ELECTRIA: 2025 BYD Atto 3 - updates done right

BYD Cars Philippines has established itself as the dominant force in the local market for new energy vehicles (NEV). 

Recently, its local distributor ACMobility has managed to sell its 10,000th unit. The said model was the recently launched BYD eMAX 7. Earlier this year, BYD’s local arm also achieved the title of the best-selling NEV brand in the country, with a whopping 8,900 percent growth compared to its own sales performance in 2023. 

BYD, however, didn’t start off with the eMAX 7 or the Sealion 6 DM-i, which is currently its best-selling NEV model in the country. Instead, its initial salvo in the local car market was made possible by the entry of the BYD Atto 3, an all-electric compact crossover that has been available globally since 2022. 

Zigwheels Philippines even had multiple opportunities to test out the ride. First off, the Atto 3 can pretty much handle out-of-town trips to destinations like Baguio. The second time around, it managed to establish itself as a good daily driver. 

Mind you, the Atto 3 isn’t old just yet, but the brand introduced a refreshed version this year. So, the question now is, does the 2025 version of the BYD Atto 3 still hold the same appeal? Additionally, did BYD manage to teach its premier compact all-electric crossover new tricks?

We found the answer to the said questions when we borrowed the 2025 BYD Atto 3 for five days. 

Exterior

On the outside, the updated BYD Atto 3 largely kept the same sleek outline as the older version. It still has the same dimensions and a similar set of LED lighting fixtures. 

The brand, however, added new gloss black accents to its rear-most pillar for enhanced visual impact. Likewise, the model’s stance looks sportier than ever, thanks to its wider set of 235/50 R18 Continental tires. And of course, its new set of rubbers has given the vehicle a good amount of boost in terms of stability and handling, which we’ll get to in a bit. 

Additionally, the model now features a power tailgate, which significantly enhances the Atto 3’s usability for day-to-day activities. Additionally, being able to close or open the tailgate via the key fob is a valuable feature. Sounds simple at first, but it will definitely see appreciation from users who are always on the go. 

Here are the other notable exterior features of the updated BYD Atto 3: 

• Power-folding and heated side mirrors
• Panoramic sunroof
• Rear wiper and defogger
• Automatic headlamp functionality
• Roof rails

Size-wise, the current version of the BYD Atto 3 measures 4,455 millimeters (mm) in length, 1,875 mm in width, and 1,615 mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,720 mm and a ground clearance (laden) of 150 mm. 

To note, the BYD Atto 3’s measurements place it as a slightly more compact ride compared to the upcoming Geely EX5. It is, however, a fair bit wider compared to the Lynk & Co 02. 

Interior

Inside, the updated BYD Atto 3 retains the same interior arrangement and amount of space. For the author’s girthy five-foot, 11-inch frame, the BYD-made crossover’s front seats provided ample space. Plus, the two front ones get power adjustability, making the search for one’s preferred driving position a breeze.

The rear cabin, meanwhile, can comfortably seat three regularly-sized Filipino adults, with plenty of room to spare for heads and legs. 

A vast majority of the improvements for the updated Atto 3, however, relate to the color scheme of the interior. Specifically, the company replaced the bright sections of its “biomechanical” style cabin with a dark shade of blue.

The “ribbed” parts of its shapely dash and interior door cards still use fabrics, but the color change is particularly welcome, as we figured it would be easier to keep them looking clean and fresh for a longer period of time. 

Moreover, the all-electric crossover is equipped with a 2.5 particulate matter filter that immediately activates when it detects a drop in interior air quality. The aforementioned goes together with the vehicle's automatic air-conditioning system that’s also equipped with rear cabin vents.

For onboard entertainment, navigation, and other tech-related needs, the Atto 3 provides its users with the 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen infotainment system - a signature of BYD. The said screen is linked to an eight-piece Dirac speaker set. 

