BYD Atto 2 Review

Introduction 

Right, I think we've all heard of BYD by now, as this hug Chinese manufacturer has become a big player in Europe and the UK over the last few years, not least thank to the sheer number of new cars that it continues to release. So, here's another new BYD! But let's not be cynical, because all of the numbers suggest that the BYD Atto 2 will be a very complete small family EV. 

In the UK, the Atto 2 gets a 51.1kWh and 64.8kWh LFP Blade batteries, giving a WLTP range of between 214 and 267 miles. At 4.3-metres long, it's smaller than the Atto 3 Evo and MG4, bigger than the VW ID.Polo, Kia EV2 and Cupra Raval, and similar in size to the Ford Puma Gen-E, Renault 4, Skoda Epiq and Kia EV3. And there are probably some others that I’ve forgotten, but you get the picture; there are lots of cars that are similar in price and size to the BYD Atto 2, so it's not without serious competition.

Range, battery and charging 

Buyers can choose between two BYD LFP batteries; a 51.1kWh unit with 177hp and a larger 64.8kWh version delivering 204hp. The bigger battery gives a range of up to 267 miles on a single charge, while the smaller manages 214 miles. The smaller pack supports up to 82kW charging, allowing a 30 to 80% top-up in 30 minutes, whereas the larger unit peaks at 155kW, cutting the same top-up time to just 21 minutes. 

By the way, don’t worry about LFP battery tech. It’s very common in Europe and around the world in lots of EVs, and the cobalt-free BYD ‘Blade’ battery tech in the Atto 2 is very well tried and tested. If you want to know more about the battery tech, you can read all about the pros and cons of LFP vs NMC batteries, right here. 

You get 11kW three-phase charging as standard, which means that you can make the most of those 11kW AC chargers that you normally find in supermarket car parks, kerbside chargers in cities, or in industrial chargers. To fully charge the BYD Atto 2 from a standard 7kW home charger will take around eight hours. 

The BYD Atto 2 gets a heat pump as standard, which should help with cold weather efficiency and range. And vehicle-to-load (V2L), too! So you can charge or power your electrical devices from the car’s high voltage battery, at speeds of up to 3.3kW. Not bad, eh?! 

Practicality and boot space 

The BYD Atto 2 gets a 400-litre boot complete with a variable boot floor (weirdly, you get 450 litres in the Comfort model), which is not bad at all. That’s bigger than the VW ID.3, but not as big as the boot in the Renault 4, Ford Puma Gen-E or Vauxhall Frontera. It's fit for purpose if you've got a small family, but there are alternatives with usefully more boot space, so do check whether your buggy, dog, or anything else that you need to be able to get in the boot, fits in there; it's not huge back there.

It is, however, pretty huge in the back seats. A couple of average-sized adults (I proudly class myself in that ‘average’ category) will be very comfy, and this is a much more comfortable back seat space than you get in the Renault 4 and Ford Puma Gen-E. There’s no centre armrest, which is annoying, but the very smart-feeling materials, two USB charging ports and fancy ambient lighting that even the basic BYD Atto 2 Boost gets will go some way to making up for that.

There’s loads of space up front for the driver, too, and a digital speed readout behind the wheel. I don't like the power readout on the driver's screen, which displays a constantly changing power output - but it's in the same font and size as the speed readout, which is confusing. And I just think it's totally unnecessary. 

Interior, design and technology

The tech in the BYD Atto 2 is really impressive. Of course you get the screen that spins from landscape to portrait, but more importantly the 12.8-inch touchscreen is entirely configurable. So, if you want to move the heated seat button to be closer to you, you can! And you can change everything on the swipe-down ‘favourite’ shortcuts, too. Just hold and drag, as you do on an iPhone. Simple, but brilliant, no? The three-finger ‘swipes’ that you can do to change the climate temperature and fan speed are also quite effective, and the voice control one of the most responsive and effective I’ve tried. 

I honestly don’t care about the screen swivelling; landscape is fine for me. But I do really like the software and how configurable it all is. And don’t worry; you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, too. 

Talking of standard stuff, the heated seats and steering wheel, the sunroof, wireless phone charging, and a weird crystal gearshifter are all included. And karaoke! Yup, you read that right. A karaoke system as standard. Check out Nic's video to see that in action... 

Motors, performance and handling 

I drove the Atto 2 Boost, which gets a 177hp electric motor that powers the front wheels, and will get it from 0-62mph in 7.9sec. That's more than quick enough, so performance is no issue, but the steering very short on any sense of connection - and is very slow, too, so you have to apply a lot of steering lock even on gentle corners. There's lots of body lean, and while the electric motor is quiet, the suspension is quite noisy and you can hear it reverberating through the cabin when you're driving over scrappy town roads. The actual ride comfort is fine, if a bit unsettled over sharper intrusions like expansion joints or potholes, but it's not going to bother you too much. 

Brake regen’ could be a bit better. There’s no one-pedal brake mode, and the two modes that there are seem very similar. You’ve certainly not got the clever, widely variable regen’ that you get in the Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona. 

The best EVs for £250 per month

The bigger battery BYD Atto 2 Comfort is paired with a more powerful 203hp motor, but has the same 0-62mph time because the weight of the battery offsets that extra power. It's not much different to drive, to be honest, but it's probably the model to go for as it gets more equipment and usefully longer range for a reasonable price jump.

Suffice to say that, in terms of the way it drives, the BYD Atto 2 is just... okay-ish. It all feels very vague, which is a stark contrast to the fun but comfy on-road manners of the Renault 4, Puma Gen-E, Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq. In that company, the BYD feels bland and is a bit of a pudding to drive. But it does the job, and that's fair enough.

Running costs and pricing

Prices start from under £31,000 for the smaller battery Boost model and rise to around £35,000 for the Comfort. More importantly, monthly PCP finance deals and leasing options are really impressive, with the Atto 2 Boost costing from £339 per month and the Comfort from £369 on PCP at the time of writing - and that's with a single month's payment as a deposit, and zero interest! 

We've also seen the BYD Atto 2 come in at under £250 on leasing deals, so keep your eyes peeled for some seriously cheap monthly finance offers. Together with the six year, 93,750 mile vehicle warranty (eight years and 155,000 miles for the battery), the BYD Atto 2 makes a very compelling case financial case for itself, despite strong competition.

BYD offers a six year, 93,750 mile vehicle warranty, while the battery is covered for eight years and over 155,000 miles (including a guarantee to refurbish or replace the battery if it drops below 70% of its as-new capacity).

Verdict 

The BYD Atto 2 is a perfectly adequate small family EV, with seriously good monthly finance deals, a solid interior, great tech and a long warranty all in its favour. It's very underwhelming to drive, and the boot may be too small for some family motorists, but it'll do the job that most buyers expect of it. If you simply want a reliable, well equipped compact EV at low monthly cost, this is well worth checking out - but do your homework as there are plenty of much more enjoyable alternatives.

Like the BYD Atto 2? Try these...

Kia EV3 Review

Renault 4 E-Tech Electric Review

Skoda Elroq Review