DRIVEN Early test underlines promising start for new Atto 3

THE Atto 3 doesn’t seem a bad place for BYD to start in the UK. It’s a small family SUV with some smart styling cues that have been designed with Europe in mind, and based on our short first drive, it should have plenty of appeal for UK buyers.

The electric motor is nicely calibrated, so the Atto 3’s throttle progression is well judged, sensible and pleasingly linear. The same can be said for the brakes; modulating the transition between energy recuperation and discs and pads is notoriously tricky, but BYD has come close to nailing it here. There’s no nasty sponginess or step to speak of, although we’d rather have just one setting instead of being able to choose between two levels of left-pedal resistance.

This also applies to the steering, which is perhaps the weakest link. You can pick between ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ but, a difference in weight aside, you’re still left with a set-up that feels vague and slow to respond. A bit more bite around the straight ahead and heft that falls somewhere between the two settings offered would be preferable, we’d argue.

The rest of the chassis feels compliant – or at least, it did up to the 50mph maximum speed of BYD’s test track. We suspect there might be a bit more body roll at higher speed, but around town you’ll find it comfortable and composed.

Inside, you might be surprised by how neatly finished the Atto 3 is. There are soft-touch materials in many of the key areas and while there are some fussy elements – the dashboard’s air vents seem designed to make a statement, and there are flashes of red piping on the seats and the ‘guitar strings’ that form the door side pockets – the overall effect has a bit more panache than, say, MG’s cabins.

The in-car tech seems solid, too, and there are strong hints that the car will support Android and Apple connectivity, albeit via an over-the-air update soon after launch. As it stands, the interface resembles that of an Android smartphone; it’s pretty, but potentially a bit fiddly for in-car use.

This vast, crisp display is one area that belies the car’s Chinese origins in a good way. Western customers might find other elements, such as the various musical jingles – including a chordal indicator chime that’s been sent from hell – a little wearing. Hopefully BYD will use the upgradability of its own operating system to offer more subtle, sophisticated alternatives in due course.