Battery size: 74.8 kWh
WLTP range: 292 - 317 miles
Real world range (est): 200 - 270 miles
Max charge rate: 220 kW
E-Rating™: B
Introduction – BYD Atto 3 Evo
The Atto 3 - remember that? It was the car that launched BYD in the UK in 2023, but it's been a bit forgotten by all of the many newer BYD models that have arrived since. For a bit of a recap, the Atto 3 is a mid-sized, all-electric family crossover that’s here to take on the likes of the Skoda Enyaq, Kia EV5, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model Y, Renault Scenic, Toyota bZ4X and more.
Mind you, at 4.45m long the Atto is smaller than full-size SUVs like the Skoda Enyaq yet is also bigger than rivals like the Skoda Elroq, or is spot on for the Leaf, Scenic and Explorer.
I reckon that you’ll be looking at those slightly more compact alternatives as well as the full-sized family EVs if you’re considering the Atto 3, so it really has got a lot of competition.
This 2026 Atto 3 Evo is the updated version of the Atto 3 – the ‘Evo’ name indicates that it’s the facelifted car, which is useful as you’d struggle to know that it’s been updated from the outside. I mean, the front and rear bumpers are slightly different, and there's a new spoiler but come on…
What is new is all the stuff underneath. The Atto 3 Evo gets rear-wheel drive and a bigger battery for a longer range, not to mention a bigger boot space, so while the styling has stayed much the same there are some big changes.
Range, battery and charging
The Atto 3 Evo has done away with the pre-facelift car’s 60.5 kWh battery, and BYD has now managed to shoehorn in a 74.8 kWh battery. Of course, the Atto 3 Evo uses the BYD Blade battery, which uses clever LFP battery tech and has been proven to be extremely reliable and safe.
That bigger battery means that WLTP range on the single motor Atto 3 Evo is now up to 317 miles (up from 260 miles in the 2023 BYD Atto 3), while the dual-motor all-wheel drive Atto 3 Evo manages 292 miles.
That’s a modest but worthwhile improvement, although it’s worth noting that most rivals offer models with a longer range of around 370 miles. We haven’t spent enough time with the Atto 3 Evo to get our own real-world range figures, but we’d estimate that the single motor would manage around 200- to 270 miles depending on conditions.
"The Atto 3's 220kW rapid charging means that, in ideal conditions, you should be able to get a 100 mile top-up from an ultra-rapid charger in as little around 10 to 15 minutes, which is impressive stuff." Ginny Buckley
Charging speeds have dramatically improved, and the Atto 3 now gets 800V charging, and is capable of DC rapid charging of up to 220kW. In more simple terms, that means that you can plug into one of the fairly common 800V ultra-rapid charging stations found in many UK motorway services, and expect a 100 mile top-up in around 10- to 15 minutes. A lot of rivals fall short of the BYD’s charging speeds and max out at 150kW, which will deliver a 100 mile top-up in roughly 20 minutes.
There’s also vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging as standard, which lets you power your electric devices from the car’s high voltage battery, and basically use your car as a giant mobile charger. A heat pump is also included as standard, which should help with cold weather efficiency and range.
Practicality and boot space
The Atto 3 Evo gets a usefully bigger boot than it did before the updates, not to mention a huge 101 litre ‘frunk’ – despite the fact that it didn’t get a frunk at all previously. That’s because it’s now rear-wheel drive, so you now get a frunk that’s big enough to fit Nicola! Nice. Probably more useful for cables or wellies, but good to know that you can squeeze a presenter in there if you need to.
The boot is also now a very decent 490 litres – up by 50 litres. Still not quite as big as the boot in the Skoda Elroq and Enyaq, but by any standards that’s a chunky boot space.
I find the bootlip a bit high on the Atto 3, and there’s no clever sliding seats or other useful seating versatility, but there’s definitely a good amount of space for a chunky buggy or a set of golf clubs. You can fold the seats in a 60/40 split, too.
Rear passengers get loads of space, with ample leg- and headroom even for an average adult to get comfortable. There are also rubber strings on the doors that you can ping endlessly when you want to annoy your parents. Perfect for those long journeys.
Interior, design and technology
Up front, the Atto 3 gets a 15.6 inch touchscreen, which you can no longer rotate to portrait or landscape (as you could before). As of the 2026 ‘Evo’ update it also gets Google software built in so that you can use Google maps as your default in-built nav – rather like you can in the Volvo EX30 and Renault Scenic. It’s a good system, with clear graphics and quick responses although some of the icons are a bit small and it takes time to work out where the various settings are in the menus – even with configurable shortcuts available.
