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Chinese sub-$20K electric now undercuts the former king of buck-bangers, the Kia Picanto
BYD’s tiny Atto 1 mini EV now has an even tinier entry price point.
The Atto 1’s base model, the Essential, is now $19,990 driveaway nationwide, down from $23,990 before on-roads.
With its four-grand haircut, the compact Chinese EV not only becomes the cheapest electric car in Australia but the cheapest car bar none…factoring in on-road costs.
On list pricing, Kia’s evergreen Picanto clocks in at $19,190 before on-roads for the Sport manual. However, in calculating driveaway pricing in most states (or territory), the Kia’s driveaway price rises considerably: in NSW, on-road pricing starts from $22,290 on road.
The Atto 1 Essential’s specs are unchanged; a 30kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery can take the car 220km (WLTP) on a charge. A single, front-wheel drive motor produces 65kW and 175Nm, but with only 1294kg to pull, 0-100kph is still an acceptable 11.1 seconds.
The Atto 1 Essential can accept 11kW AC charging and 65kW DC charging. On paper, charging from 10 to 80 percent should take half an hour.
BYD Australia hasn’t announced any feature deletions to justify the new four-grand-sharper price; modcons like a rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an electric tailgate and the ability to use your phone as a key all remain standard.
However, it appears that any body colour chosen besides ‘Apricity White’ is an extra cost; those wanting Arctic Blue, Pine Lime or Cosmos Black must fork over $500.
Though BYD Australia has used the words “special offer” to announce the mark-down, neither terms and conditions nor an end date were in its announcement.
It’s possible this is a run-out offer of sorts – it’s known an all-new Atto 1 is being readied for launch in China.
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