Atto 3 EVO Excellence

Introduction

The Atto 3 was one of the cars that made BYD known in Austria. Now the EVO version arrives. The body stays almost unchanged, but the technology behind it is largely new. The Atto 3 EVO uses the e-Platform 3.0 with 800-volt architecture, a larger 74.8 kWh battery and a choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Our test car is the Excellence in Ruby Red, the all-wheel-drive version with 449 hp. It costs €45,990, and with the €750 surcharge for Ruby Red the price tag reads €46,740. The entry point to the range is €42,990 for the rear-wheel-drive Design. BYD also offers bonuses (E-Mobilitätsbonus Plus, lease bonus and trade-in bonus) that can lower the purchase price significantly for private buyers. This test shows how much car you get with the Excellence.

Design and Build Quality

The Atto 3 EVO remains a compact SUV, 4.455 metres long. Ruby Red gives it a bold, eye-catching presence, and the new 18-inch wheels, the sportier rear spoiler and the continuous light bar at the back fit the look. One detail is an unpleasant surprise. The door handles stand out strikingly in the design, and that wasn’t necessary. Inside, the build quality is convincing. Many materials feel high-quality and are cleanly finished, which lifts the Atto 3 EVO above its price.

Powertrain and Driving Dynamics

This is where the Excellence delivers. Two electric motors, front and rear, together produce 330 kW (449 hp) and 560 Nm of torque. That is good for 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h. The acceleration is extreme and unexpected. You wouldn’t guess a compact SUV has this kind of punch, and when you step on the pedal, the power arrives instantly and with force. The driving feel is good as well. The all-wheel drive puts the power down confidently, and the car stays well controlled even when driven briskly. For a car of this size and price, that is an impressive package.

Interior and Infotainment

Inside, the Atto 3 EVO is modern and well equipped. The infotainment is a highlight. The rotating 15.6-inch touchscreen is huge, and the shortcut buttons take you quickly to the most important functions. There is also an 8.8-inch driver display, and the gear selector now sits on the steering column. The real buttons on the steering wheel are another plus, and they are pleasant to use day to day. The Excellence brings a head-up display, heated seats front and rear and a panoramic roof. The heated seats in front and back are a comfort bonus you quickly don’t want to do without, and the sunroof makes the cabin bright and airy. There is one criticism of the interior design. It is high-quality, but the air vents take some getting used to.

In terms of space, the Atto 3 EVO is practical for its size. The boot holds 490 litres, up to 1,360 litres with the seats folded. On top of that comes the frunk with 101 litres, and in our test it was really very large. Charging cables and small items disappear there neatly, separate from the luggage. There is also a 3 kW V2L function and wireless smartphone charging of up to 50 watts.

Efficiency

The 74.8 kWh Blade battery (LFP) gives the Excellence 470 kilometres of WLTP range, with consumption of 17.8 kWh per 100 kilometres. In practice, the figure is well below that. On pure motorway driving at 130 km/h in cold temperatures of 4 to 10 degrees, we got around 300 kilometres. The high performance takes its toll here. Anyone who wants more range should go for the rear-wheel-drive version, which manages up to 510 kilometres according to WLTP.

When it comes to charging, the Atto 3 EVO shows its strengths. Thanks to the 800-volt technology, up to 220 kW of DC charging is possible. BYD quotes 25 minutes from 10 to 80 percent, and that is exactly what we achieved in our test. On AC, the Atto 3 EVO charges at 11 kW, and 0 to 100 percent takes about 8 hours. A heat pump is fitted as standard.

Assistance and Safety

The range of driver assistance systems is extensive. According to the data sheet, it includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist and driver monitoring. In everyday use the systems worked well. When parking, however, there were one or two situations in which the car made an unexpected emergency stop. It’s no reason for panic, but worth knowing, and it shows that the sensors can be a little too cautious when manoeuvring. The Excellence’s head-up display projects important information directly into your field of view. BYD offers a 6-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty on the vehicle and 8 years or 250,000 kilometres on the drive battery.

Verdict

The BYD Atto 3 EVO Excellence is a compact SUV with a character you can’t see from the outside. 3.9 seconds to 100 km/h, good driving dynamics and plenty of comfort, from heated seats front and rear to the sunroof, make it a very entertaining electric car. On top of that come high-quality materials, a large and fast infotainment system, real buttons on the steering wheel and fast charging that delivers what BYD promises. The performance comes at a cost in range. Anyone who drives a lot on the motorway will get little further than around 300 kilometres in the cold season, and anyone who wants more range is better off with rear-wheel drive. The interior has two design details in the air vents and the conspicuous door handles that won’t appeal to everyone, and the parking assistance braked unnecessarily in isolated situations. At €46,740 in our test configuration, the price is a fair one for a car with 449 hp and this equipment. With the bonuses offered by BYD, it becomes even cheaper for private buyers.