What is it?

Sometimes you come across a company you that haven’t seen or heard of before, and instinctively think they're new.  Then you find out that not only are they the third most valuable car company in the world, and have been around for almost three decades, but are are also the number one EV producer, globally.

Not only do BYD (Build Your Dreams) build buses, trucks and monorails, but they also provide Tesla, Toyota and others manufacturers with batteries.

When you find all that out you feel kind of silly, at least I did!

After selling 1.86 million vehicles globally last year, BYD have set their sights on Europe and the UK, and their first model they’ve introduced to these shores is the ATTO 3, which I drove recently at a promotional event.

BYD’s Design Director, Wolfgang Egger, formally of Lancia, SEAT and Alfa Romeo, gave the ATTO 3 a fusion of Chinese culture and modern European tastes, whilst its distinctive sloping silhouette gives it a drag coefficient of just 0.29Cd.

There is so much impressive tech that has gone into the ATTO 3, including using the e-Platform 3.0 and BYD’s 8-1 electric powertrain.  If stuff like that is gobbledygook then focus on the fact that the ATTO 3 scored a 5⭐ Rating in Euro NCAP Safety Tests.

On the road

Around town and on fast roads the ATTO 3 delivers a very comfortable and quiet ride, it will also handle some quick country lanes.  However, push it and drive like a hooligan and you’ll soon get the distinct impression that it wants you to calm down, as the soft suspension that cushions you from bumps and holes around town also causes the ATTO 3 to pitch and roll.   And in truth that’s perfectly fine and I’m happy with that, not all cars have to handle like a Ferrari.

The ATTO 3’s single electric motor produces 201bhp and 310Nm of torque which is enough to propel the 1.7-tonne electric SUV from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and onto a top speed of 99mph. Power delivery off the line is smooth rather than rocket ship, and on a wet road you will experience some torque steer.

Chatting to a few folk who’ve driven the ATTO 3 for longer periods, they reckon the 60.5kWh battery is good for between 240 and 310 miles, obviously depending on how you drive it.  Official WLTP figure quote 260 miles.  Interestingly, to keep the miles up in winter it also has a standard-fit heat pump that helps to heat the cabin in cold weather increasing the thermal efficiency by up to 20%.

There are four driving modes: Sport Mode, Normal Mode, Economy Mode and Snow Mode to suit driving conditions and how you’re feeling.

Interior

Funky to say the least.  According to the blurb, they’ve designed the interior to resemble the gym. You read that correct.  The unique gym-inspired design includes barbell-style door handles, kettlebell- style gear selector, and free-weight-style air vents, and as corny as it sounds I actually quite liked them.

Everything else about the interior is stylish and appears to be well screwed together, from sustainable vegan leather sports seats and integrated headrests to the soft-touch materials, treadmill inspired central armrest and tuned guitar strings in the doors.  Yes, you read that correctly too.  The only real let-down is that there are no physical controls for the heating system, instead you have to take your eyes off the road and start prodding the touchscreen.

There’s plenty of space back and front for the longest and widest amongst us, and in the boot you’ll find 440 litres of nothingness that increases to 1,338 litres when you fold the 60:40-split rear seats down.

Other useful things include two sets of ISOFIX points in the rear, plus another set on the front passenger seat, while top-spec models have accessories such as floor mats and a rubber boot liner as part of their standard-kit list.  Oh, and I mustn’t forget the panoramic sunroof.

There are three trim levels to choose from: Active £36,490, Comfort £36,990 and Design £38.990.  The only differences between the first two specs are base models come with a 7kW on-board charger and one-phase charging cable, while Comfort trim adds an 11kW on-board charger and three-phase charging cable.

Top-of-the-range Design models like my test car do get a few extras, including a larger rotating central touchscreen, air purification system, some additional ambient lighting and a powered tailgate, plus some floor and boot mats.

When it comes to safety and driving assistance, instead of me reeling it all off, let’s just say it has the lot, including Traction and Hill Decent Control.

Charging

Charging power is 11 kW AC 3, and with a 150KW DC charger, the battery can be replenished from 30% to 80% in just 29 minutes. Overnight charging from an almost empty battery to full can be reached in 6.5 hours. All BYD ATTO 3 models are also equipped with VtoL so external devices can easily be charged by the car battery, handy if you’re off camping and need to keep your fridge powered!

Thoughts

I have to admit that after just an hour driving along a variety of roads I was quite taken by the ATTO 3.  Not only is it quiet and comfortable, but it leaves you with a sense of ease.  As I mentioned, my only niggle is that there aren’t any physical controls for the heater, everything else felt just right.

Warranty includes:

• Battery - 8 years or 120,000 miles, SOH 70%

• Motor/electric control - 8 years or 90,000 miles

• Bodywork - 12 years

• Complete vehicle warranty - 4 years or 70,000 miles

more at » byd.com/eu/car/atto3

Reviewed in Issue 50 - August 2023