You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the Atto 3 Evo’s infotainment, so that you can mirror all of your phone’s functions onto the car’s screen. A simple digital driver’s readout gives you your speed and other useful info, and the top-spec AWD Evolution also gets a head-up display.
If I’ve got any real criticism, it’s that I don’t really like the steering wheel – it feels a bit cheap. And if you want anything to feel nice, it’s the steering wheel!
Otherwise, the materials aren’t too bad at all. They feel nice to the touch and if you don’t mind the mad design details – like door releases that are inspired by gym equipment (but remind me more of some kind of sci-fi invertebrate) – then the Atto 3’s cabin is a nice place to be. As nice as a Skoda Elroq or Kia EV5’s interior? Maybe not. But it’s not bad at all, and there’s plenty of adjustment to the driver’s seat so it’s easy to get comfortable.
You also get a standard panoramic glass roof on the top-spec Excellence, which is great, but I want it on the longer range single motor model, which it isn’t even option on! Boo.
Motors, performance and handling
There are only two version of the BYD Atto 3; the entry-level Atto 3 Evo Design is rear-wheel drive and gets 308hp, which will deliver a pretty hasty 0-62mph sprint of 5.5 seconds, or if you go for the BYD Atto 3 Evo Excellence then you get four-wheel drive from a dual motor setup, delivering 443hp and a 0-62mph of 3.9 seconds. I mean, do we really need that sort of performance in a family hatchback? Do we? I’m not convinced.
Even in the rear-wheel drive model, the Atto 3 Evo’s performance feels a bit over the top. The surge of acceleration feels impressive but it doesn’t really make the car any more enjoyable to drive than if it had a few less horses and did 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds – like it was before the 2026 update. This isn’t a hot hatch, and even in the single motor Atto 3 the performance feels a bit out of place, so you won’t be surprised to hear that I think the Excellence is properly unhinged!
In a good way, I guess. I do love a fast car and the all-wheel drive makes it feel a bit more point-and-blast in corners, but this never feels like a hot hatch. It feels like a family SUV because… er, it is?
The suspension in the Atto 3 Evo is noticeably soft, and I really noticed how much the car leans when you go round corners so if you’ve got kids I’d suggest you go for a good test drive with them in the back in case they get a bit car sick. There’s always a silver lining, though, isn’t there? And that soft suspension does pay off in terms of the ride comfort, which is nice and cushy and does a good job of softening the potholes.
The steering is a bit odd, too, and is heavier than I expected for a car like this. It’s very keen to self-centre, too. It’s okay, I guess, but ‘okay’ is a bit underwhelming when there are cars like the Skoda Enyaq, which are so lovely to drive.
I found the throttle response a bit sharp in Sport mode, so I preferred the more sensible modes. I really am sounding like a right bore, here, aren’t I?!
By far the most annoying trait of the Atto 3 is the overactive driver assistance tech. Especially the driver awareness system, which uses a camera to follow your eyes and tell when you’re looking away from the road. But it gets it wrong quite a lot, and it told me I looked tired (never say that to a lady you’re not very familiar with…) and it’s just very over sensitive and nannying and ANNOYING. You can turn it off, and you can use the screen’s shortcuts to control the other assistance systems including the quite intrusive lane-keep assist. And I know these systems are a good thing and help to keep us all safe – I’m in favour of them. But there are driver awareness systems in lots of cars that are more accurate and helpful than this, so I'd say BYD's got some work to do on improving some of its assistance systems.
Running costs and pricing
Pricing hasn’t been confirmed for the Atto 3 Evo, yet, but we’re expecting the Design to start at £38,000 and the Excellence to come in at around £42,000. Even the Design gets most of the kit you’d want including keyless entry, parking camera, Google maps, heated seats, automatic LED lights, adaptive cruise and more. The Excellence could be tempting with its panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, rabid performance and all-wheel drive, though.
Every new BYD comes with a warranty for six years or 93,750 miles, while the LFP Blade battery is covered for eight years and 155,000 miles. That’s impressive warranty cover. You’ll have to look to Kia, Toyota and Peugeot to get longer standard cover.
Verdict
The BYD Atto 3 is kind of fun, in a lot of ways. I like the weird interior design, and the fact that it feels different to a lot of its rivals, and it’s now much more competitive in terms of its range and charging – not to mention all that extra space you get, now. But it is still one of those cars that’s recommendable provided you can get a good deal, because there are others that are a bit better to drive, have longer range and just feel more sophisticated.
Keep your eyes peeled for a decent monthly deal, and if the money stacks up then the BYD Atto 3 promises to be a very easy living family EV. Just make sure that you can’t get something a bit better for the same cash.
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