Plug-in hybrid dual-cabs compared on paper! How does the 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV stand up against BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha?

The Ford Ranger is a hot rate item in Australia. Now not most interesting did the Ranger overcome the enduring Toyota Hilux all any other time final year, it was also Australia’s most bought car total for 2024.

Now, Ford Australia has presented pricing and small print for the unique, jog-in hybrid Ranger searching for to accurate their high promoting space for years to return. However, has a brand unique kid on the block already stuffed this inconvenience?

The BYD Shark 6 went on sale in October 2024 and has been in the highlight ever since. Pioneering the Australian PHEV twin cab segment, the Shark 6 is a severely aggressive product, with an equally aggressive label.

It was under no circumstances going to be as easy as a two-horse creep between BYD and Ford, with the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV also in the mix. Expected to return on sale in April 2025 in two cheap trims, the Cannon Alpha PHEV appears to be like to be to be a stable off-roader, as a minimum on paper.

So, does the unique Ranger PHEV procure what it takes to dominate the hybrid ute segment? Or, will it be overshadowed by the already established BYD Shark PHEV and shortly to be released GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV? Let’s see what the specs deserve to assert.

How powerful attain they label?

BYD has trailblazed in the Australian market with the Shark 6 however Ford and GWM aren’t far late. Easiest readily accessible in one dapper stage, the Shark 6 Top rate is priced at $57,900, previous to on boulevard charges.

BYD’s distributor (EV Exclaim) claims to already procure round 6000 orders for the Shark. Impressive whereas you suspect about BYD’s relative newcomer space — we’ll be searching at the sales statistics very closely.

The unique Ranger PHEV has a four variant line-up, beginning with the PHEV XLT from $71,990, previous to on–boulevard charges. The entry-stage XLT is clearly focused at hasty consumers with its lower label and shorter equipment listing. The Range line-up scales appropriate as much as the unique Stormtrak, for an inventory label of $86,990.

In incompatibility to its four-cylinder diesel twin, the Ranger PHEV is per chance not readily accessible in a extra cheap RWD-most interesting layout. The defective model XLT PHEV comes popular with four-wheel-power.

The GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV ute differ is easy and competitively priced, with two variants. The Lux has a power-away label of $63,990 — very cease to the Shark — and the differ-topping Extremely will space you help $68,990 power-away.

What’s the using differ relish?

On paper, the fight for furthest EV-most interesting differ is incredibly aggressive… between two brands, that is. The BYD Shark 6 can streak as much as 100km (NEDC) previous to depleting its 29.6kwH battery.

Limp your Shark to a charger with 30% final, and it’s possible you’ll maybe maybe presumably also unprejudiced also be help to 80% in 25 minutes thanks to the 55kW DC payment rate. Charge the Shark at house, and the 7kW AC intention will grant a full payment in roughly four and a half hours. Overall, the Shark 6 has a mixed differ of 800km (NEDC) and a mixed litres per 100km of 2.0L/100km.

The GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV leads the Shark 6 for battery differ, with a NEDC estimate of 110 km; accurate 10km over the Shark no matter the vastly higher 37.1kWh battery.

A 30-80% DC payment takes 26 minutes, with a maximum DC payment rate of 50kW. On AC energy, a full payment will rob round six and a half hours, maxing the AC payment rate out at 6.6kW. GWM claims a mixed differ of 880 (NEDC) and a litres per 100km of 1.7L/100km.

The Ranger PHEV has a modest 49km (NEDC) differ, lower than half of what the competition affords. Why? Ford claims the typical Ranger driver most interesting travels round 40km in a day, making the 11.8kWh battery only for everyday commutes.

Once more, it’s miles worth noting that the battery dimension is lower than half that of the competition, and but, with most interesting 3.5kW AC charging readily accessible, the fastest conceivable time to payment the Ranger PHEV is 4 hours. Combined fuel economy of the Ranger PHEV is 2.9L/100km. At the 2d, no mixed differ figure is straight away accessible.

However why are fuel use figures necessary? With Australia’s incoming unique car efficiency popular (NVES), these jog-in hybrids are an necessary for industrial car-heavy carmakers to lower cumulative CO2 emissions. In Ford’s case, the Ranger jog-in hybrid will must attain plenty of heavy lifting — so it higher be successful.

Which car has essentially the most convey?

The Ford Ranger jog-in hybrid has a 138kW 2.3 L turbo petrol four cylinder ‘Ecoboost’ engine, which is paired to a old ten-tempo auto.

