The new BYD Atto 3 electric hatch is selling well in Australia, but is it worthy of that success?
- How much does the BYD Atto 3 Extended cost?
- What equipment comes with the BYD Atto 3 Extended?
- How safe is the BYD Atto 3 Extended?
- What technology does the BYD Atto 3 Extended feature?
- What powers the BYD Atto 3 Extended?
- How far can the BYD Atto 3 Extended go on a charge?
- What is the BYD Atto 3 Extended like to drive?
- What is the BYD Atto 3 Extended like inside?
- Should I buy a BYD Atto 3 Extended?
While many people acknowledge the need for battery-electric vehicles, the reality is most are too expensive for most of us to consider. That’s where the BYD Atto 3 comes in. BYD is a Chinese car company and its name is an acronym for Build Your Dreams. If your dream is to own an EV without breaking the bank then BYD can help, as the Atto 3 is one of the most affordable EVs on sale here. Sadly, that doesn’t make it cheap, with pricing around $50,000 before on-road costs and potential rebates. But it does deliver a combination of new-age BEV silent and responsive running, an appealing amount of space, intriguing interior design and plenty of equipment. Judging by sales, the Atto 3 has hit a chord, so now it’s time for us to find out just how good it is.
How much does the BYD Atto 3 Extended cost?
The 2023 BYD Atto 3 a five-door, five-seat battery-electric vehicle that is officially categorised as an SUV. That’s optimistic and a little bit misleading as no-one is going to buy this compact hatchback to go further off-road than a gravel road.
The Extended is the $51,011.35 (plus on-road costs) flagship of a two-model range that also includes the $48,011 (plus ORCs) BYD Atto 3 Standard.
Of course, pricing varies state-to-state and can also include rebates and tax concession depending on where you live, as well as the federal FBT discount.
As the names suggest, the Extended gets a longer 420km (WLTP) range courtesy of a bigger 60.48kWh battery, while the Standard makes do with a 345km claimed range via a 49.92kWh battery.
The key rivals for the Atto 3 include the just-launched GWM Ora, the recently updated MG ZS EV and the Nissan LEAF.
More competition is on the way, notably the long-range version of the MG ZS EV and – depending on where the price lands – the much-anticipated MG4 hatchback.
Of course, if you don’t mind paying fuel bills and emitting CO2 then there are many much cheaper small cars and SUVs with internal combustion engines to choose from.
Spend this sort of money on an ICE vehicle and the choice is huge. Everything from an entry-level Euro to a dual-cab ute.
What equipment comes with the BYD Atto 3 Extended?
If you think of the 2023 BYD Atto 3 Extended as a small urban runabout then its equipment list is generous. If you factor in the price then it comes back to the pack a bit.
Exterior equipment highlights include a panoramic sunroof, roof rails, 18-inch alloy wheels and a power tailgate. ‘Build Your Dreams’ emblazoned across the boot could be a highlight or a lowlight depending on your point of view.
Inside you’ll find synthetic leather seat trim, powered and heated front seats, single-zone climate control (although the digital readouts make it look like dual-zone) and keyless entry and start.
The steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake, but there is no spare tyre, only tyre pressure monitoring.
The Atto 3 has the weirdest warranty set-up of any car we can remember. While the vehicle warranty is nominally six years/150,000km, there are a host of exceptions.
The multimedia system is covered for only three years, the suspension system for four years/100,000km and the shock absorbers (along with the charge port and wheel bearings) three years/60,000km.
The BYD-manufactured Blade lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) high-voltage battery is warrantied for eight years/160,000km.
How safe is the BYD Atto 3 Extended?
The 2023 BYD Atto 3 comes with a five-star ANCAP independent safety rating based on 2022 testing criteria.
There were some issues related to carrying young children in the front passenger seat and middle-rear seat but these don’t affect vehicles built from November 21, 2022.
The Atto 3’s driver assistance systems are extensive. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as other cars and works up to 85km/h.
The AEB sits alongside adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, emergency lane keeping, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic braking.
That’s comprehensive, but sadly not all that well calibrated. The lane keep assist on our test car insisted on picking up false lines, issuing audible warnings and making unsubtle corrections.
It was better switched off – a process made more laborious because it has to be repeated by drilling into the touch-screen each time the car is started.
There is a shortcut, but still not as short as a button on the steering wheel as other vehicles feature. Better yet, allow the function to stay off permanently.
A very polite but insistent young lady also instructed me to slow down, switch on my headlights, switch off my high beams and so on. I never figured out how to switch her off.
The Atto 3 also comes with LED headlights, a 360-degree view monitor, traffic sign recognition, ISOFIX mounting points on the outer rear seats and seven airbags including dual front, side chest-protecting, curtain and centre.
What technology does the BYD Atto 3 Extended feature?
The 2023 BYD Atto 3 features a groovy party trick: the 12.8-inch infotainment touch-screen rotates at the touch of a button from horizontal to vertical and vice-versa.
The vertical screen worked with the embedded sat-nav, but the wired Apple CarPlay’s map would not rotate to fit. When the screen was vertical the map stayed resolutely horizontal. So tilt your head 90 degrees to read it.
At least you can use Apple CarPlay now. Wireless Android Auto is scheduled to be added in the second quarter of 2023. And, yes, that does mean the Atto 3 is capable of over-the-air updates.
The screen also plays host to FM and digital radio and Bluetooth phone connectivity and streaming. A Swedish Dirac HD eight-speaker audio system provides crisp volume.
The touch-screen is not the easiest to negotiate as it’s a long reach to the far side, the drilling down can be laborious and some functions that would seem logical to group together – FM and digital radio, for example – are in separate apps.
