On today's chart 707K views since yesterday

Mat Watson puts BYD's Shark through the pickup trenches

The Chinese plug-in hybrid meets a Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger on carwow's off-road course, where grip matters more than horsepower.

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carwow Story of October 30, 2026Trari Newsroom

No. 95 on the daily chart No. 4 on the Cars chart

Why this story? One of the most watched videos since yesterday, with 707,393 views.

Can a Chinese truck beat these OFF-ROAD LEGENDS?

Video summary

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0:58The uphill race starts, followed by a dispute over Mat's low-range setting and a permitted rerun.
3:43Graham introduces a timed handling course where damage or bottoming out means disqualification.
12:50An uneven stepped trench tests clearance, traction and the drivers' choice of line.
28:17The dirt sprint brings unexpected automatic braking from the Hilux and another rerun.
30:34The slowest hill descent becomes the goal, with Sam attempting it in reverse for a bonus point.
37:43After the final rocky climb, the points are tallied and the overall result is revealed.

BYD's Shark arrives with the most power and the most weight, but without the low-range gearing available to its opponents. That's an intriguing starting point for carwow's pickup test: can electric assistance help the newcomer over obstacles that demand rather more than a quick getaway?

Mat Watson drives the Toyota Hilux, Sam takes the Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid, and Nick gets the Shark. Off-road instructor Graham judges a series of challenges involving steep climbs, tight turns and some expensive-looking opportunities to scrape the underside. The episode has drawn roughly 707,000 views since yesterday.

The opening uphill race immediately becomes an argument about procedure. Mat leaves the Hilux in low range, struggles with a gear change and asks for another attempt. Graham permits it. Sam has a question afterward: "Do I get a half-point for winning the first race?"

That exchange sets up a running theme in the comments, where viewers question the restarts and Mat's influence over the rules. But the trucks supply plenty to examine, too. A scrape and leaking washer fluid disqualify the Ranger from the handling course. Later, the Hilux grounds itself on a rocky ridge, leaving Mat needing a different line.

The Shark's revealing moment comes in the stepped trench. Nick selects "Leopard mode" and, after another attempt, gets it to the top. Its traction control earns praise, giving the title's question a practical test rather than just a comparison of engine specifications.

There is a flat-out dirt sprint, but also its opposite: a contest to descend a sandy hill as slowly as possible. Sam attempts that one in reverse for an agreed bonus point. Graham then demonstrates that the slope is slippery enough to defeat the instructor on foot, too.

Published on Trari