Update: ‘BYD Yuan Plus global launch timelines’ section updated.
Warren Buffet-backed Chinese automaker BYD unveiled a compact SUV – the BYD Yuan Plus – in 2021. It is expected to be the company’s next big electric car launch in Europe following the BYD Tang EV that went on sale in Norway in August 2021, and could carry the BYD Atto 3 nameplate in the old continent.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new BYD electric car.
Exterior
Former Audi designer Wolfgang Egger led the BYD Yuan Plus’ design. Image Source: BYD
The BYD Yuan Plus embodies the company’s latest design language called Dragon Face 3.0, but there’s no denying that it looks like a typical Chinese SUV. Some design highlights include crossover bodywork with elements like a sloping bonnet and a dropping roofline, LED “dragon crystal” headlamps, C-shaped, aggressive front bumper corners, and a full-width taillamp. However, the D-pillar motif catches our attention, reminiscent of the diamond-pattern film in the honeycomb look on the VW ID.3.
Interior
The BYD Yuan Plus incorporates a new Rhythm design language in the interior. Image Source: BYD
The Yuan Plus follows a new Rhythm theme for the interior, and we observe the musical influence in the curvy shape of the dashboard and the round elements on the doors. The dashboard appears to seamlessly merge with the door panels to give a single-panel effect. The red strings in the lower portion of the door panels amplify the feeling of being around musical instruments.
The guitar-like strings on the door panels are to remind the occupants of the SUV’s music-inspired theme. Image Source: BYD
The digital cluster is a compact unit reminiscent of the VW ID.4. In addition to the stubby gear selector with a capsule-shaped top, the front-centre and rear AC vents have an aircraft-inspired design. There are plenty of silver inserts on the interior elements.
The BYD Yuan Plus features a 12.8-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system, a three-spoke steering wheel with a flattened bottom, and a compact 5-inch virtual instrument cluster. The floor console is flat and low, and it has a mobile storage space and a dual cupholder.
Specifications
The stylish design of the aircon vents and door panels, the rich two-tone color-coding, and the flat floor make the BYD Yuan Plus quite interesting for the rear-seat occupants. Image Source: BYD
Full capabilities of the BYD e-Platform 3.0
The Yuan Plus sits on the new BYD e-Platform 3.0 platform, which debuted in the BYD Dolphin (BYD EA1). This platform packs the “ultra-safe” BYD Blade Battery and a heat pump as standard. 800-volt system voltage, 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) acceleration time of 2.9 seconds, and a range of 600 miles (966 km) are the best possible parameters with this platform, but then not all of it is applicable to the Yuan Plus.
BYD Yuan Plus specifications
The BYD Yuan Plus is a compact SUV with a length, width, and height of 4,455 mm, 1,875 mm, and 1,615 mm, respectively. However, the wheelbase of the new electric SUV is a generous 2,720 mm, thanks to the dedicated EV platform.
BYD offers the Yuan Plus in China in two variants, with a range of 430 km and with a 510 km range. Needless to say, these are liberal NEDC figures. All variants are powered by a single motor generating 150 kW (204 PS) of power and 310 Nm of torque.
SpecificationBYD Yuan Plus standard rangeBYD Yuan Plus extended rangeLength x Width x Height4,455 mm x 1,875 mm x 1,615 mm4,455 mm x 1,875 mm x 1,615 mmWheelbase2,720 mm2,720 mmBattery Pack TypeLFPLFPBattery Pack Energy Content49.92 kWh60.48 kWhRange (NEDC)430 km510 kmMotor(s)OneOneMotor TypePMSMPMSMMotor Power150 kW150 kWMotor Torque310 Nm310 Nm0-100 km/h Acceleration Time7.3 seconds7.3 seconds
BYD Yuan Plus specifications
Price & Release Date
BYD physically unveiled the Yuan Plus in China at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show (November 2021) and launched the car in the local market in early 2022.
BYD Yuan Plus ConfigurationPrice (excl. subsidy)430 km Deluxe trimCNY 144,274 (EUR 20,656)430 km Premium trimCNY 151,274 (EUR 21,658)430 km Honour trimCNY 154,274 (EUR 22,087)510 km Flagship trimCNY 164,274 (EUR 23,519)510 km Flagship Plus trimCNY 172,274 (EUR 24,664)
BYD Yuan Plus prices (excl. subsidy) in China
Show edition
BYD had commissioned a modified version of the Yuan Plus for promotions at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show. The company had painted it in a funky shade of green, which should have surely attracted the visitors’ focus. Special livery, including the brand’s punchline “Build Your Dreams,” unique graphics, rally-style multi-spoke wheels from rotiform, and rear diffuser were the other exterior changes that made the modified version sportier. BYD hadn’t revealed plans to launch the modified Yuan Plus for customers.
