy to keep the cabin tidy.

The rear bench is also impressive. Generous seat bases, thick padding, and a flat floor mean adults will be comfortable back there, and kids are happy too. Rear passengers score map pockets, cupholders, big door bins, directional air vents, a USB-A and C port and even a 230-volt outlet.

Despite the 230mm ground clearance, getting in and out is surprisingly easy thanks to big door apertures, side steps and grab handles. My nine-year-old found it easy to get in, though younger kids will still need a hand. He loves the great view, thanks to the low window line, but the doors feel heavy on a slope.

Tech-wise, the 15.6-inch touchscreen looks sharp and responds quickly. The system is simple enough to use once you spend some quality time with it but first-timers might get flustered initially. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto worked consistently, although most controls live inside the screen, including climate functions, which may frustrate some. The rotating display is clever, but I found portrait mode blocked some forward vision from my driving position. Also, fun fact, when CarPlay fills the full screen, everyone can see it, including cyclists who now know my husband’s nickname!

Out back, the tray is slightly smaller than key rivals but still practical, offering 790kg payload and a 1200L capacity. The soft-opening tailgate is handy but lacks gas struts, and without a step, climbing in requires a bit of a hop. On the plus side, the tub gets lighting, three 230-volt AC outlets and a full-size spare underneath.

Inside, the layout is simple, but comfortable for two people. The rear of the camper is dominated by the east-west oriented bed.

The dinette, to the front of the camper, is cosy and only good for two people. It does actually fold down into a second bed for a third body (or a second body who's not allowed in the first bed), but although there's sleeping for three, seating that many would be difficult. Maybe a small grandchild, occasionally. It's comfortable, though and both seats lift up to reveal a little extra storage. There's even a hidey-hole behind the driver's side back-rest.

Typical of all campers of this sort, the bench heights are low and will frustrate taller people who need to stoop to use them.

This camper has a canvas skirt, but really there's more see-through plastic window than actual canvas, so it's quite panoramic inside. It's not hard to gain a bit of privacy, though; there's a dark tint to them so it's hard to see through during the day, and all the windows have curtains, so you can shut everything out, easily enough.

Lighting is simple, with just two LED lights in the roof, although unless you pay extra for a battery, they'll only work at powered sites.

On the road, the Shark 6 is a bit of a mixed bag. In EV or hybrid mode it’s genuinely impressive being smooth, quiet and quick off the line with a nice, immediate power delivery. But once the petrol engine fires up, things change. It becomes noticeably loud and whiny, and it can feel short on grunt, especially on hills. I wouldn’t rely on the petrol side alone if you regularly drive with heavy loads or tackle steep country roads.

Around town, the ride is comfortable and almost glides over the road, which sounds lovely, but in a big ute I prefer a bit more feedback. Out on regional roads, the Shark can start to feel less composed, particularly over big bumps or loose gravel, so it’s definitely happier in urban settings.

Visibility is mostly good thanks to the high driving position and big windows. The thick B-pillar does require a proper head-check, and parents take note: I can’t always see my son when he’s right up close to the vehicle, so extra awareness around kids is essential.

Regen braking is subtle but effective and the battery never dipped below 20 per cent and often gained charge on downhill runs. The lack of that grabby EV brake feel is also very nice.

Parking, however, is where things get entertaining and not always in a good way. With a 13.5m turning circle and at almost 5.5m long, it’s not what you’d call nimble. My mum and I genuinely had an Austin Powers three-point-turn moment in a tight ramp. It's also best to reverse into spaces to allow for the tray overhang. The saving grace? The 360-degree camera system is genuinely helpful due to its clear, wide feed.

Because the Penguin is so light – as mentioned above – and because the towing height is just 1660mm, lower than the roof of most cars and certainly below that of SUVs, it's easy to tow, even if you don't have the largest 4WD to haul it around.

The Subaru Forester I tested this camper with, for instance, did the job quite well and would be ideal if you towed the camper down the coast a few times a year.

Underneath, the camper's got a simple beam axle with leaf slipper springs and shock absorbers. They do a commendable job and, as this is a purely on-road camper, there's no need for it to be anything else.