Inside the Shark feels very well put together - we poked around and could only find sturdy trim pieces with no obvious creaks or rattles while driving either. While most of the Shark’s functions are on the massive 15.6-inch touchscreen, there are still buttons for the drive modes, demister and the electronic tailgate and they all have a satisfying click. The infotainment software itself is something we’ve experienced in plenty of BYDs. While its displays and layouts are a bit overwhelming (driver’s display included), the integration of Apple CarPlay is very well thought-out with the shortcut menu also visible beneath. 

The space inside the Shark is excellent as well. There’s a massive storage area under the centre armrest and in the back, so often an afterthought on dual-cab pick-up trucks, there’s plenty of space for adults to get comfortable. The 11kW onboard charging cable can be stored behind the rear seat backs as well. 

There’s just one trim level, but it’s very well catered for with a 12-speaker sound system, heated and cooled front seats with faux-leather trim, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system and a head-up display. There’s also vehicle-to-load charging, which comes from two three-pin plugs in the bed. 

It all sounds very promising, but then the Shark is limited by its payload capacity. Standing at 790kg it’s way down on the 1,000kg the Ford Ranger PHEV offers and also means the BYD isn’t eligible for a VAT refund for business users, unlike the Ranger. The towing capacity is 2,500kg as well, 1,000kg less than the Ford. 

At £47,290, the BYD Shark is £1,639 cheaper than the Ford with VAT applied to both. For retail buyers looking for a plug-in hybrid truck for personal use, the BYD makes an excellent case for itself, though for business users the Ford is still the prudent choice.