BYD showcased a modified Yuan Plus at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November 2021, displaying how customizable it is. Image Source: BYD/autohome.com.cn
The interior of the modified Yuan Plus wasn’t much different from the regular model. BYD used carbon-fiber trim on its steering wheel and added a special sound system in its trunk, consisting of what looked like four speakers and two subwoofers. A green panel with strings on the top of the speakers aligned the exterior theme color to the interior.
BYD Yuan Plus global launch timelines
Australia
BYD models overseas get market-specific alphanumeric names starting with the word ‘Atto’ and the first of them is the BYD Atto 3. CCS2 charging is another market-specific change in Australia.
Nexport-owned EVDirect.com.au is the official BYD importer in Australia and New Zealand. The first BYD showroom in Australia is located in Darlinghurst, a suburb in Sydney. Like the Yuan Plus, the Atto 3 is available in a standard range variant and an extended range variant.
The BYD Atto 3 comes in a single fully-loaded ‘Superior’ trim, with two range options. Images: BYD
The Driven has reviewed the Chinese-spec Yuan Plus on Aussie roads and shared some interesting observations. Its first impressions suggested that the EV is developed for relaxed driving in urban conditions.
The suspension setup is soft and purely comfort-oriented, although there is some room for improvement when it comes to damping control. The Yuan Plus doesn’t take heavy loads or poor roads well. The steering, too, is designed to tackle the urban driving conditions with ease, not for spirited highway driving. The tires seem they need to handle torque better under heavy acceleration at the start and they could use some grip on rainy roads, too. The RHD, Australian-spec Atto 3 could be a little different and incorporate changes based on the feedback from local journalists.
Luke Todd, CEO, EVDirect.com.au, has said that Australia gets the Atto 3 in a fully-loaded, standard trim, and so, there’s no need to check any options while placing the order, as per a report from The Driven. The main selection is the battery option.
Except for the location of the steering wheel, the BYD Atto 3 interior looks the same as the Yuan Plus. Image Source: BYD
The Atto 3 is available in Australia online on EVDirect.com.au and also at Eagers Automotive dealerships. However, no matter which way the customers buy it, online or offline, the prices are the same and they are fixed, meaning there’s no bargaining allowed. The Atto 3 starts at AUD 44,900 driveaway.
Only three colour options are available – white, grey, and blue. However, Todd has said that that number could increase to five or six in the future. Deliveries will begin in July 2022. Previously, Todd had told The Driven that the Yuan Plus/Atto 3 is designed to meet 5-star ANCAP ratings. Below are the Australian specifications:
SpecificationBYD Atto 3 standard rangeBYD Atto 3 extended rangeLength x Width x Height4,455 mm x 1,875 mm x 1,615 mm4,455 mm x 1,875 mm x 1,615 mmWheelbase2,720 mm2,720 mmBattery Pack TypeLFPLFPBattery Pack Energy Content50.1 kWh60.4 kWhRange (WLTP)320 km420 kmMotor(s)One (Front)One (Front)Motor TypePMSMPMSMMotor Power150 kW150 kWMotor Torque310 Nm310 Nm0-100 km/h Acceleration Time7.3 seconds7.3 seconds
BYD Atto 3 specifications
Singapore
BYD plans to launch its electric SUV in Singapore in the second quarter of the year (April-June 2022). E-Auto, a Vantage Automotive division and a Sime Darby Motors group member, is the company’s official dealer in the country.
Hong Kong
As per a tweet from BYD Global, the company has launched the Yuan Plus as the Atto 3 in Macau on April 7, 2022. Hong Kong is ramping up its efforts to transform its mobility sector with sustainable propulsion systems. BYD dealerships in the region are looking to bring more electric models to its showrooms as a part of the effort, claim local reports.
Europe
We are yet to understand when BYD will begin European shipments of the Yuan Plus, where it could be a segment breaker.
BYD Atto 3 FAQs
What is the BYD Atto 3 release date?
Customer deliveries of the BYD Atto 3 in Australia begin in July 2022. BYD has not confirmed the model for Europe yet.
Which are the BYD Atto 3 rivals in Australia?
The MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona EV, and the Kia Niro EV are current segment options for customers shopping for an electric crossover-SUV.
What is the BYD Atto 3 price in Australia?
The BYD Atto 3 starts at AUD 44,900 driveaway, undercutting the MG ZS EV by a small margin.
Featured Image Source: BYD
Keyword: BYD Atto 3 (BYD Yuan Plus): Everything we know in Apr 2022