BYD Atto 3

The BYD Atto 3's cabin draws inspiration from fitness equipment with elements like barbell-shaped door handles, dumbbell-like gear selectors, and guitar-string-style door bins. The dashboard features a wave-like form with soft-touch materials and contrast stitching. These door cords are even tuned to produce musical notes when strummed. The ergonomically designed seats are upholstered in vegan synthetic leather. The front seats offer the biggest legroom and gets six-way electric adjustment and heating function. Soft-touch materials extend across the dashboard, door panels, and central console.

The cabin of the BYD Atto 3 is spacious, courtesy the flat floor design. Rear passengers benefit from ample legroom and headroom, with the rear bench offering good under-thigh support. Taller occupants might find the seating position slightly elevated because of the battery placement beneath the floor. A panoramic sunroof stretches nearly the entire length of the roof, enhancing the sense of openness and allowing abundance of natural light into the interior ​

Pros and Cons

Pros: Innovative interior design

Cons: Rear seat slightly raised.

Features and Technology

A standout feature of the BYD Atto 3 is the rotating infotainment touchscreen unit, available in 12.8-inch or an optional 15.6-inch size. The display can switch between landscape and portrait orientation at the touch of a button, catering to different user preferences and functionalities. The system operates on an Android-based platform and offers a responsive interface with sharp graphics. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though wireless option isn’t available. 

The BYD Atto 3 gets a 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster. It’s rather compact and some icons appear small. The panel’s positioning on the ergonomically designed, multifunction steering column ensures it remains within the driver's line of sight. The steering wheel gets tactile buttons and scroll wheels for audio volume and cruise control. This physical interface is intuitive.

The BYD Atto 3 is equipped with automatic climate control that gets an integrated air purifier.

Pros and cons

Pros: innovative infotainment system

Cons: Small instrument cluster

Boot Space and Storage

The BYD Atto 3 has boot space of 440 litres. Folding down the 60:40 split-rear seats increases the cargo space to approximately 1,340 litres. The boot’s flat floor is flat, facilitating easy loading and unloading of cargo. A sizable compartment beneath the boot floor is available for storing charging cables or smaller items. Higher trims get an electric tailgate. Unlike some competitors, the BYD Atto 3 doesn’t offer a front storage compartment. 

The central console in the cabin gets an angled, non-slip area that serves as a wireless charger for smartphones. Two cupholders with adjustable inserts cater to various cup sizes. A spacious compartment under the armrest provides additional storage. An open shelf beneath the central console offers extra space for small items. The large front-door pockets can hold 500ml bottles and other items. The fold-down armrest gets two additional cupholders for rear passengers.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Spacious boot

Cons: No front trunk

The BYD Atto 3 measures 4,455mm in length, 1,875mm in width, and 1,615mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,720mm. It’s available in the Standard Range Dynamic and Extended Range Premium models. 

​The BYD Atto 3 manages to blend contemporary design with subtle elegance, aiming to appeal to a global audience seeking a modern yet understated electric vehicle. The car’s front design features sleek headlamps with integrated daytime running lights (DRLs), connected by an illuminated light strip beneath a brushed aluminum panel featuring the 'BYD' logo. The car gets all-around LED lighting. The closed-off grille design, characteristic of many electric vehicles (EVs), contribute to a clean and aerodynamic appearance. The bumper incorporates piano black air curtains and a faux skid plate.

The BYD Atto 3, from the side, exhibits a dynamic stance with a sloping roofline that tapers towards the rear. The D-pillar features a distinctive ripple pattern, adding visual interest. The car runs on 18-inch alloy wheels that get a unique swirl-type design, contributing to its modern aesthetic. The 2024 facelift introduced wider tires to improve grip and handling.

At the back, the BYD Atto 3 gets sleek taillights connected by a light strip. The roof spoiler integrates dual brake lights, enhancing visibility and safety. The rear bumper design includes black elements and a silver skid plate. The 'Build Your Dreams' badge on the tailgate has been shortened to 'BYD' in the latest models.

