BREATH OF FRESH AIR
Newcomer looms as an affordable option for those wanting to flick the EV switch
Aussie electric car shoppers now have another budget-friendly option. BYD – short for Build Your Dreams – is the latest Chinese brand to land Down Under. Its first offering is the Atto 3 crossover, which blends SUV looks with compact hatchback proportions.
Prices start at about $45,500 drive-away for the standard range that can travel 345km between charges. The extended range version we tested costs $48,500 and can travel 420km.
The pricing puts it at the sharp end of the EV market. Only the MG ZS EV is cheaper at $44,990 drive-away.
The BYD is also eligible for various state government incentives that further improve its value proposition.
Power comes from a punchy single electric motor delivering 150kW and 310Nm through the front wheels. It can replenish its 60kWh battery from zero to 80 per cent in less than an hour.
The Atto 3’s cute styling should appeal to younger buyers with its splashes of chrome, funky 18-inch alloy wheels and LED lights front and back.
Inside the Atto 3 looks the part.
There are textured soft-touch materials adorning most surfaces, while cylindrical air vents add a point of difference. Door handles rotate backwards like a boat throttle.
In-door storage bins have elastic strings that can stretch to hold bigger, odd-shaped items in place. Parents beware, though, as kids will pluck them like guitar strings.
The car’s outward facing cameras can be used as dashcams, recording in front and behind the vehicle at the touch of a button.
Faux leather-wrapped front seats are heated and electronically adjustable.
The 12.8-inch central touchscreen can rotate between portrait and landscape views and there are plenty of USB charging points, as well as a wireless device charger.
Connectivity is lacking, though. There is
Bluetooth but no satnav or smartphone mirroring. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay won’t be available until later.
A small five-inch digital instrument display doesn’t have much wow factor but delivers all the vital info you need.
The Atto 3 has a similar footprint to compact
SUVs such as the Mazda CX-30 and Toyota CHR but has the interior room of a much larger vehicle.
There is plenty of legroom in the back for adult passengers to sit comfortably and the boot – accessed via a powered tailgate – is generous enough to swallow the weekly shop or the kids’ school bags.
Safety equipment is comprehensive. Driver aids include automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic avoidance, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring.
BYD is a new brand in Australia so longterm reliability and quality are unknowns but initial impressions suggest decent build quality. Our test car had no creaks or groans and the doors closed with a reassuring thud.
For peace of mind BYD is covering its battery for eight years/160,000km and the car for six-years/150,000km.
Delve a bit deeper and there are some odd exemptions in the warranty coverage, though.
The multimedia system is only covered for three years and 60,000km, while there are shorter warranties for shock absorbers, bushings and vehicle lights.
Servicing will set you back about $1400 over five years, which is reasonable.
On the road the BYD is a surprisingly good performer.
Acceleration feels brisk and BYD says the Atto will reach 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.
It does a good job of getting the power and instant torque to the ground with minimal wheel spin.
Overall it’s a fun little EV to drive. The Atto 3 benefits from light and direct steering and its suspension irons out most road imperfections, although it can crash over larger bumps and potholes.
Its Batman brand tyres leave a lot to be desired, though, delivering so-so grip through corners and chirping without much provocation.
Inside the car is whisper-quiet, with tyre and suspension noise kept to a minimum, although the car make a loud hum to warn pedestrians of its presence.