Living with the Atto 3
Review by Jacob Lerklint
You might not have heard of BYD until now, but the Chinese brand is a big deal in the world of electrified transport. And I mean big. As in the world’s biggest maker of electric and plug-in hybrid passenger cars, as well as electric trains, buses and trucks. It’s been building PHEVs since 2008 and has been putting out EVs since 2010. Until recently, however, its success has all been in markets outwith Europe — it’s particularly big in China and Israel. In 2021 it launched in EV-loving Norway. A mid-sized family SUV, the Atto 3 is being positioned against some mainstream heavyweights, so we’re looking to see if this newcomer can measure up to the segment’s established stand-outs. It’s fair to say that the Atto 3 doesn’t immediately leap out at you as a groundbreaking new entrant into the market. Its styling is very much ‘generic family SUV’ with faint echoes of the Hyundai Kona Electric, and MG ZS EV. The front end is apparently inspired by the dragons of Chinese mythology, with LED headlights symbolising the creature’s eyes and a horizontal brushed grille bar representing its moustache. Away from the design house waffle, in truth, it’s a decent if unremarkable looking thing, with the usual combination of slimline LED lights, smooth grille-less front end and some light body cladding, plus one or two chrome-coloured highlights. The main visual standout is the brand’s full name — Build Your Dreams — written in a script that takes up most of the width of the tailgate. Lots of brands are doing this already, but the sheer length (and ‘live, laugh, love’ vibe) of the name makes it look rather silly. Under the skin, it uses a 60kWh battery and 201bhp motor that’s very similar in range and performance to most of its key rivals, and it’s priced in line with the major mainstream players too. Despite being, on the face of it, just another electric SUV, there are a couple of unique elements to the Atto 3. The most in-your-face is the massive and moveable central touchscreen. This is a generous 12.8 inches in lower-spec cars, while top-spec cars get 15.6 inches of crisp, responsive digital real estate. The sheer size of the screen is eye-catching enough, but what really grabs the attention is the way it rotates through 90 degrees — flipping from landscape to portrait orientation at the press of a button or via the impressive voice control system. BYD says this is to give the broadest scope for split screen operation with a variety of apps. For example, giving most space over to your maps while leaving enough room for Spotify controls. It has also been suggested that while drivers might prefer a landscape view when motoring, the portrait mode will allow them to enjoy apps like TikTok in their correct orientation while charging the car. Frankly, if you’re old enough to have a driving licence, you’re probably too old to be bothering with TikTok. More pertinently, very few apps are currently compatible with the system — not even Android Auto, although it does support Apple CarPlay. BYD says more are coming, but we’ve heard that sort of line before. The other unusual element of the Atto 3 is its Lithium Iron-Phosphate (LFP) ‘blade’ battery, which doesn’t use the cobalt and other heavy metals found in traditional nickel manganese cobalt batteries (NMC). BYD is the world’s biggest manufacturer of this alternative type of lithium-ion cells, so it’s keen to push the tech. It argues that the tech is safer than NMC and more durable under repeated rapid charging. The problem with LFP (read here for an explainer on LFP tech as seen in the new Ford Mustang Mach-E) is a lower energy density than NMC, which BYD says it has overcome with the cell-to-pack of the blade battery, which crams more cells into a smaller space, giving the Atto a 60.4kWh battery. There is only one battery and motor option with the Atto 3 — that 60.4kWh battery pack powers a single, front-mounted 204hp (150kW) motor that drives the front wheels. A 0-100kmh time of 7.3 seconds is pretty much bang-on average for the class, and the Atto’s overall driving experience is also largely average. The throttle response is a little softer than in some EVs, but there is still instant torque when pulling away or overtaking, meaning the Atto 3 makes decent, if not earth-shattering, progress. Top speed is pegged at 160kmh so you’ll still have no trouble keeping up on the motorway. Like most of its rivals, the Atto 3 is less about driving dynamics and more about decent ride comfort and refinement that will keep your passengers happy. On the whole, it manages this well. Sound insulation is good, and the soft-ish suspension copes well with the cracked and crumbling roads. The only time it gets caught out is on undulating roads, where repeated crests and drops reveal a choppiness that might unsettle the odd stomach. BYD claims some pretty impressive figures for the Atto 3. Range is quoted at 420km — decent but not quite a match for the very best rivals. In the real and cold world, we got around 200wh/km throughout our time with the car, which was spent mainly on country roads. Not too shabby given the cold, wet conditions we were testing in, and you can expect that to improve in warmer conditions.
