Introducing the BYD Atto 3: Everything you need to know

Everything you need to know about the BYD Atto 3

The biggest EV company you’ve probably never heard of, BYD landed in the UK earlier this year and they’re set to take our roads by storm. 

Gone are the days when electric vehicle adopters had a short list of cars to choose from – and none of them were that great. And if they were great, they were far too expensive for the majority of us.

But times, as they say, are a-changin’.

There is a plethora of phenomenal EVs to choose from already, but BYD are bringing something a little different to our shores. 

First up: the BYD Atto 3. 

Who is BYD?

With their name actually standing for ‘Build Your Dreams’, BYD have big ambitions.

They’re no scrappy upstart either.

BYD Auto is already one of China’s biggest EV manufacturers, and sold nearly a million electric cars last year – which is more than even Tesla. Sure, these cars were sold mostly in China, but BYD Auto are now taking their first steps into the European and UK markets.

BYD isn’t just a car manufacturer, either.

Starting life in 1995 as an electric battery manufacturer, BYD have branched out into the EV world and build cars, vans, trucks and buses. In fact, if you’ve ever taken the bus in London, you’ve likely unknowingly ridden a BYD vehicle already, due to their partnership with bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Ltd. 

But enough about BYD themselves, more about their first UK car. 

BYD Atto 3 overview

Probably the best thing about BYD is that they’re the whole package: the company can build not just the car, but the battery, motor, electronics, software, and even those all-important semi-conductor chips that have been wreaking such havoc in the automotive industry over the past couple of years.

This means that BYD reckons they can have a brand-new Atto 3 in your hands within a matter of weeks: no mean feat, when you consider the lead times on many factory-order vehicles.

But is the BYD Atto 3 worth it?

We think so.

The first car to be built on BYD’s new electric platform (it has the potential to spin all sorts of cars off the same framework), the BYD Atto 3 might seem relatively unambitious at first glance for such an ambitious manufacturer.

It’s a FWD EV with a 60kWh battery and claimed range of 260 miles, and is designed to sell like hot cakes in the British market, hitting all the sweet spots.

Good range, good charging times, good looks.

The exterior isn’t as funky as some other offerings, nor futuristic like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6, but it is practical and functional. The interior, on the other hand, is a completely different story.

Have you ever stepped inside a gym and thought ‘this would make a fantastic car cabin’?

No?

Well, BYD have.

Both the doorhandles and the gear selector are built to look like barbells, and the air vents are the plates you hang off them.

But this isn’t the only fun feature BYD have designed: the door pockets have guitar string sides, and you can even play a tune on them, if you so wish. Might make stop-start traffic pass that little bit quicker.

You could even become the next Beethoven with your car symphonies.

It’s not just fun, either. The Atto 3 is practical, with a good amount of space in the cabin, a decent boot and a comfortable drive.

However, it’s the tech where BYD really shines. Not only does the infotainment screen rotate from portrait to landscape just by you asking it, but the battery technology is extremely advanced, with BYD designing it to take up less space and provide greater efficiency.

It also doesn’t need cobalt, the least environmentally-friendly material generally used in EV batteries, which is good news for those who want to take out an electric car lease, but still have qualms about just how eco-friendly electric cars really are. 

When it comes to speccing your BYD Atto 3 lease, you’ve got three options: Active, Comfort and Design.

Entry-level Active has a generous amount of kit, including full driving assist, a glass roof, heat pump to preserve winter range, vehicle-to-load external power, adaptive headlights and heated front seats.

The Comfort trim mainly adds an 11kW on-board charger, while the top Design spec gets you a larger touchscreen (15.8in instead of 12.8in), electric tailgate, floor mats, and some groovy disco lighting in the cabin.

It might just be one of the best EVs to hit our roads yet.

What’s next for BYD?

BYD aren’t ones for sitting on their laurels.

Though the BYD Atto 3 has only just hit UK shores, they’re already previewing the next model to go on sale before the end of the year – the well-named BYD Dolphin.

It isn’t as amphibious as its namesake – we wouldn’t recommend taking this Dolphin for a swim – but it looks to be just as delightful.

The BYD Dolphin will be a supermini-sized electric hatchback (similar in size to a SKODA Fabia), and it was unveiled back in April. We’re excited for this one to go on sale, and breathe some fresh life into a sector of the electric market that can go unnoticed.

There’s no word yet on what’s coming after that, however.

But knowing BYD’s ambitious plans, it’s bound to be something good.

Just watch this space.