The car is available in red, grey, white, and blue color options.

Pros and cons

Pros: Futuristic design

Cons: Overemphasis on branding

The Atto 3 is available with a 49.92 kWh battery in the Standard Range Dynamic variant and a 60.48 kWh battery in Extended Range variants. In an urban setting, the EV returns a mileage of about 400–450 km on a single full recharge. At a steady speed of around 90 kmph, the range is around 341km.

Pros and cons

Pros: Consistent real-world range

Cons: Limited fast charging options

The BYD Atto 3 gets a MacPherson strut suspension at the front and a torsion beam setup at the back. This combination is a common architecture in many compact crossovers and hatchbacks. The Atto 3 excels is city conditions. It absorbs typical potholes, speed bumps, and uneven pavement with confidence. Thanks to a relatively soft suspension tuning, the EV glides smoothly over surface imperfections without feeling overly floaty. Low-speed damping is well-managed, making it ideal for congested streets or broken tarmac. Cabin isolation is commendable, with minimal vibrations transmitted through the chassis, aided by the car’s well-insulated cabin.

On the highway, the Atto 3 maintains its composure. The suspension is stable and planted. There’s a slight vertical motion over longer undulations and expansion joints. Road noise is low to moderate, depending on the road surface. Cruise comfort is solid, though the torsion beam rear-end may occasionally feel a bit rigid on poorly maintained roads.

While the suspension is tuned more for comfort than agility, the BYD Atto 3 offers predictable cornering behaviour, with moderate body roll typical of a compact SUV. The steering feel is light and user-friendly, ideal for urban manoeuvring. But it lacks feedback for spirited drivers.

Pros: Comfort-oriented suspension

Cons: Limited steering feedback

The The Atto 3 is equipped with a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 201PS/310Nm. The Standard Range is powered by a 49.92kWh BYD Blade lithium-iron-phosphate battery.  The Premium Range is powered by a 60.48kWh BYD Blade lithium-iron-phosphate battery. The single-motor, front-wheel-drive setup offers brisk acceleration with minimal drivetrain lag. 

In daily driving, the acceleration is smooth and linear. Power delivery is immediate because of the electric drivetrain, making urban commuting feel effortless. Highway merging and overtaking are confident and composed, although the performance plateaus above 110 kmph. The BYD Atto 3 doesn’t aim to be a performance EV. But its acceleration is lively enough to satisfy most drivers. The drive-modes include Normal, Sport, and Eco. 

Pros and cons

Pros: Smooth, quiet, and composed

Cons: No all-wheel-drive option

The BYD Atto 3 is equipped with sensor fusion technology that comprises of a windscreen-mounted forward-facing camera, ultrasonic parking sensors, radar sensors, a high-resolution 360-degree camera system, and a rear-view camera with dynamic guidelines. But it lacks LiDAR sensors. There’s also no automatic lane change system or traffic jam assist features.

The car is mounted on BYD’s dedicated e-platform 3.0 architecture. Standard safety equipment includes multiple airbags, including a front-central airbag to prevent front-seat occupants from colliding during side impact.

Pros and cons

Pros: Great driver-assist features

Cons: Some radar-based tech missing

Competitor Comparison

The MG ZS EV is one of the closest competitors of the BYD Atto 3 in the Philippines. The Atto 3 offers a more powerful 201PS electric motor and a larger 60.5kWh battery, delivering greater range and faster acceleration than the 110PS output from the ZS EV with a 44.5kWh battery. In terms of design, the BYD Atto 3 features a more futuristic cabin with a rotating touchscreen and premium materials, while the ZS EV opts for a simpler and practical layout. Although the MG ZS EV is more affordable, the BYD Atto 3 justifies its higher price with superior tech, performance, and interior quality.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

The BYD Atto 3 is a standout car in the electric SUV market. It offers impressive performance, and comes with a well-equipped interior, and ample storage options. While the boot space is slightly smaller than rivals, the BYD Atto 3 is an excellent choice for budget-conscious buyers wanting practicality and affordability in an EV.