2022 BYD Atto 3 Extended vs 2022 MG ZS Essence EV comparison review

MG and BYD are bringing the cost of EV ownership down with offerings like the ZS and Atto 3. Which of these value EVs is the one?

Some will scoff at us describing these $50k cars as cheap, but they are in EV terms, especially after the clean car discount is applied. MG has owned the ‘affordable EV’ space ever since launching its electric ZS and it has sold well. It now faces more competition in the form of the BYD Atto 3, another compact SUV originating from China. 

MG still holds the value ground with its updated ZS but only just. Carryover pricing for the improved offering helps, with the Excite asking $49,990 before the $8625 rebate is applied. The better equipped Essence, featured here, is $53,990. BYD also offers two models, both with the same spec level but differentiated by battery size, the Standard 50kWh model costing $55,490, the Extended 60kWh model $59,990 (on test here). The Standard range Atto 3 is the better comparison for the Essence, both with 50kWh batteries and these will end up being the same price once registered as the MG pricing ‘is drive away’, whereas you need to pay the on road costs for the BYD, (which vary between dealers but expect to pay around $1199). BYD also charges a $750 paint surcharge for colours other than Ski White. MG adds a big warranty with seven years/unlimited kay cover, to BYD’s six year/150,00km.

Only by stepping up to the Essence do you get a comparable fit out to the Atto 3, which comes with a generous amount of kit. On paper they seem similar but the BYD outpoints the MG in key areas. They both have fake leather trim but it’s a more convincing replica in the BYD, softer, and perforated too. The seats themselves offer both superior comfort and support. 

The BYD’s wheel has a better feel to it, complete with more modern controls (the active cruise manipulators situated on the spoke rather than hidden on a column-mounted stalk as they are in the MG). You can sort yourself a better driving position too thanks to the reach adjustment that the MG’s steering wheel lacks. The cabin styling of the Atto 3 (influenced by muscle sinew and gym equipment, we kid you not) is certainly interesting, as is the colour scheme (the off-white inserts are hardly practical) but it offers more padded touch surfaces, better cabin storage and generally more space. The MG is still awash with shiny, hard plastics, while the centre console impinges on leg room in the driver’s footwell. Generally speaking, the quality is better in the BYD.

Being a smidge longer and wider overall, and with a lengthier wheelbase, the Atto 3 offers up more interior space, the back seat a better fit for three, with easier access via larger rear doors. There’s more load area too, fitting the weekly grocery shop without having to double stack the bags as we had to in the MG.   

Most interior functions are handled by the touchscreens, and both systems require some familiarity when it comes to tapping and swiping at them to get things done. Neither is particularly confusing, both quite logically ordered. But the BYD’s system is quicker, brighter and larger. You can also rotate it (pointlessly) to the portrait orientation if you so desire (the kids love that, almost as much as plucking those banjo strings on the door pockets). Both have a 360 degree parking camera, the Atto 3 giving you a crystal clear replication of your surroundings, the ZS a general idea at best, and occasionally it failed to fire into action when we selected R. The MG comes with a smartphone app for some remote functionality, while BYD says it has one coming, along with a suite of connected functionality that will be part of an over-the-air update later in the year. 

Both have a vehicle-to-load function, meaning you can use the car as a power source, though both firms are yet to supply a NZ-spec adaptor for this function (it’s standard on the BYD and an extra cost on the MG). The MG is without a powered tailgate (no biggie) the Atto 3 lacking built-in nav while CarPlay and Android Auto (standard in the MG) are said to be coming in Q4 via an OTA update. Both have a PM2.5 smog filter and a recording function for the front view camera (a bit like having an in-built dash cam). The Atto 3 has a heat pump for added efficiency when it comes to both managing the temperature of the cabin and the battery pack.  

Speaking of the energy store, the ZS now has a new and improved pack utilising a similar lithium-iron phosphate chemistry to the BYD. Compared with other lithium-ion battery tech these are nickel- and cobalt-free, have improved thermal and chemical stability and a longer cycle life. It now has a 50kWh capacity with MG quoting a WLTP range of 320km, up from 263km previously. There’s a new motor offering more power (130kW) while the torque has been reduced from 353Nm to 280Nm. This is actually a good thing; it’s still suitably stroppy but with less wheel slip and torque steer off the mark. 

The Atto 3 Extended with its 60kWh battery has a quoted WLTP range of 420km, while the 50kWh Standard is said to be good for 320km. As for efficiency MG quotes 17kWh/100km, BYD 15.6kWh/100km. And these were very similar to the figures we saw on the trip computer of each machine too. We’ve been in the Atto 3 for a few weeks now and its distance to empty gauge often suggests 470km of potential range when fully charged. Your mileage will differ but for the majority of urban commuters we’d say that both have an excess of range for your daily needs. Even for rural drivers travelling 200km a day these would suffice, though you’ll be needing to install a wallbox at home. Both have a 6.6kW on board charger and, using a wallbox, each will be recharged from near empty to full overnight, while it would take more than 24hrs on the trickle/emergency charger. They both extracted around 23kWh of energy from a 50kW DC charger during their allocated 30mins, and that took the range finder from 60km to 240km in the Atto 3 and from 80km to 225km in the MG.  

The 2022 ZS EV features an exterior makeover, most notable up front with its body-coloured faux grille while the windmill alloys are out, replaced by aero-enhanced items. LED lights are new too. They’ve improved the suspension poise of the ZS EV as well. Where it used to crash into the bumps, it’s now far more compliant. It’s not overly noisy either, the added sound proofing doing its job. It’s more hushed on the move than the Atto 3, though the BYD betters it in most other areas. The Atto 3’s ride is more settled, particularly at the rear where the benefits of a multilink suspension arrangement bear fruit. Its steering assistance is more linear, the MG’s weighting up too much just off centre and with a strong self centring character. The Atto’s rubber isn’t optimised for cornering, whereas the Michelins on the MG help the ZS maintain its cornering line longer. 

Both are competent highway cruisers, the brake regen helping them slow calmly for corners, making for easy progress. Each has enough oomph for the overtake, the more powerful Atto 3 (150kw/310Nm vs 130kW/290Nm) makes up for its added weight (1750kg vs 1610kg), and so performance is relatively equal. Both are front drivers and, when pedalled hard, there is more wheelspin and torque steer to contend with in the Atto 3, especially in its Sport mode.

They are more ideally suited to city life then, with tight turning circles and dimensions that sees them slide easily into car parks. The Atto 3 rides better on city streets, but the MG’s not bad either. That slightly odd steering weighting in the MG can also be felt at urban speeds, while the brake pedal is overly sensitive. The ZS EV offers more brake regen at slower speeds (not quite one pedal driving) though this can be dialled back if it’s not your thing.

And so which one wins? While MG has made worthwhile improvements to the ZS, and managed to keep its price in check, we’d be happier with the BYD. It’s slightly roomier, more competent on road while it has a better interior fit out and quality, even if the styling is fairly funky. Given its efficiency, we’d be okay with the Standard range model, though the availability of the Extended range variant gives buyers the option to roam further.