An attractive new model promises to woo people away from petrol cars forever, backed by a strong warranty, generous equipment and sharp prices.
Former Socceroo Tim Cahill unveiled the BYD Atto 3 in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper
Australian drivers looking to try an electric car have a new option from a fresh competitor in the car market.
Chinese giant BYD, or “Build Your Dreams”, has launched its Atto 3 electric SUV, promising to give drivers second thoughts about choosing petrol power for their next ride.
BYD’s Yuan Plus electric car will be sold locally as the Atto 3.
Priced from about $44,000 drive-away, the new BYD Atto 3 is similar in size to a Volkswagen Tiguan or the MG ZS electric car.
Powered by a 150kW, 310Nm electric motor driving the front wheels, the Atto 3 can reach 100km/h in a claimed 7.3 seconds.
Customers can choose from a standard 50.1kWh battery offering 320 kilometres of range, or upgrade to a 60.4kWh battery with 420km range for an extra $3000.
Esma Voloder, Former Miss World Australia, in Sydney’s Centennial Park with a new BYD electric car. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
Standard equipment includes a 5-inch digital driver display and 12.8-inch central touchscreen with an eight-speaker stereo and wireless phone charging.
Safety is accounted for by seven airbags, plus driver assistance systems such as auto emergency braking, active cruise control, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic alert.
Slightly smaller than a Mazda CX-5 or Toyota RAV4, the Atto 3 rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and has a powered tailgate for easy access to the boot.
Inside the BYD Atto 3.
A seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, promises peace of mind.
The brand is taking a different approach to conventional car dealerships.
Customers order the car online, and then collect it from an independent Mycar workshop.
Owners retrieve their new car from Mycar in South Melbourne, Sydney’s Chatswood or Brisbane’s Stafford for free. Delivery to regional areas such as Bathurst or Ballarat adds $495 to the bill.
The model starts at $44,381 plus on-road costs, which translates to about $47,000 drive-away in NSW and Victoria before $3000 government rebates are taken into account, reducing the car’s price to about $44,000 in Melbourne or $43,000 in Sydney, where stamp duty incentives push prices even lower. It costs $44,990 drive-away in Tasmania, or a little less than $46,000 drive-away in Brisbane.
BYD will not have conventional dealerships in Australia.
That makes it a little more expensive than the discontinued MG ZS EV that sold for $43,990 drive-away.
A new version of the MG is just around the corner, which could drive up prices for Australia’s cheapest electric car.
Buyers could be drawn toward attractive finance packages for the BYD that start from $200 per week with no deposit and no balloon payment.
Another strong point is the promise of deliveries in July, as many popular vehicles have significant delays.
Keyword: BYD Atto 3 enters Australian electric car market