- BYD stands for Build Your Dreams, world's largest EV manufacturer
- Atto 3 is second passenger EV for India (E6 being the first)
- Rs 34 lakh (ex-showroom), deliveries from Jan'23, one version on offer
Pros: What We Like!
- Comes with certified range of 521km. Real world 425km easily possible
- Unique features include rotating central screen
- Full ADAS suite
- 7 Airbags, 5 star NCAP rating
- Claimed 0-100 in just 7.3 seconds
- Flat rear floor, ample space for large adults at the back
- Funky and modern interiors
- Quirky elements like door pad strings, unique door opening inner handle, front seat design, gear lever etc
- Sporty 18-inch alloys, 'connected' lights at both ends
Cons: What We Don't!
- BYD brand is relatively unknown in India
- Rs 34 lakh ex-showroom is Rs 7.5 lakh more than ZS EV top-end version
- Limited network in India
- Slight lag in acceleration input once pedal is pressed
- Bigger undulations / broken roads felt easily
- Missing features - ventilated seats for example
Who is BYD?
- Founded in China in 1995, world's largest EV maker
- Selling e-buses in India for years, launched E6 MPV last year
- Owns entire eco-system required to make an EV!
BYD or Build Your Dreams is a Chinese company that is currently involved in various industries including mobile phone parts, battery solutions and electric vehicles. They have been in existence since 1995 and entered the Indian market decades ago. They have in-house expertise for the entire eco system required to make an electric car. This includes the EV platform, batteries, motor and even semi conductors. BYD is present in 6 continents and is already selling e-buses to state transport authorities for years now. So yes, while they remain a relatively unknown brand in India, they do know the EV business pretty well and launched their first passenger EV for India last year - the E6.
What is the Atto 3 all about
- This is the 2nd Gen Yuan model
- Not made in India, but assembled here
- One version on sale. Scores high on features & range
One of the newest model updates to have come out of BYD's manufacturing facility is the Atto 3. It is also sold as the Yuan Plus internationally. Why 'plus'? Well, the original Yuan was launched way back in 2016 and got updates over the years with the latest one coming in July 2021 - this one got the 'plus' bading. It is a full electric vehicle based on a proper EV platform and is currently imported into India and assembled here. No, is it not made-in-India (yet) and also one of the reasons why it remains an expensive purchase. This is a 5 seater cross-over that aims to attract consumers with its battery tech (safest in the world), driving range, safety aids and a long list of features.
BYD Atto 3 Exteriors
- Longer than Kona & ZS EV
- Funky 18 inch alloys - eye magnet!
- Sleek DRLs all around
The Atto 3 is a smart looking electric car, if not radical or future ready. In terms of foot-print, it is longer than its main rivals (even if cheaper) that include the Hyundai Kona and the MG ZS EV. The front is characterised by the slim headlights and a rather sporty bumper design. No fog lamps here and we have seen happening in a lot newer models in India. There is a slim chrome grille coming in here with BYD branding on it.
The side profile is dominated by the rather sporty 18-inch alloy wheels that are certainly a big highlight in my opinion. These ride on Atlas 'Batman' tyres and these surely could be a reason for a light laugh during an owner's ownership tenure. By the way, the Atto 3 does not come with a spare wheel. What you get instead is a puncture repair kit along with a tyre inflator. No, not even a space saver tyre here. The side profile also showcases that this isn't a tall SUV to speak about. The roof tapers towards the rear and shoulder line goes up North from front to rear. The C pillar is broken well with the usage of a silver plastic body panel.
It is the rear of the BYD Atto 3 that looks the best. You have 'connected' lights here, running across the width of the crossover. The indicators look cool and so does the 'Build Your Dreams' branding. There is only one version to pick from and it is fully loaded including a shark fin antenna, panoramic sunroof, a big spoiler and a rear wiper. The bumper (like the front one) is devoid of any lights or LEDs.
All in all, the BYD Atto 3 is a pleasant looking EV, if not radical or boring. You can pick the Atto 3 from four colour options of grey, white, red and blue.
BYD Atto 3 Interiors
- Segment unique / first features including rotating screen
- Ample wow factors like A/C vents, gear lever etc
- Good space at the back + a flat floor
Even before you step inside the Atto 3, the first view of the cabin leaves you impressed. The one piece seats look right out of a racing car, the unconventional design for the gear lever looks futuristic and this EV has a lot of party tricks in store for you. Usage of light colours on the inside makes the cabin feel airy but the same panels will be a dirt magnet in India conditions. However remember, this is not a made in India car but is assembled here and hence we get the same materials as we see for international markets.
Getting into the driver's seat is easy - however the little LCD speedometer console would be better off on a Sportsbike than in a car. That said, the other screen in the centre is huge and can be rotated between vertical and horizontal orientation - this on the move as well. The seats are supportive and there is ample headroom for a 6 feet tall person as well. Between the front two seats is the aircraft inspired gear lever and other functional buttons including start-stop feature. The air-con vent design is again something that is radical and showcases that BYD isn't shying away from being bold in its design philosophy.
Likewise, the door handles are unique and so are the red strings on the lower part of the door pads. These not only look oh-so-cool but can also be played in sync with other passengers to create their own unique tune on the move!
Space in the 2nd row is impressive. As the Atto 3 is built on a proper EV platform, the floor is flat and helps liberate more space for everyone. With the front seat positioned for a 6 feet tall driver, space at the back for an equally tall passenger is good. There is still about 3-4 inches of knee room left along with some amount of head room too. The same air-con vent design is seen here too - ditto for the door handles and the red 'tune' strings!
