- BYD Atto 2 - our first drive
- Electric SUV bound for UK summer 2025
- Could get range of up to 261 miles
- Fiat Grande Panda, Citroen e-C3, and Vauxhall Frontera rival
Things happen fast with BYD.
Not the kind of speed that gets you in trouble with traffic cameras, but the pace at which it’s expanding. In just two years, it has launched five new models in the UK, and now here comes the sixth – the Atto 2.
It’s due to hit British BYD showrooms around September and it might even be pipped to the post by the Dolphin Mini, BYD’s seventh new car. It’s moving fast, but UK buyers are a bit slower on the uptake. And they probably shouldn’t be, because the Atto 2 has a lot going for it – as long as BYD gets the price right.
Right now, BYD seems to be sticking to its guns with a projected starting price of around £30,000. That’s a fair bit steeper than some of its key rivals, like the all-electric Fiat Grande Panda, Vauxhall Frontera, and Citroen e-C3, which all start in the low £20,000s.
Sure, the Atto 2 feels a notch above in quality, and it comes with more high-tech kit, but the battery range isn’t vastly superior. If BYD can bring it in at under £30,000, it’ll be a much stronger proposition.
That aside, it ticks a lot of boxes. It’s spacious, well put together, good to drive, and packed with tech. There’s even a hint of Mercedes SUV about the styling, especially around the back, giving it a premium edge that rivals just don’t have.
The cars we drove in Spain were fitted with a 45.1kWh battery, giving a claimed maximum range of 194 miles. Given BYD’s hype around its blade battery technology and efficiency-boosting features like a heat pump, we expected more.
The similarly sized Citroen e-C3 Aircross, with its 44kWh battery, manages 188 miles – not far off, but a world away in terms of pricing as the Citroen’s starting price is £22,990.
By the time the Atto 2 lands in the UK, it will get a slightly larger 50kWh battery, likely stretching the range to around 214 miles. A bigger 60kWh version will follow, boasting an estimated 261 miles – but naturally, it’ll cost even more.
Charging speed is another slight letdown. The Atto 2’s 45kWh battery tops out at 65kW charging, meaning a 10-80% charge takes 37 minutes. That’s slower than the 100kW capability of the Fiat Grande Panda, Citroen e-C3, and Vauxhall Frontera, all of which charge quicker despite being cheaper.
However, when it comes to driving dynamics, the Atto 2 is a pleasant surprise. There’s a very European feel to the way it rides and handles. It soaks up bumps without feeling floaty and corners without excessive body lean, which makes it feel more settled on longer drives. Acceleration is lively, with a 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds, giving it a bit of a sprightly edge when nipping through town traffic.
For a car that’s just over 4.3 metres long – not much bigger than a supermini – interior space is excellent. Even with the front seat set up for a six-footer, there’s loads of kneeroom in the back for another equally tall passenger. One benefit of BYD’s advanced blade battery tech is that the floor stays completely flat, making the cabin feel more open.
Headroom is generous too, even with the standard panoramic sunroof. The only small gripe is that the rear doors could open wider – fine for most people, but it’d be handy for parents wrangling kids into car seats.
The Atto 2 Boost model we’ll get in the UK comes absolutely loaded with heated, powered seats covered in vegan leather, that fancy sunroof and a premium-feeling cabin with soft-touch materials making it feel like a cut above the competition. The boot is decently sized at 400 litres, expanding to 1,340 litres with the seats folded down – plenty for a couple of big suitcases.
Tech is another area where BYD throws in the kitchen sink. Front and centre is a 12.8-inch touchscreen with a unique party trick – say “Hi BYD, rotate screen” and it spins 90 degrees between landscape and portrait.
Listening to customer feedback, BYD has also added a handy customisable ‘dock’ at the bottom of the screen, so frequently used functions (like turning off nagging chimes or adjusting the heated seats) are always within reach.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and you can even control features by speaking to the car. One of our favourite bits? The ability to tap the screen with three fingers to adjust the climate settings. Simple, but brilliant, and these new features will filter down via over-the-air updates to other BYD models.
Other premium touches include a 360-degree parking camera, fancy LED cabin lighting, wireless phone charging, and an eight-speaker audio system that’s surprisingly punchy for a car in this price bracket. There’s the usual array of driver assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control and an extensive suite of safety systems (each probably accompanied by a warning chime). And another nice touch is the ability to use your phone as a key via NFC tech – usually the preserve of far pricier cars.
We’ll have to wait until closer to the launch for official UK pricing, but in Spain, the Boost model costs €31,990 (just under £27,000). However, word on the UK street suggests the UK price will be closer to £30,000 or slightly higher. That gets you a well-built, high-tech EV with a strong spec list. But for under £25,000, you could get the Citroen e-C3 Aircross, which offers more space and a similar range. BYD’s challenge will be convincing buyers that the extra cost is justified.
Spec Panel
- Model tested: BYD Atto 2
- Price to buy outright/rough cost to lease: £30,000 (estimate)/
- Powertrain/battery size: Electric / 45.1kWh battery
- Power output/torque/top speed: 201bhp / 310Nm / 99mph
- Max range/charging speed: 194 miles / 65kW fast charging (10-80% in37 minutes)
- Fuel economy/CO2 emissions: N/A / zero emissions
- Boot space: 400 litres
- BIK/road tax: 2% BIK / £10 road tax
- Standard-issue kit: 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, heated & powered front seats, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, wireless phone charging, eight-speaker audio system
- Main rivals: Citroen e-C3 Aircross, Fiat Grande Panda, Vauxhall Frontera, Hyundai Kona Electric
** Steve Fowler is one of the UK’s best-known automotive journalists and currently EV Editor of The Independent and a regular contributor to The Guardian. He’s the only person to have edited three of the UK’s biggest car titles – Auto Express, Autocar and What Car? – and has interviewed the biggest names in the car world from Tesla’s Elon Musk to Ford’s Jim Farley. Steve has also presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four and is used as a resident ‘car guru’ on TV and Radio. He’s a World Car of the Year juror and a judge on both Germany’s and India’s Car of the Year Awards. Read more of Steve's work at stevefowler.co.uk.
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