The standout is the electric powerplant; a single 75kw electric motor mounted between the ICE engine and transmission. With the hybrid intention in full cease, the Ranger PHEV develops a maximum energy output of 207kW, and maximum torque of 697Nm.

GWM is using the connected 180kW 2.0 turbo petrol four cylinder engine and 9-tempo auto package you’d earn in the hybrid Cannon Alpha Extremely. Mix this with a 120kW single electric motor, and the maximum outputs of the Cannon Alpha PHEV are 300kW and 750Nm.

The Shark 6 powerplant is a little little bit of an outlier amongst opponents; it has the smallest displacement ICE engine, and two electric motors to power each axles.

Don’t deem alternatively, that the Shark 6 lacks bite; the 1.5 L turbo petrol four cylinder engine produces an cheap 135kW, and the entrance and rear mounted electric motors make 170kW and 130kW, respectively. Combined, the Shark develops 321kW and 650Nm, making it the unique strongest PHEV ute readily accessible in the Australian market.

How succesful are these PHEV utes??

We are able to deserve to defend up for a full take a look at, alternatively the Ranger PHEV is taking a behold to be a high contender off-boulevard; the defective model XLT has the connected four-wheel-power devoted sides as the differ topping Stormtrak.

With a full kerb weight of 2527kg, the Ranger XLT PHEV might well maybe be a handful in the mud, however low differ gearing, a locking rear diff, offroad devoted driver modes, hill descent control, and traction control will let you come out the diversified side.

The XLT has the bottom ground clearance out of the Ranger PHEV lineup, at 215mm. It comes out of the box with an 800mm wading depth, most interesting for a fleet hasty car acceptable ‘wash’. The XLT is undoubtedly essentially the most equipped PHEV ute for payloads, with a 973kg capacity.

Ford Australia has all any other time and all any other time wired the significance of towing capability for their consumers, and subsequently, all 4 variants of the Ranger PHEV procure a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, a Tow Haul power mode, and 70 litre fuel tank.

GWM’s Cannon Alpha PHEV is taking a behold to be an staunch contender off-boulevard as successfully. Both the Lux and Extremely dapper levels come popular with high and low differ, a wading depth of 800mm, a 224mm ground clearance, and electronic locking rear and centre differentials, with an electronic entrance locker optioned on the Extremely.

Similar to the Ranger PHEV, the Cannon Alpha PHEV has plenty of terrain-explicit power modes, hill descent control, and a 3500kg braked towing capacity. Most payload capacity is a pair of procedure off opponents, at 685kg.

Chasing Autos had the chance to trial the Shark 6 off-boulevard, and it was aesthetic to gape it still wait on its dangle, no matter lacking a pair of key sides equipped by its opponents.

The Shark 6 doesn’t procure low differ, nor does it procure differential lockers. Its double wishbone entrance and rear suspension also limits rear axle articulation in contrast to the Ranger and Cannon Alpha.

Nitty-gritty, severe off-boulevard challenges will must be tackled with the Shark 6’s terrain-explicit power modes, hill descent control, traction control, and a few artful electronic energy distribution.

With a ground clearance of 230mm and a maximum water wading depth of 700mm, the Shark 6 is still a legit contender for most off-boulevard using. Two sides of competition worth noting are the restricted braked towing capacity of 2500kg, and maximum payload capacity of 790kg.

What fabricate of kit can I search knowledge from?

Ford anticipates the $79,990 (previous to on boulevard) Ranger Wildtrak will be its preferred variant.

Set a query to a an identical memoir with the Cannon Alpha, with the Extremely’s electronic entrance differential locker plus diversified sides added for not powerful extra label ($68,990 power-away). The Shark 6 is currently readily accessible in one dapper stage – the Top rate, for $57,900 previous to on boulevard charges. We’ve highlighted some key sides in the desk under.

Who is the winner on paper?

Although we’re but to place aside the GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV and Ford Ranger PHEV via their paces each on and off the overwhelmed music, the BYD Shark 6 will be tricky to beat for private consumers.

Ford’s procedure to offer a broader differ of jog-in hybrid variants might well maybe maybe also unprejudiced, alternatively, gain the understand of hasty operators.

With an especially aggressive label, mighty hybrid capability, mighty drivetrain, first rate off-boulevard capacity and a rising after-sales give a rob to network, each Ford and GWM must stammer incredible merchandise to lead Australia’s next technology of fuel-sipping twin cabs.