Powered by
-
Car Reviews
Latest reviews
- Car News
-
Car Comparisons
Latest comparisons
- Chasing Deals
Latest reviews
Latest comparisons
BYD’s original ‘Build Your Dreams’ model in Australia, the Atto 3 small electric SUV, remains an interesting car that drives better than its looks imply
It’s been more than three years since China’s BYD brand debuted its ‘Build Your Dreams’ electric vehicle in Australia, the Atto 3 small SUV.
And during that time, its (now deleted) cringeworthy tailgate badging and unfamiliar nameplate have failed to put off eager Australian EV buyers – the Atto 3 racking up just under 22,000 sales so far.
Of course, not all BYD Atto 3s are the same. For starters, newer versions now just have a ‘BYD’ badge on their tailgate. The Atto 3’s price has also been significantly reduced over time, and its model range tweaked slightly to include a base Essential and top-spec Premium.
For 2025, the Atto 3 introduced new alloy-wheel designs on the Premium model tested here, fitted with good-quality 235/50R18 Continental tyres, as well as what feels like some under-the-skin refinements to make this latest Atto 3 noticeably better to drive than its predecessors.
So is the Atto 3 worthy of your attention? And does this near-four-year-old BYD design still hold up against a bunch of newer competitors?
BYD offers two Atto 3 variants in Australia – the entry-level Essential ($39,990 before on-road costs) and the larger-battery Premium ($44,990 before on-road costs, or $48,174 drive-away in NSW) tested here.
The Essential features a 49.9kWh ‘BYD Blade’ Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery, 150kW/310Nm outputs, front-wheel drive, a 0-100km/h claim of 7.9sec and a modest 345km of WLTP driving range.
For $5000 more, the Premium introduces a larger 60.5kWh battery, an improved 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.3sec and 420km of WLTP range, as well as 88kW maximum DC charging (instead of 70kW).
Standard equipment highlights of both Atto 3 variants includes:
In addition, the Atto 3 Premium includes:
Direct competitors to the Atto 3 Premium include the MG S5 EV Essence 62 ($47,990 drive-away), Kia EV3 Air Standard Range ($48,990 drive-away), Geely EX5 Inspire ($48,360 drive-away), Leapmotor C10 Style ($47,500 drive-away), and forthcoming Skoda Elroq 60 Select ($49,990 drive-away), as well as the smaller Jeep Avenger Longitude (currently $40,990 drive-away).
Pictured: BYD Atto 3 (left) tested against rivals MG S5 (centre) and Kia EV3 (right)
Unfortunately, the BYD Atto 3 Premium is only offered in four colours: Ski White, Cosmos Black, Harbour Grey and a unique-to-Premium Surf Blue metallic.
A blue and light grey interior with red detailing is standard on Ski White and Surf Blue. A predominantly black interior with lime-green seat piping is standard on Cosmos Black and Harbour Grey.
Ditching the appalling Chinese-made Batman tyres fitted to the original Atto 3 for proper Continental rubber has introduced a satisfying fluency to this BYD’s dynamics.
It feels comfortably balanced in corners, grips the road well, and its steering is consistently weighted, progressive, and nicely responsive, even in breezy Comfort mode.
It rides well, too, with surprising suspension absorbency and robustness on challenging surfaces, though it does rock around a bit over lumps.
Our only real criticism is the amount of road noise the Atto 3 transmits – on all surfaces, even in the rain. It’s the one area where it feels considerably older than its best rivals.
BYD’s regenerative braking function is also less than ideal. While smoothly progressive, combined with quite natural brake-pedal feel, its regen’ braking is simply too ineffectual, even when set to its most extreme level.
This might seem like a smart way to ease non-EV drivers into the quirks of electric motoring, but it doesn’t really blend with (or enhance) the Atto 3’s dynamics because it just isn’t assertive enough.
Few will complain about the BYD’s acceleration, however, as it smoothly and progressively transmits 150kW/310Nm to the front wheels, thrusting itself to 100km/h in a claimed 7.3sec.
It does a better job of gradually unleashing electric grunt than some of its front-drive rivals, resulting in less wheelspin but also less of a performance sensation – meaning this is one Chinese EV that knows how to round off sharp edges.
If you want more thrust off the line, there’s always a sprightlier Sport mode.
The main area where the Atto 3 divides opinion is in its interior design.
The Atto 3’s exterior is, for the most part, blandly inoffensive with a relatively neat shape and pleasing lighting details. Yet its overdesigned interior looks like it belongs to another car – or at least another BYD.
Details such as the Art Deco-esque air vents are really quite cool, but the dashboard’s ‘organic’ shapes and various strakes appear overwhelming.
Their overly busy design effect is mitigated in the black interior option (with mid-grey highlights and lime green seat piping), whereas the ‘blue and grey’ alternative brings light grey centre inserts with blue bolsters, red piping highlights and quirky red ‘guitar string’ door pocket holders, which can strum a basic tune!
The Atto 3’s upholstery is all vinyl (though perforated in the cushion and backrest centres), which is fine in winter but a little clammy in summer, seeing there’s no cooling ventilation, only front-seat heating.
The driver is also the only front passenger to get electric seat and height adjustment, though it’s a basic six-way set-up lacking under-thigh tilt or lumbar tweaking. Thankfully, the front seats are nicely shaped with good lateral support for a decent driving position.
