BYD Shark towing capacity: 2,500 kg or 3,500 kg by variant

BYD Shark 6: maker figures via Loadmate, snapshot read 3 October 2026

What changed with the Performance

BYD's own site lists the Shark 6 Performance with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and a 3,500 kg maximum braked towing capacity, against 2,500 kg for the 1.5-litre Dynamic and Premium. The higher rating comes with a higher GCM, 6,650 kg against 5,750 kg, and a slightly heavier kerb weight, so the Performance actually leaves less payload when towing its full rating.

A worked example

A Shark 6 Premium towing a 2,500 kg van: the GCM of 5,750 kg leaves 3,250 kg for the ute, which is 540 kg above its 2,710 kg kerb weight. The GVM gives the same answer once the 250 kg ball weight is counted. Two adults, a canopy and touring gear can use most of it.

The 10 per cent check at full tow

The NSW Government's guide is that about 5 to 10 per cent of a loaded trailer's mass should sit on the tow ball. On the Shark 6 Premium, a 2,500 kg van at 10 per cent puts 250 kg on the ball, exactly the rated limit. That leaves no room for error: a van loaded nose-heavy, with full front water tanks or bikes on the drawbar, can push the ball weight over 250 kg even though the van's total is legal. On the Performance, a 3,500 kg van at 10 per cent is 350 kg, again right at the limit. Weigh the ball load with the van packed as you travel; our tow ball weight guide shows how.

Payload: where it goes

Working from the figures above, the Premium leaves about 540 kg above kerb weight at full tow, and the Performance about 375 kg. That allowance has to cover everyone in the cabin, anything bolted on after delivery, and everything in the tub. An illustrative Premium at full tow:

Item	Mass
Available above kerb weight, towing 2,500 kg	About 540 kg
Two adults	160 kg
Tub liner, roller cover or canopy	60 to 150 kg
Fridge, water and camping gear	100 kg
What is left	Roughly 130 to 220 kg

Swap the canopy for a heavier one, add a second battery or a bullbar, or bring two children, and the margin goes quickly. The same arithmetic on the Performance starts from about 375 kg, so it fills even sooner. The calculator above lets you try your own numbers.

Towing with a plug-in hybrid

The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid, and that changes a towing trip in a few ways. Towing uses far more energy than driving solo, so the battery's electric-only range shrinks sharply with a van behind, and the engine works more of the time. Plan fuel stops with towing in mind rather than the solo figures. On long descents, regenerative braking can help recover energy, but the van's own brakes still need to be working through a brake controller. Check with the dealer how the trailer brakes are controlled and whether the vehicle's systems need any setting for towing. Our electric brake controller guide covers the controller side.

Before you hitch a van to a Shark

1. Confirm the exact variant and its towing rating on the compliance plate and in the owner's manual.
2. Check the towbar's own rating plate; it must match or exceed what you tow.
3. Weigh the loaded ute and the loaded van, hitched, on a public weighbridge.
4. Measure ball weight with the van packed as you travel.
5. Fit towing mirrors if the van is wider than the ute; our towing mirrors guide explains the NSW rule.
6. Check the brake controller works before the first trip.

If you are comparing the Shark with a diesel dual-cab, our Ford Ranger towing capacity guide sets out the same limits for the Ranger, including what each variant leaves at full tow.

Shark 6 towing: common questions answered in full

Is 2,500 kg enough for a family caravan? Many single-axle vans and smaller tandem vans have ATMs under 2,500 kg, but a lot of popular family tandem vans sit between 2,500 and 3,500 kg. Check the van's plated ATM, not its tare, against the Premium's 2,500 kg limit.

Does the Performance's 3,500 kg rating mean I can tow a 3,500 kg van with a loaded ute? Only if the combination stays under the 6,650 kg GCM and the ute stays under its 3,500 kg GVM with the 350 kg ball load included. As the figures above show, that leaves about 375 kg for people and gear in the ute.

What about unbraked trailers? A small trailer without brakes must be within the vehicle's unbraked rating, shown in the specifications, and within the 750 kg GTM limit for unbraked trailers under the national rules. Our electric trailer brakes guide sets out where brakes become required.

Common questions