Test Drive BYD Atto 3 – The Soft Rocker

BYD starts in Europe with the large models Han and Tang, as well as the Atto 3. While the first two are still based on the e-Platform 2.0, which is a hybrid platform that takes internal combustion engines into account. The Atto stands on Platform 3.0, which was developed purely battery-electric and features the new Blade Battery. It is flatter, much safer in crashes, and supposedly can be swapped blade by blade in an emergency.

The prices are rather ambitious - but the equipment is quite complete

Otherwise, the Atto 3 offers the usual values: 150 kW and 310 Nm, distributed over 4.45 meters in length. It currently starts at 42,998 euros gross in the Netherlands, which is roughly 36,133 euros net. This puts it just under 1,000 euros below the cheapest VW ID.3 and Tesla Model 3, but about 13,000 euros above the MG 4 and 1,000 euros above the cheapest Megane E-Tech. This means that the Atto 3 is not among the budget options - which BYD doesn't want to be. According to Mike Belinfante, Head of the Marketing Department of the European Auto Sales Division, they see themselves as "premium," but not in the conventional sense, rather in the sense that they want to offer an all-in package. This means full equipment including electrically adjustable seats, panoramic roof, heat pump, and sound system - but only with a 7 kW instead of 11 kW AC charging option and without a vehicle-to-load function. Apart from the charging option, we wouldn't actually miss anything, not even the electric tailgate or the 12.8-inch instead of 15.6-inch rotating display.

Exterior modest, interior rocking - this is where the Atto 3 stands out from the crowd

The design does not offend - the C-pillar is strongly oriented towards VW, but the whole thing looks coherent and calm. While the exterior is more like background music, the amplifiers are turned up and the rock guitar is strummed inside: Indeed, the interior designers, with the Color-and-Trim team, created something quite unique, inspired by fitness studios and a stage full of rock musicians. The middle console's padding is supposed to resemble a treadmill, and the "door pockets" look like tightened guitar strings - albeit only three instead of six.

We feel under the upper edge of the front windshield and notice that the headliner is folded over and not just cut off, and the transition from the C-pillar to the headliner fits perfectly and seamlessly. These are areas where VW or Peugeot, even "almost premium," like to save a few cents or play fast and loose. Ergonomics, seating position, and haptics are all good, as is the space available in the back and the trunk, which offers 555 up to a maximum of 1,338 liters of volume. It would be super nice if at least the top version had a multi-adjustable and three-fold rear seat system to further increase flexibility. And: a frunk under the hood. Everything is also cleanly processed there, but the space above the drive remains unused.

Directly laid out, colossal on the steering

But now finally pressing the start button and heading out - and we notice how indirect BYD has made the steering just when maneuvering: although the turning circle diameter is fairly small at 10.7 meters, you have to turn the steering wheel a lot. Since the Atto 3 is not a hardcore off-roader, where the steering would be made insensitive to stone hits, BYD could translate this much more directly.

Analogous to the steering, the chassis is also comfortably tuned, but not too spongy. It can also absorb transverse joints well and still offers enough firmness in fast alternating curves. Those who drive too wildly will just go straight ahead - the majority of users are likely to be quite satisfied with this. Do they prefer it firmer? Then you choose the "Sport" mode, only to find that it unfortunately makes almost no difference in terms of dynamics.

Decent consumption, DC charging with a maximum of 88 kW

And so we glide with the Atto 3 from Amsterdam a good 50 kilometers to Lelystad and register a pleasing consumption of 18.8 kWh/100 km at a cold five degrees outside temperature, which corresponds to around 20.8 kWh/100 km gross and is thus in the favorable range of Koreans like the Kia Niro EV. However, the highway speed in the Netherlands is limited to 100 km/h during the day, and only for overtaking do we occasionally go up to 110 to 120 km/h. Nevertheless, the Atto 3 with its Blade Battery is likely to be among the more economical contemporaries. It can be charged with up to 88 kW, which should help the battery lifespan, on which BYD offers an eight-year or 200,000-kilometer warranty with an SOH of 70 percent. After all, the jump from ten to eighty percent should be achievable in 44 minutes at the DC charger - also because BYD wants to maintain the 80 kW-plus charging power for a very long time.

The operation of the rotatable (!) central screen is largely intuitive - it's just a pity that BYD also relegated the climate control to it – but without a direct entry point. Otherwise, lights, indicators, and windshield wipers are as usual located on the steering column stalks, which simplifies daily handling. Just as the Atto 3 is a very user-friendly model overall – the dashboard ensures a cheerful ambiance, the seats are large and comfortable, as is the overall driving experience. In terms of haptics and optics, it indeed rides a notch above the ID.3 and MG 4, although their driving dynamics are foreign to it. However, overall, the Atto 3 is likely to truly rock the segment – especially if BYD can deliver, even if the notes struck by this compact are far from as loud and wild as the interior initially suggests. And for a base price significantly under 40,000 euros, many customers would surely forgo the electrically adjustable driver's seat, the sunroof, and the 18-inch alloys...

What does that mean?

Basically, the Atto 3 makes a strong debut: Ergonomics, haptics, and space offer exactly what 98 percent of all customers actually need daily. However, BYD could certainly be bolder with the chassis and charging performance – as they already did with the interior design, where the Atto 3 not only sets fresh accents but noticeably offers more than some direct competitors.