Battery size: 51.1-64.8 kWh
E-Rating™: A
WLTP range: 214 - 267 miles
Max charge rate: 155 kW
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Introduction and model history
Have you STILL not heard of BYD? This Chinese manufacturer is an enormous company globally, and it plans to sell more cars in the UK this year than MINI and Renault. It’s neck-and-neck with Tesla for global sales of electric cars (and BYD actually makes the batteries that go into the shorter range Tesla Model 3 so, ya know, they’re kind of winning that race already).
Anyway, the Atto 2 is BYD’s latest model; a compact b-segment SUV-hatchback kind of thing, which in the UK will get 51.1kWh and 64.8kWh LFP Blade batteries, giving a range of between 214 and 261. At 4.3-metres long, the Atto 2 is smaller than the Atto 3, and is spot on for rivals like the VW ID.3, Renault Megane E-Tech, Ford Puma Gen-E, Kia EV3, MG4, Hyundai Kona, Volvo EX30 and Smart #3. And there are probable some others that I’ve forgotten, but you get the picture; there are lots of cars in this class and the Atto 2 has a lot to prove.
Range, battery and charging
Buyers can choose between two sizes of BYD Blade LFP Battery: a 51.1kWh unit with 174bhp and a larger 64.8kWh version delivering 201bhp. 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 boasts 155kW charging, 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. You can read all about the pros and cons of LFP batteries vs lithium-ion NMC batteries, right here.
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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 Vauxhall Frontera, and we'd say that it's fit for purpose but some families will find the boot a bit too small. Make sure that you 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.
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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 will get goes some way to make up for that.
There’s loads of space up front for the driver, too, not to mention a digital speed readout behind the wheel, which you don’t get on the Volvo EX30. 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 it can be distracting. And I just think it's totally unnecessary.
Interior, design/styling 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.
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I honestly don’t care about the screen swivelling, to be honest; 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.
Motors, performance and handling
The Atto 2 gets a 174bhp electric motor that powers the front wheels, and will get it from 0-62mph in 7.9sec. It feels more than quick enough, 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, too, 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 bigger battery is paired with a more powerful 201bhp motor, but has the same 0-62mph time because the weight of the battery offsets that extra power. I haven't driven it, yet, so watch this space and we'll update you as soon as we've had a go.
Suffice to say that, in terms of the way it drives, the BYD Atto 2 is just... okay. 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, Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq that the BYD Atto 2 must compete with.
Running costs and pricing
Prices start at £30,850 and rise to £34,950 – roughly in between the Dolphin and the Atto 3, basically. As we’ve said, that means that it’s got an abundance of competition, and more to come in the shape of the Renault 4 E-Tech, but the equipment levels, interior quality and practicality in the Atto 2 are impressive enough to even take on the Kia EV3.
Monthly PCP finance deals are really impressive, with the Atto 2 Boost costing from £339 per month and the Comfort from £369, at the time of writing - and that's with a single month's payment as a deposit, and zero interest. 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.
Verdict
The BYD Atto 2 is a good all-round small family EV, with seriously good monthly finance deals, a solid interior, great tech and a long warranty all in its favour. It's disappointing that it's so 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. That range is a bit middling next to alternatives like the MG4 and Kia EV3, too, but that may all be resolved when BYD introduces the bigger battery at the end of 2025. We’ll have to wait and see! For now - good effort, and a recommendable car, but there are others out there that are much more pleasant to live with.
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