Ford Ranger Raptor lines up against BYD Shark 6 and Geely Riddara RD6 in American gas vs Chinese EV drag race battle that ends with a surprise

Three very different pickup trucks, a Ford Ranger Raptor, a BYD Shark 6, and a Geely Riddara RD6, have gone head-to-head in a drag race, and the results could give traditional American gas trucks a run for their money.

Paul from CarExpert and Jono from CarExpert New Zealand took the pickup trucks to Hampton Downs race track in New Zealand to find out which one was quickest.

The trio brought three different powertrains to the starting line, with the Ford relying on a turbocharged gas engine, the BYD using a plug-in hybrid setup and the Geely going fully electric.

But while the racing delivered some impressive acceleration, one truck also gave Paul a seriously worrying experience.

Ford Ranger Raptor vs BYD Shark 6

The first race saw Paul behind the wheel of the gas-powered Ford Ranger Raptor, going up against Jono in the BYD Shark 6, an EV pickup with lots to prove.

The Raptor has a reputation as a seriously capable performance pickup, but it had already been beaten by the BYD in an earlier drag race.

Unfortunately for Paul, the rematch didn’t go any better.

Both drivers launched down the straight, but the Shark quickly pulled away, leaving the Ford trailing behind.

Paul even joked that Jono had beaten him by an even bigger margin than last time, despite claiming he hadn’t jumped the start.

They tried again with different driving settings in the Raptor, but switching to two-wheel drive only resulted in plenty of wheelspin and tire squeal.

The BYD was simply too quick, leaving Paul wondering whether Ford needs a more powerful Raptor variant to take on its Chinese rival.

Geely Riddara RD6 presents a worrying problem

Next, Paul swapped the Ford for the fully electric Geely Riddara RD6, giving the presenters another interesting matchup against Jono’s BYD Shark 6.

The Geely had less power and torque on paper, but its electric powertrain promised instant acceleration.

It was also considerably lighter, with Paul estimating it weighed around 2.2 to 2.3 tonnes compared with approximately 2.8 tonnes for the BYD.

When the race began, the Geely launched with serious force, leaving Paul amazed at how quickly it accelerated.

However, the excitement quickly turned into concern when he tried to slow down at the end of the straight.

The truck appeared to become unstable under braking, with its rear end moving sideways as Paul struggled to bring it under control.

Jono and Paul discussed the possibility that the tires were contributing to the problem, but they couldn’t establish the exact cause.

They attempted a second run, and the Geely again delivered impressive acceleration. Yet when Paul hit the brakes, the truck’s behavior remained alarming.

Chinese EV pickups steal the spotlight

Despite the Geely’s powerful launch, Jono and the BYD Shark 6 came out on top in the drag race.

The results showed just how competitive electrified pickups have become, with the BYD beating the Ford and then holding off the Geely.

The Ranger Raptor, meanwhile, finished behind both Chinese rivals in straight-line acceleration, despite its performance-focused reputation.

Of course, drag racing tells only part of the story, because off-road capability, towing capacity, and everyday practicality are all important when choosing a pickup.

The Geely’s braking issues were also a significant concern, and the test didn’t establish exactly what caused them.

Still, the contest delivered an intriguing result: electric power is making it increasingly difficult for traditional gas trucks to dominate acceleration battles.

And while the BYD claimed bragging rights this time, Paul’s experience behind the wheel of the Geely might be the moment viewers remember most.