While the Atto 3’s exterior is thoroughly run-of-the-mill, the interior is a whole different story. Apparently, it’s inspired by a gym, and everywhere you turn are chunky, silver-coloured controls and touchpoints designed to remind you of workout kit. The drive selector resembles a kettlebell, the curved air vents look like free weights, and the quirky illuminated door releases look like barbells. Even the centre console resembles a treadmill. If ever there was a car to fat-shame you into working out, the Atto 3 is it.
The style isn’t going to be to everyone’s taste, especially with the two-tone blue and white finish to the seats, doors and dashboard. But the designers have fully committed to the look, and it works as a concept. It’s also fairly well put together with decent quality touchpoints and synthetic vegan ‘leather’ upholstery, but beneath the thin soft-touch surfaces are some pretty hard surfaces.
Passenger space is impressive, with decent room for four adults and plenty of adjustment of the front seats. However, the floor is set relatively high, so as a driver, you feel perched on rather than in the car and rear passengers will find they sit with their knees quite high. Luggage space is a solid 440 litres, and top-spec cars feature a powered tailgate. Every version has a vast panoramic sunroof that floods the cabin with light.
The BYD Atto 3 has been given a full five stars by Euro NCAP, achieving 91% for adult occupant protection and 89% for child occupant protection.
All versions of the Atto 3 come with a full suite of driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert and brake, lane keep and change assistance, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed limit control.
Options? Quite simply, there are none. The only choice you have is between five metallic colours. But even they are included in the price. Instead, BYD offers three absolutely stacked trim levels. For now, drivers have a choice of the Comfort at 532 900SEK and Design at 554 000SEK. At time of writing this you do get a 70 000sek discount from BYD if you buy it outright. Every version of the Atto 3 comes with adaptive cruise control, an opening panoramic sunroof, full LED lighting with auto dipping, heated seats, wireless phone charging, synthetic leather upholstery and ambient lighting. Crucially, all versions also include a heat pump as standard to help maximise battery range.
The Atto 3’s most obvious rival is the Kia Niro EV, which is priced around the same, offers similar levels of space and about 30km of additional range. Despite being generous with equipment, even Kia struggles to match the Atto 3’s spec.
The Hyundai Kona Electric, which shares its platform with the Niro EV, is another obvious alternative. As is the MG ZS EV. This fellow Chinese offering doesn’t have quite the quality feel of the Atto 3 but is cheaper, similarly well-equipped and has a 420km range.
The Peugeot e-2008 and related Vauxhall Mokka-e (above) are similar money but feel smaller inside and offer less range from their 50kWh battery. In their favour are more interesting exterior designs and the familiarity of long-established brands.
Volkswagen’s ID.3 isn’t an SUV but does offer similar interior space, power and range at a comparable price, making the German hatchback worthy of consideration.
The market for all-electric family cars is already fairly packed, and the BYD Atto 3 doesn’t do a huge amount to set it apart from a host of competent mainstream rivals. But nor does it feel out of place among those models. The bold love-it-or-hate-it interior style and the generous equipment levels are notable, but elsewhere, in everything from price and looks to range and driving experience, it is thoroughly middle of the road. It’s spacious, comfortable and refined, just like most of its rivals, and it will acquit itself well on the open road without threatening to blow anyone’s socks off — just like the alternatives. While that won’t send customers clamouring to seek it out, it does mean the Atto 3 is well worthy of consideration against any of its more well-established rivals.
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