2022 BYD Atto 3 Extended Range long-term review

It was only a matter of time before something came along to give the MG ZS EV a run for its money. BYD is short for Build Your Dreams, as you’ll no doubt have seen from the reminder on the tailgate of the Atto 3. One word looks okay, three like a story. Just saying; BYD might have been better, but then you’d be forever explaining what it meant. 

Still, there’s not much that’s off about this new electric entrant either. Certainly, there’s not enough to stop you giving the Atto 3 serious consideration if this is your first foray into EVs. Except perhaps a recent price rise after the initial roll out, up $3k to $55,990 for the base model and an increase of $2k for the Extended model you see here. Price rises reflect our dwindling dollar apparently.

Local BYD distributors, Ateco, have already delivered 500 examples of the Atto 3, all of the $60k ‘Extended’ model you see here. With a 60kWh battery, it offers 420km of WLTP range when fully juiced. The smaller one, arriving soon, has a 50kWh capacity pack (345km WLTP). Both are eligible for the full EV rebate of $8625.

This is another company that is going large on lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry. It’s said to be safer, has a longer cycle life of at least 3000 charges, and so it should easily outlast its six-year/180,000km battery pack warranty. 

It runs down in reassuringly slow fashion too, especially if you drive it normally. An overnight refill every other day on the emergency charger is more than sufficient for town running which uses about 15kWh per 100km, while more spirited driving will see it just break the 20kWh barrier. An easy-going Friday evening 120km trip up north amongst traffic saw the battery state fall from full to 70 per cent. On the quieter return trip we drove with active cruise set higher and it went through 35 per cent of charge in 106km. The emergency charger takes an extended overnight session to recoup that amount.

Inside, this looks like it comes from the future, where there are wave-like folds in the soft plastics, and red strings on the door that twang musically. Internal door handles are rotary, easy to grip and use. The 12.8-inch touchscreen has a party trick that reminds of the ZZ Top rotating guitar concept, except that the screen can only spin 90 degrees between horizontal and vertical. We preferred horizontal and left it at that. Because of screen size and resolution, and the 360-degree camera, you’ve no excuse for backing into anything. 

There’s leatherette upholstery for the comfy seats which are powered and heated, a smart key, and a wireless phone charger. CarPlay and Android Auto are coming, via an over-the-air update. One recent update added both Spotify and sat nav to the infotainment system. A lack of lumbar adjust isn’t missed; the seats are nicely shaped and there are soft brace points for both knees.

This is bigger than the MG ZS and has more occupant if not boot space (440-1340L), the latter with a variable height floor. We managed to slot a computer station in the back which just fitted after split folding, and shows the convenience of this type of vehicle. 

While most minor functions are relegated to touchscreen control, drive modes are on one button and regen levels on another. Even on the maximum setting this is scarcely a one-pedal driver, at least in town, but at open road speeds it slows the vehicle sufficiently for all but really tight corners.

One odd aspect is the radio, muted at start up so you have to touch the main screen in the radio area whereupon it unmutes, or hit the mode button on the steering wheel. 

Dynamically it rates a pass, the ride rather agreeable. That probably has something to do with its multilink rear end. It manages its 1750kg weight nicely, with roll well contained but the steering is hardly of the alive variety. Still, the tiller is lightweight and the turning circle decent at 10.7m

 We like its wee motorcycle-like main instrument that tells you all you need to know, and the completely flat floor in the rear, making the third occupant feel better about life. Easy entry/exit and extended doors that cover the sills to stop filth getting on your pants are appreciated too. A vehicle-to-load adapter is coming for charging items and so too a tow bar, though the max rating is 750kg. Lest we forget, a PM2.5 filter is standard, great for those super-polluted city days when all the ICE-powered cars are about. Only the readings were identical when we were out in the country so go figure.

Downsides? You need to hold your finger on the door handle touch pad a little longer than normal for the central locking and unlocking. The dash had a minor buzz in our car. The Missus reckoned she didn’t much like how it whined at slow speeds. I told her…never mind. If you’re doing over what the traffic sign recognition suggests it flashes annoyingly. And the emergency charger takes a while to do its thing. You can buy a 7kW wallbox from BYD that rezips the battery three times faster. And finally there’s a six-year warranty for back-up.

Perhaps the best bit about this vehicle is its Blade battery tech, which has key safety advantages over conventional lithium-ion cells and is said to last for over 1.2million kilometres, which should be enough.