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One of China’s biggest electric carmakers, BYD certainly made a splash in Australia when it launched its Atto 3 in 2022.
As one of the most affordable EVs in the country, the mid-size SUV is also the right size to appeal to buyers that might be currently sitting on the fence about the electric future.
Two battery sizes are on offer, a 50.1kWh version that serves up 320km of driving range and a 60.4kWh grade that extends that range out to 420km.
The line-up currently starts at $39,990 for the Atto 3 Standard Range and ranges through to $44,990 for the range-topping Atto 3 Extended Range.
The BYD Atto 3 remains classified as a ‘Medium SUV’ but blurs the line between mid-size and small in terms of dimensions, especially inside. It’s not in the same size game as the Toyota RAV4 or Mitsubishi Outlander, but is close in size to the likes of the Honda ZR-V and Mazda CX-5.
While there’s a few key practical storage spaces, there aren’t as many as some newer rivals, which does suggest the Atto 3 design is starting to date or just wasn’t well thought-out enough in the first place; such as putting all the switchgear in the centre console rather than on the dashboard.
The BYD Atto 3 Standard Range has a rated driving range of 345km (WLTP) from a 49.92kWh ‘Blade’ lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery while the Extended Range’s bigger 60.48kWh unit increases that to 420km.
Year | Body Type | Braked Capacity from | Braked Capacity to |
---|---|---|---|
2025
|
Body Type: SUV | Braked Capacity from: 700kg |
Braked Capacity to:
750kg
|
2024
|
Body Type: SUV | Braked Capacity from: 0kg |
Braked Capacity to:
750kg
|
2023
|
Body Type: SUV | Braked Capacity from: 0kg |
Braked Capacity to:
750kg
|
2022
|
Body Type: SUV | Braked Capacity from: 0kg |
Braked Capacity to:
750kg
|
The boot in the BYD Atto 3 measures 440 litres, which is a respectable amount of space for an SUV this size, but there’s only a tyre repair kit instead of a spare.
The BYD Atto 3 Standard and Extended Range have 0-100km/h times of 7.9 seconds and 7.3 seconds respectively.
The BYD Atto 3 is built in China, Thailand and India, with Australian examples being produced in China.
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The BYD Atto 3 can be charged according to two different methods at home, the fastest being through a 7kW AC wall unit. These can cost anywhere from $800 to $2000, with additional charges depending on your energy provider and the state you live in. On average in Australia, at home costs range between 21 to 36 cents per kW, while there are no additional charges if your charger is hooked up to a renewable energy source such as solar. The overall charging time on the Standard Range variant is seven hours, while that time extends to nine hours on the Long Range variant. The other method is a standard AC wall socket, which charges at a standard rate of 240V. BYD says this will take 25 hours on the Standard Range or 30 hours on the Long Range. The quickest method overall is at a public charging point. A DC fast charger with 50kW capacity will see a 0-80 per cent charge on the Standard Range variant reached in 50 minutes, rising to 60 minutes on the Long Range variant. A DC fast charger with 100kW+ capacity will see that time drop to 40 and 42 minutes, respectively. Costs depend greatly depending on location, whether it is a peak period or not, and what the charger’s capacity is, though you should never pay more than $40 for a full charge.
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Both variants of the BYD Atto 3 - Standard and Extended Range - are equipped with LED headlights, power tailgate, faux leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, 5.0-inch digital instrument panel and in-built satellite navigation.
Both the Atto 3 Standard and Extended Range use the same front-mounted electric motor, which makes 150kW/310Nm and drives the front wheels through a single speed transmission.
The BYD Atto 3 has space for five passengers. The seats themselves are a little flat and firm.