BYD Atto 2 2026 review: International first drive

BYD has rocketed into the top 10 best-selling brands in the country in a very short space of time and it’s done it on the back of a number of popular mid-size SUV models, a sedan, hatch and a ute. 

It’s been without a model in Australia’s super competitive small SUV segment, although you could argue the Atto 3 straddles the small and mid-size categories.

But by the end of this year, BYD will have another new offering that will take the fight to the growing list of small electric SUVs - the Atto 2. 

We travelled to Shenzhen, China to briefly sample a number of fresh BYD models and the Atto 2 is likely to be one of the volume players out of the many cars we drove. We will get to initial drive impressions shortly, but let’s take a look at expected price and positioning first.

BYD Australia is holding back pricing for now, but you can bet it will undercut the larger Atto 3 and it should start from a little more than the Dolphin hatch. We reckon a starting price in the low-to-mid-$30,000 bracket is realistic.

At 4310mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm tall with a 2620mm wheelbase, the BYD Atto 2 is the right size to take on the Chery E5, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia EV3 and MGS5 EV.

Called the Yuan Up in its Chinese home market, the Atto 2 adopts what BYD calls its ‘dragon face’ exterior design aesthetic, penned by former Audi and Lamborghini designer, Wolfgang Egger.

From front on there is a clear relationship with the Atto 3, and other Chinese-market models like the Sealion 5, but from all other angles it has its own character. It has an almost tallboy silhouette and the blacked out pillars give it a floating effect. 

Appealing cladding features all around the lower part of the SUV, and it has a sleek yet soft front end design, while the eye-catching pert rear end with ‘mobius ring’ tail-lights are a highlight.

It all combines to make for a visually appealing car in what is an aesthetic-focussed category. It’s not quite as cool to look at as the Kia EV3, but it’s not far off. 

Inside, the Atto 2 benefits from BYD’s attention to detail. Yes, there are some hard plastics on lower interior panels, but there are soft-touch materials elsewhere. The overall look and quality of the materials is impressive.

The dash design is simple - uncluttered but functional. You get an 8.8-inch driver’s display and a 12.8-inch rotatable multimedia screen.

There are two phone holders/chargers housed under the air vents, while the console features a crystal-look gear shifter surrounded by some buttons. There’s more storage under the console.

One thing that struck me with each of the BYD models I drove on this trip was the quality and comfort of the seats. And the Atto 2’s synthetic leather seats are no exception. The design looks schmick and there’s enough bolstering and support, as well as cushion comfort. 

There’s a decent amount of head and legroom in the rear, while the boot offers up volume of 400 litres with all seats in place and 1340L with the rear seats folded.

In China, the Atto 2 will come with two electric powertrain options - 70kW and 130kW. BYD hasn’t confirmed it but expect Australia to just get the 130kW model. It also comes with 3.3kW vehicle-to-load charging. 

Underpinned by the company’s 'e-Platform 3.0', the Atto 2 comes with BYD’s ‘Blade’ lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery in either 32kWh or 45.1kWh guise, making for an EV driving range of about 301 or 401km, depending on the battery size. It should dash from zero to 100km/h in a tick under eight seconds.

So, what’s the Atto 2 like to drive? Our brief taste of the EV was on a small test track about an hour and a half outside BYD HQ in Shenzhen, China, so any detailed impressions will have to wait for the Australian launch later this year.

But the early signs are positive. The Atto 2 is a solid little EV.

It’s pretty quick off the mark thanks to smooth yet brisk acceleration. The steering feel is a little on the heavy side but it is still direct.

It was one of the more capable models we drove on the test track (we drove nine models all up), proving to be dynamically capable on the tight and tiny circuit.

It holds its nerve when pushed although there was a hint of tyre squeal.

The Atto 2’s ride is a little firm over ripple strip sections, but not dramatically so. An Australian ride and handling tweak should help here.