This is the super-smooth new BYD Atto 3 - and while it’s a car you might not be familiar with, it’s here to take on some of the key players in the electric SUV market.
First things first - what’s BYD, any why have you never heard of it before?
Well, BYD - which stands for ‘Build Your Dreams’ - is a Chinese manufacturer that specialises in electrified vehicles.
And there’s plenty of pedigree behind that BYD badge.
The firm is already the world's leading manufacturer of all-electric buses and also produces trucks and e-bikes.
When you look at overall global sales of electrified vehicles - which includes plug-in hybrids - BYD actually outsold Tesla in 2022 - moving some 1.86 million units, globally.
BYD has been making in-roads into Europe, starting with Norway. And with the clout of American business magnate Warren Buffet, who is a major BYD shareholder, behind them, BYD is now bidding for a foothold in the UK.
The first BID car to arrive on these shores is the all-electric Atto 3 - a compact SUV that goes toe-to-toe with the likes of the MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and the Volkswagen ID.4.
The first thing to note about the Atto 3 is the powertrain.
You can expect a 60 kWh battery that drives the front wheels and provides power of 207 PS. That’s enough to accelerate the Atto 3 from 0-62 mpg in around 7.3 seconds - not too shabby at all and quicker than the Kia Niro EV.
Lease customers will enjoy a range of up to 261 miles between charges - which trumps the mid-range MG ZS EV and comes close to the Long Range MG4 EV - while the Atto 3 also supports fast charging at 88 kW, which will take the battery from 30-80% full in 29 minutes.
There’s an abundance of driver assistance and safety software, including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring.
No wonder, then, that the Atto 3 recently scored the full five stars from safety assessors Euro NCAP.
The Atto 3 is easy on the eye, both inside and out, and the SUV’s cabin really shines when you compare it to competitors.
A fully-connected and huge 12.8-inch touchscreen can be rotated from portrait to landscape orientation at the touch of a button, depending on your preference.
The central, vertical slot air vents really stand out, as does the futuristic drive selector - which has the whiff of ‘Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon engaging Hyperdrive’ about it, which is no bad thing at all!
There’s plenty of room for adults in the back and a panoramic glass roof is standard-fit equipment.
A large boot measuring 440 litres is also larger than you get with the Hyundai Kona Electric or the MG4 EV.
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