There are a few shortcomings though. For the front passengers, accessing the USB or C-type ports is a task. Likewise, the one piece wide front seats somewhat hamper visibility for rear passengers. That said, the Atto 3 makes it up by offering a sizeable amount of boot space at the back
BYD Atto 3 Features
- Unique feature for a sub 35 lakh car
- However, there are a lot of misses too
- Thankfully, safety has been given top priority
The likes of MG ZS EV and updated Tata Nexon Max have spoiled us Indians when it comes to features in an electric car. The Atto 3 is no different and aims to raise the bar further up. From a panoramic sunroof to power tail gate, heated outside mirrors to powered front seats, you also get seven airbags, full ADAS suite and an excellent 360 degree camera. The central display as it is offers high resolution and can be rotated on the move. Atto 3 also offers TPMS or tyre pressure monitoring system, wireless charging, a PM 2.5 filter and NFC card functionality for accessing the vehicle.
The ADAS kit includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency brakes, blind spot monitoring, lane assist et al to name a few. However, at the same time, be ready to be surprised. This new age EV does not offer wireless Android Auto or CarPlay. This is something SUVs costing half the money offer with the Brezza being the latest one to get it. Likewise, although the outside mirrors are heated (helps in winters and monsoons), the seat are not ventilated. How could BYD miss out on this?
One really useful and practical optional feature is the vehicle to load mobile power station. With this, you can use the Atto 3's battery juice to power up accessories like electrical appliances, coffee machines etc. The system supports power up to 3.3 kW.
BYD Atto 3 Powertrain
- Electric motor offers 200 bhp / 310 Nm
- Claimed 0-100 in 7.3 seconds
- 60.48 kWh battery ensures 521km range
The talking point of the set-up here is the technology used for the 60.48 kWh battery pack. These are the latest BLADE batteries that are said to be the safest among all technologies used in the world. Infact, news out is that even Tesla might end up using this new tech from BYD soon. The battery packs can also witness the infamous nail penetration test and can endure the weight of a 46 ton loaded truck passing over them. This pack, when fully charged, will offer as much as 521km as per ARAI certification. During our drive around Chennai, with a mix pattern, acceleration runs, leaving the car on with air-con running etc, the display registered an easy 4km per 1% of battery charge. This makes us understand that the Atto 3 will easily do over 400km on a regular basis. The battery supports fast charging.
The Atto 3 offers three modes of Eco, Normal and Sport. Frankly, the response from the right pedal isnt' instantaneous. There is a tiny fraction of a second lag before the instant punch comes in and post that, this BYD flies and garners speeds at a very rapid pace. Thankfully you have the reassurance of all four discs around. Eco mode is something that should be best left to a chauffeur.
One thing that is both amusing and sci-fi is the futuristic sound tone that can be switched on from the screen. This emits out from the speakers once you are on the move and can take your passenger by a surprise.
BYD Atto 3 Ride & Handling
- Neutral ride & handling manners
- Comfortable inspite of 18 inch alloys
- Light controls make it a good urban car
The BYD Atto 3 isn't a sport SUV or an EV that enthusiast's will love to pilot. Yes, outright acceleration is terrific but the dynamics don't seem to be in a mood to support the performance part. Don't get me wrong, the Atto 3 is an easy to drive EV with the suspension set up doing a great job in filtering out undulations. This inspite of 18 inch alloys with relatively low profile tyres. And even though the battery pack is in the floor and keeps the centre of gravity low, changing lanes enthusiastically does reflect in ample body roll. This isn't very encouraging and keeps you away from grinning moments. Want a fun to drive e-SUV? Look at the more expensive XC40 Recharge instead.
That said, light controls and excellent visibility make this a very good all rounder and an urban vehicle. You can easily chew up miles or keep up with fast moving traffic and adjust the regen levels as per your choice from the toggle button under the gear lever. It's only when you drive through bigger pot holes or wider cement joints on a flyover is when the ride starts becoming uncomfortable. Also, our test car no 6 had a fair bit wind noise creeping in front driver side window at anything over 75 km/h.
BYD Atto 3 Rivals
The Atto 3 is a premium mid-size electric SUV (crossover actually) that sits above the likes of the Hyundai Kona and the MG ZS EV. These are currently priced at Rs 24 and Rs 26.6 lakh respectively. The Atto 3 on the other hand carries a sticker price of Rs 34 lakh. All these are ex-showroom Delhi. Its own MPV cousin, the E6 is priced at Rs 29.15 lakh. The next e-SUV in India in terms of pricing is the Volvo XC40 recharge but that carries a price tag of 56.90 lakh.
So apart from the ZS EV and Kona, the Atto 3 does not really have rivals. Hyundai is still selling the older gen Kona here and if can get the newer update for under Rs 30 lakh, it will be a good competition for the Atto 3.
Verdict
Leave the 'unknown' brand name aside and the Atto 3 EV comes across as a great all-rounder. Its supremely safe too!
BYD has everything going in favour of the Atto 3. It claims to have received 1500 confirmed bookings and deliveries are slated to start next month (Jan 2023). While the Chinese origins might not be of a big bother (as we have seen with MG) what the company will have to work hard and overtime will be on its global presence. I'm assuming the upcoming Auto Expo in Jan 2023 is where BYD will come prepared in overdrive mode! For now, for most Indians, this brand name is new. But for those who know the company's past and current abilities, the Atto 3 can be a serious contender as your next EV. I just wish it was Rs 4-6 lakh cheaper.
BYD Atto 3 Video
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