What’s the difference between BYD’s Atto 2 and Atto 3?
It feels as though BYD is launching a new car every week, and the latest is the Atto 2.
The Atto 2 is a compact electric SUV that is going up against the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric and Ford Puma Gen-E.
However, if you’re in the market for an electric SUV, what about BYD’s more established Atto 3?
The Atto 3 was one of the first models to be introduced by the brand in 2023, and is just as appealing as its smaller sibling.
So, which one is better? We’ve put both cars back-to-back to find out if the new Atto 2 is better than the older Atto 3.
Equipment
The smaller Atto 2 is priced from £30,850 and is available in either Boost and Comfort trim levels.
The entry-level model comes with a smaller battery, an energy-efficient heat pump, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, which allows electrical appliances to be plugged in from the car’s battery, a 12.8-inch rotatable infotainment screen, a wireless smartphone charger and an eight-speaker sound system. The flagship Comfort comes with a bigger battery, rear privacy glass and ambient lighting.
In comparison, the Atto 3 is priced from £37,705, making it more expensive than the Atto 2, and is available in Comfort or Design specifications.
The Comfort model features equipment such as 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a panoramic glass sunroof, a 12.8-inch rotatable touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Top-of-the-line Design models boast a powered tailgate, ventilated front seats and a larger 15.6-inch rotatable touchscreen interface. However, prices increase to £39,705, making the Atto 3 not as good value for money as the Atto 2.
You can check out our lease deals on many cars within the BYD range today here at UK CarLine.
Practicality
Both of these offerings are electric family SUVs, so they need to provide a decent amount of practicality if they’re going to succeed.
The Atto 2 comes with good interior storage with wide door bins, two cupholders, a centre armrest with some underneath storage and a glovebox. Meanwhile, six-foot adults will have no problem at all getting comfortable in the back of the car, with lots of head and legroom, due to the car’s tall roofline.
With its 400-litre boot, the Atto 2 isn’t a class-leader here, but it’s not bad for its size, with it providing more space than a Jeep Avenger Electric; however, a Hyundai Kona Electric has more space.
The Atto 3 is a slightly bigger car, so you’d expect it to be even more spacious. Sadly, the standard panoramic sunroof eats into rear head space, but at least there’s decent legroom. There is a completely flat floor too, making it more comfortable for rear-seat passengers to stretch out.
Open the boot, and the car offers more than the Atto 2 with a 440-litre capacity available and 1,338 litres with the rear bench folded down. There is also a false floor under the boot, which is ideal for stowing the charging cables.
Interior storage is on par with the Atto 2 as there are sufficiently-sized door bins, two cupholders and a very large storage area under the centre armrest.
Powertrains
There is a choice of two battery options with the Atto 2. The entry-level car is equipped with a 51.1kWh unit with an electric motor that produces 174bhp and 290Nm of torque, while 0-60mph takes 7.7 seconds and the top speed is 99mph.
This variant can manage a claimed 214 miles on a single charge; however, the rather disappointing 82kW DC rapid-charging speed means that it can only be topped up from 30 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
There is also a larger 64kWh battery available on the top-spec Comfort models, which increases the range to a claimed 261 miles between trips to the plug, but still has the same 82kW charging speeds.
The Atto 3 on the other hand, is only available with one battery option, which is a 60.4kWh unit with a single electric motor. This setup produces 201bhp and 310Nm of torque, while 60mph takes 7.1 seconds and the top speed is the same 99mph.
The claimed electric range is better overall than the Atto 2, with BYD saying the Atto 3 can travel up to 261 miles on a full charge, plus it can be charged up at speeds of 110kW, allowing for a 30 to 80 per cent top-up to take 28 minutes.
Rivals
The Atto 2 sits in the compact electric SUV market and has got a lot of stiff opposition heading its way, taking on the likes of the Renault Megane E-Tech, Hyundai Kona Electric, Volvo EX30 and Alfa Romeo Junior.
The Atto 3, on the other hand, is more of a midsize electric SUV, with even tougher competition, taking on cars such as the MGS5, Kia Niro EV, Volkswagen ID.4 and Renault Scenic E-Tech.
Verdict
To sum up, if you’re looking for an affordable electric SUV, both cars are more than acceptable alternatives to their European, Japanese and Korean rivals.
However, with the Atto 2’s cheaper price tag, greater range of battery packs, decent interior space and excellent levels of standard equipment, it’s got loads to offer. The Atto 3, meanwhile, brings a little more space and practicality for those who need it.
But whichever one you fancy, you’ll find a broad range of BYD models available here at UK CarLine.
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