There were other annoyances: the touch-screen went dark when in shadow (such as when going under a bridge) and took some time to brighten up again on the other side.
There was an occasional tendency to not recognise the CarPlay connection or to navigate only approximately. According to the screen I was going off-road more than once.
The Atto 3 comes with a quite sophisticated voice assistant that can – among other things – operate the sunroof and its blind separately and set the climate control temperature.
The Atto 3 has a tiny 5.0-inch instrument panel sitting atop the steering column like in a racing car. The numbers are hard to read against the light background, but easier if it is dark – a switch easily made.
What powers the BYD Atto 3 Extended?
While many ground-up battery-electric vehicles opt for rear-wheel drive with the e-motor sitting on the rear axle, the 2023 BYD Atto 3 follows small car orthodoxy by sitting the e-motor up front and being front-wheel drive.
The e-motor produces 150kW/310Nm and drives via a single-speed reduction gear.
There are Eco, Normal and Sport drive modes for the powertrain. BYD claims a 7.3sec 0-100km/h sprint time for the Atto 3.
How far can the BYD Atto 3 Extended go on a charge?
The 2023 BYD Atto 3 Extended has a 420km claimed WLTP range, or 480km using the looser NEDC regulations, which Australian Design Rules align with.
Our testing indicated the WLTP rules are more accurate. Starting a journey with a 480km estimated range, a 281.8km round trip was completed using a variety of roads and conditions including city traffic and late-night 100km/h freeway cruising.
Yet the range estimate for the trip was down to 116km – a deduction of 374km – by the time the car returned to the driveway.
We started with 99 per cent charge in the battery and finished with 24 per cent. That equated to a consumption average of 15kWh/100km, which is just under the official 16kWh/100km claim. We saw 19kWh/100km averages in more congested stop-start runs.
With an 80kW fast-charging rate it is possible to refill the Atto 3 Extended’s BYD Blade lithium-iron phosphate battery in under an hour.
In the course of this test, the battery was run down to 10 per cent and plugged into a 350kW fast-charger. Then we saw recharge numbers as high as 90kW.
The maximum AC wallbox charge rate is 7kW, which translates to up to nine hours plugged in to fully recharge the Extended. Repowering from a regular 230V outlet would take about 30 hours.
The Atto 3 has two levels of driver-adjustable regeneration, neither of which allow single-pedal driving.
It also provides vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, which means its high-voltage battery can power 230V external items such as laptops, camp fridges and even another EV.
What is the BYD Atto 3 Extended like to drive?
The beauty of the 2023 BYD Atto 3 Extended is it’s not trying to be anything it’s not.
Without the handicap of a ridiculous price tag or a legacy badge with sporting pretensions (Audi, Mercedes-Benz, etc), the Atto 3 delivers a thoroughly convincing commuter drive.
With its instant torque coming on smooth, quiet and strong, allied with a soft, almost soggy ride, the Atto 3 is exceptional around town.
That urban role is aided by its modest size (just 4455mm long), light and easy steering and big windows for a clear view out.
A friend just about put her money down on the spot after a short chauffer ride.
Fitted with MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, disc brakes all-round and electric-assist power steering, the Atto 3 is also more than capable of standing up for itself on the open road.
It’s only real weakness is the range if you are contemplating a long trip.
There are a few things that didn’t gel. The aforementioned driver assist interference, the steering is vacant, the amenable ride means the body can get rocking and rolling and the unheralded Atlas Batman (yep Batman) tyres have a tendency to yelp when the throttle is walloped.
But none of those things are deal-breakers by any stretch.
What is the BYD Atto 3 Extended like inside?
The 2023 BYD Atto 3’s pleasant driving manners would be almost pointless if the interior was an uncomfortable mess.
But it’s not, because the car is based on BYD’s purpose-built e-Platform 3.0 EV architecture which maximises interior space and provides a flat floor.
The front seats are large and comfortable, the rear seat space is generous for two adults and the boot even offers 440 litres of space before split-folding the bench to expand that to 1340 litres.
Original design details distinguish the Atto 3 – air-con vents that look like a CD disc rack, guitar strings on the door pockets, door handles that are meant to look like sea shells.
It’s original, interesting and for the most part – the door handles are a challenge for new players – functional.
Front and rear-mounted USB outlets are appreciated, although gaining access to the ones under the flying bridge centre console is a pain.
But there is also plenty of storage under there, as there is in the glove box, the door pockets and the three pockets on the back of each front seat.
There are a few disappointments. It does feel a bit enclosed in the rear because of the tombstone front seats. And why there’s no frunk under the bonnet is a mystery (there’s space for one).
But there’s nothing here that is a deal-breaker.
Should I buy a BYD Atto 3 Extended?
If you’re looking to make the plunge into battery-electric vehicles then the 2023 BYD Atto 3 Extended has got to be one of the most accessible and pleasant ways of doing so in Australia right now.
It’s a great driving partner, especially on the urban and congested roads where most of us do most of our driving most of the time.
There’s also plenty of equipment, which is needed to overcome the Atto 3’s high price compared to traditional internal combustion small cars.
And, of course, we know very little about BYD’s build quality and reliability beyond positive first impressions, so a purchase is a step into the unknown.
You’re also doing it with a local distributor (EVDirect) that has yet to be proved and has made some interesting decisions, like backing the Atto 3 with the world’s most complex warranty.
But based on our experience, the Atto 3 is a winner.
It’s a thoroughly capable and convincing small car that is easy to operate, cohesive, friendly to drive and unencumbered by petrol bills or emissions.
2023 BYD Atto 3 Extended at a glance:
Price: $51,011.35 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 150kW/310Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 60.48kWh lithium-iron phosphate
Range: 420km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 16kWh (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)
Keyword: BYD Atto 3 Extended 2023 Review