In using the updated Atto 3’s infotainment system, we found that it has a very intuitive user interface with easy-to-find functions. It is likewise fast to respond to inputs and is lag-free. The sound system also delivered excellent sound quality with well-balanced treble and bass levels even at default settings. 

Any tech-oriented user of the Atto 3 will also appreciate its wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. In our case, we used an Android phone, and it connected seamlessly, though we experienced random disconnections.

Other notable creature comforts and driving features found inside the Atto 3 include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Five-inch digital gauge cluster
• 60:40 split-folding rear seats
• Leather upholstery
• Wireless smartphone charging
• 4G connectivity
• Voice assistant
• USB ports
• Vehicle-to-load capability
• Keyless entry
• Tilt and telescopic steering column
• Electronic parking brake
• 12-volt accessory outlet
• NFC car reader

Safety

As expected from a modern EV crossover, the BYD Atto 3 was kitted out with a host of safety gear. It has seven airbags, anti-lock braking, traction control, hill-descent control, tire pressure monitoring, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and an anti-theft system - among others. 

Supporting its standard safety gear is a suite of advanced driver-assist systems, which consists of: 

• 360-degree view camera
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane keep assist
• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane departure warning
• Traffic sign recognition
• Blind-spot detection

During our five days with the BYD Atto 3, the one safety feature we utilized the most was its 360-degree view camera. It worked particularly well when navigating tight parking spaces, and it produced decent video quality at night. 

The second would be the vehicle’s blind-spot detection system, which was very useful, especially on the chaotic bottlenecks on Commonwealth Avenue. And yes, it is sensitive enough to detect motorcycles and even people on bicycles. 

Powertrain, driving

When it comes to actual improvements in driving, the most impactful change BYD made to the Atto 3 is its tires. As mentioned above, the car now wears a set of 235/50 R18 Continental tires, which are significantly wider compared to its older set. 

With its new set of rubbers, the vehicle genuinely felt that it had better acceleration capabilities. Furthermore, it felt more planted when driving at a brisk pace through bends and corners. It still isn’t a sports car by any means, but it is markedly quicker on its feet than the older version. 

Like its predecessor, the model features a single permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) with a maximum output of 201 horsepower (hp) and 310 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque, which is more than sufficient for both highway cruising and in-city journeys. 

The particular trim we borrowed was the top-spec Premium, which boasts a 60.5-kilowatt-hour battery, providing 480 kilometers (km) of range. 

Notably, the car features an 80 kilowatt direct current fast charging capability, which can increase its state-of-charge from 30 to 80 percent in just 30 minutes. With its beefy battery and range, however, we returned the car with around 77 percent battery levels.

Mind you, the author used the car to travel to and from Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, and East Avenue in the days he had the car. But pleasantly enough, the vehicle only managed to use 23 percent of its range. It was, however, under Economy mode the whole time. 

With that kind of fuel economy, though, the 2025 BYD Atto 3 can function as a highly convenient in-city daily driver with an extra punch thanks to its instantaneous torque when one needs it. 

Here is a table showcasing the basic specifications and capabilities of the BYD Atto 3:

Model	BYD Atto 3 Premium
Motor setup	Single PMSM
Drivetrain	Front-wheel-drive
Horsepower	201
Torque	310 Newton-meters
Range	480 km
Front suspension	MacPherson strut
Rear suspension	Multi-link
Brakes	Front and rear discs

Final thoughts

In summary, the BYD Atto 3 did learn new tricks. It now boasts a more attractive, yet significantly more practical interior, and it has also seen improvements in the driving department. So, coupled with the comfort it is known for, the model definitely retains its status as a “value-added buy” for would-be owners looking to jump into the world of EVs. 

For reference, the model currently commands a price ranging from P1.589 million-P1.798 million. So when compared to other EV nameplates in the market, it's the type that lives up to every single penny of its asking price. 

Also read:

BYD Cars PH to launch Sealion 5 DM-i?

BYD Cars PH opens dealership Cavite dealership

BYD, ACMobility further push electrified mobility in Cebu