The BYD Atto 3 Evo has enough performance to make Tesla worry, but is it necessary?

Introduction

I’ve driven enough of the current crop of BYD cars to know they’re a sound option for anyone wanting electric family hauling. Case in point is the BYD Atto 3 Evo, a C-segment SUV that’s arrived as a seemingly facelifted edition of the car that originally emerged back in 2023. However, the BYD Atto 3 Evo has more going for it than tweaked cosmetics: this affordable EV is decidedly potent.

Most all-electric cars have a decent amount of pep, but the Atto 3 Evo takes that a little further. There’s a bigger battery than the original, 78.8kWh instead of 60.48kWh and the option of either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. There are a pair of trim options, with the rear-wheel drive Design and al-wheel drive Excellence packing enough to make them worthwhile successors to the original incarnation.

However, it’s the performance of either model that is perhaps the biggest surprise. The Design can hit 62mph in just 5.5 seconds, while the Excellence does the same in a slightly silly 3.9 seconds. The former has a top speed of 112 mph while the Excellence can get right up to 124mph – comfortably base Tesla Model Y territory. I didn’t get to have a drive of the Excellence car, but even the Design goes quite fast enough. So, is there a market for such a thing, especially when it comes to buyers with a family in tow?

The styling

I think the BYD range is a little more identifiable than many of the other Chinese brands and, while the Atto 3 Evo isn’t a unique proposition, it has plenty going for it. The front end has been carefully revised and now looks almost memorable, while the rear end was similarly refreshed enough to give it a lift over the older, less edgy original. Sandwiched between are design lines that feel a little more pedestrian, but it’s all very practical even though the rear door openings felt less accommodating due to the subtle slant of the roof.

The interior of the Atto 3 Evo is also zingier than the average C-segment SUV, with a neat attention to detail that lifts it above the ordinary, especially where the door handles are concerned. I liked the circular air vents in both the middle and the ends of the dash. Weirdly, each time I glanced at them I thought they looked rather like oversized Oreos. Nothing wrong with that, right? BYD has also retained the three ‘guitar string’ ribbons that keep items firmly inside the door pocket storage areas, which is another nice touch.

Opt for the Excellence trim and there’s the added benefit of a panoramic sunroof, which looked expansive on the AWD model I saw, though wasn’t allowed to drive. With a lighter coloured interior, that car looked a real step up from the base-level Design model. Nevertheless, I thought the interior of the BYD Atto 3 Evo was generally excellent, with a 360-degree parking camera and electric front seats adding value.

The drive

I was very impressed with the Atto 3 Evo’s driver appeal: it was good fun for a few hours across a variety of roads. I’m intrigued to see how it will fare on UK roads, though, as on smoother European surfaces the suspension was firm but enjoyable. On rubbish UK Tarmac, I fear the ride quality may verge on harsh.

The performance is more than most will ever need, mind, while the rear-wheel drive of the Design car I drove left it feeling very capable.

One thing that was apparent was just how heavy the steering felt, but that was actually a good thing to my mind. Combined with the power on tap, the BYD Atto 3 Evo felt more than able to get through tighter corners without feeling unruly. Adding to the appeal is a Sport mode, which lets the steering free up a little and combined with sizable levels of power, turns the BYD Atto 3 Evo into a proper bundle of fun.

Usefully, the BYD Atto 3 Evo can now be charged at speeds of up to 220kW, which means a 10 to 80% charge takes around 25 minutes. Anyone munching their way through that rise in power output will find this mighty useful. There’s a heat pump for both model variants now too, which is always a boon for UK buyers. Granted, there were the usual driver assistance bongs to cope with, and some wind noise was detectable, but this is a car that’s about right for the market it is targeting.

The technology

The BYD Atto 3 Evo uses a 15.6in, landscape-oriented touchscreen in the upper dash area to act as home for the bulk of the controls. It doesn’t rotate anymore, unlike earlier BYD cars, which performed that party trick for anyone who realised. The permanent row of touch buttons along its base for core controls worked okay. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were also present and correct.

I was less enamoured by the 8.8in digital driver display, which was a tad too busy and with graphics and icons too small to be of any real use on a run. The steering wheel was similarly average, while the row of plastic buttons that include the ‘Start/Stop’ tab in the middle console felt like they were too far back and not obvious enough. I could live with them, but they didn’t feel that intuitive. 

BYD Atto 3 Evo verdict

I rather liked the BYD Atto 3 Evo, even if it does feel a little too eager for its own good. Although pricing has yet to be revealed, the car is expected to land at less than £40,000 in the UK; that feels about right for what it is. However, there are some great alternative options like the Skoda Elroq and Renault Scenic to name but two.

I think that pair are probably more engaging to drive, although anyone wanting something quicker that’ll get the kids to school on time might beg to differ.

BYD Atto 3 Evo technical specifications

Powertrain	Permanent magnet synchronous motor
Battery	74.8kW
Power	308bhp
Torque	280lb ft
0-60mph	5.5sec
Top speed	112mph
Range	316 miles
Charge rate	220kWh
Cargo volume	490 litres