The Atto 3’s rear seat isn’t quite as supportive but it’s more than acceptable, with a fully flat floor, plenty of room (apart from perhaps headroom) and a vast glass roof with full-length electric blind and opening sunroof to lighten the atmosphere and expand the already-excellent vision.
Pity the BYD’s storage is so pathetic – tiny door bins with space for very small, oddly angled plastic bottles in the front and maybe a handful of lollies in the rear. The front cupholders are also flawed – maxed out with a Large-size coffee and a small can of sugary drink.
The Atto 3’s boot isn’t huge either – 440 litres below the luggage cover, though that’s entirely workable – but what is undoubtedly massive is BYD’s signature 15.6-inch touchscreen on this Premium variant.
Famed (or infamous) for rotating between portrait and landscape orientation (though it’s landscape-only for wireless Apple CarPlay), its ease of operation is better than most Chinese systems, and the sound quality from its eight-speaker Dirac HD stereo is impressive.
The BYD Atto 3 received a five-star rating when it was independently crash-tested by ANCAP back in July 2022.
That rating included a 91 percent score for adult occupant protection, 84 percent for child occupant protection, 69 percent for vulnerable road user protection, and 80 percent for safety-assist systems.
Standard safety equipment on the 2025 BYD Atto 3 Premium includes:
Given it’s a 2022 design and was tested back then, the Atto 3 hasn’t been penalised for not having speed-sign recognition or driver attention monitoring … but given how annoying those systems can be, perhaps it’s for the best in terms of driver sanity.
The official WLTP range claim for the Atto 3 Premium is 420km compared to just 345km for the $5K-cheaper Atto 3 Essential.
The WLTP range of the Atto 3 Premium’s main rivals covers 436km for the Kia EV3 Air Standard Range, 425km for the MG S5 EV Essence 62, 425km for the Leapmotor C10 Style, 410km for the Geely EX5 Inspire, 396km for the Jeep Avenger Longitude and 395km for the new Skoda Elroq 60 Select.
The Atto 3 Premium has a maximum AC charging capacity of 11kW – enabling a full charge in 6hrs 30mins – and maximum DC of 88kW.
Its 10-80 percent DC charging time is a leisurely 36 minutes, but BYD’s 60.5kWh lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ battery can supposedly be charged to full capacity on a regular basis without degrading battery life.
Driven hard in challenging conditions – torrential freeway rain, enthusiastic dynamic testing, full-throttle acceleration, hilly country-road driving and brisk city commuting – the BYD averaged 18.7kWh/100km on test.
Based on its useable battery size, that calculates to what is essentially a worst-case real-world range of 323km.
BYD’s manufacturer warranty is six years/150,000km, while its battery warranty is eight years/160,000km. The Atto 3 is also covered by 12 months’ roadside assistance.
The Atto 3’s recommended service intervals are every 12 months/20,000km, with its five-year/100,000km servicing cost totalling $1628.
The likeable Atto 3 Premium ultimately does few things better than its rivals for virtually the same money. But if you can handle its avant-garde interior design, it’s a surprisingly painless car to live with – electronic safety systems included. And that’s a big statement.
You really can’t go wrong with this modestly sized, satisfyingly capable, pleasant-to-drive electric SUV. There’s the useability of its ‘Blade’ battery, as well as the cohesion and smoothness of its driving experience, which is a real surprise given that the Atto 3 is now an older-generation Chinese EV.
With a reasonable 420km WLTP range, it makes for a comfy, effortless town-based EV – supported by a strong stereo, a huge sunroof and an intriguingly massive multimedia screen.
Key specs (as tested)
About Chasing cars
Chasing Cars reviews are 100% independent.
Because we are powered by Budget Direct Insurance, we don’t receive advertising or sales revenue from car manufacturers.
We’re truly independent – giving you Australia’s best car reviews.
The estimate provided does not take into account your personal circumstances but is intended to give a general indication of the cost of insurance, in order to obtain a complete quote, please visit www.budgetdirect.com.au. Estimate includes 15%^ online discount.
^Conditions Apply
Budget Direct Insurance arranged by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd ACN 003 617 909(AGS) AFSL 241 411, for and on behalf of the insurer, Auto & General Insurance Company Limited(ABN 42 111 586 353, AFSL 285 571).Because we don’t know your financial needs, we can’t advise you if this insurance will suit you. You should consider your needs and the Product Disclosure Statement before making a decision to buy insurance. Terms and conditions apply.
Indicative quote based on assumptions including postcode , 40 year old male with no offences, licence suspensions or claims in the last 5 years, a NCD Rating 1 and no younger drivers listed. White car, driven up to 10,000kms a year, unfinanced, with no modifications, factory options and/or non-standard accessories, private use only and garaged at night.
^Online Discounts Terms & Conditions
1. Discounts apply to the premium paid for a new Budget Direct Gold Comprehensive Car Insurance, Third Party Property Only or Third Party Property, Fire & Theft Insurance policy initiated online on or after 29 March 2017. Discounts do not apply to optional Roadside Assistance.
2. Discounts do not apply to any renewal offer of insurance.
3. Discounts only apply to the insurance portion of the premium. Discounts are applied before government charges, taxes, levies and fees, including instalment processing fees (as applicable). The full extent of discounts may therefore be impacted.
4. We reserve the right to change the offer without notice.
