BYD Atto 2 review

How did the BYD Atto 2 we're reviewing here get its name? Well, the “2” helps identify it as a smaller alternative to the Atto 3 while the "Atto" takes inspiration from one of the smallest measurements of time – the attosecond.

It equates to a quadrillionth of a second – or roughly how long it will take to regret letting your passengers use the Atto 2’s built-in karaoke machine. Other BYDs offer the singalong function too (with an optional microphone accessory), and it's not the only trait the Atto 2 shares with them.

In common with the rest of the Chinese brand's line-up, the Atto 2 is fully electric, its price is likely to pitch it towards the lower end of its class, and it has a tech-filled interior with a swivelling infotainment screen.

This new electric SUV sits between the smaller BYD Dolphin and the bigger Atto 3 and will face competition from the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia EV3, Smart #1 and Vauxhall Frontera Electric.

Does the BYD Atto 2 stand out or are there better options out there? Read on to find out...

At launch, the BYD Atto 2 will be available with a 51.1kWh battery powering a 174bhp electric motor to drive the front wheels. Performance is spritely off the line – the official 0-62mph time of 7.9 seconds attests to the fact that this is a swift car by the standards of small electric SUVs, covering that sprint quicker than many rivals.

It’s a breeze to drive around town, and not just because the electric motor helps you zip away from the lights. It has a tight turning circle, the visibility is fantastic, and even though it doesn’t feature a one-pedal driving mode, the control weights make moving off or stopping the car smoothly simple (unlike with some electric cars).

Still, a jaunt out on a twisty country road will leave you rather uninspired. The Atto 2's steering is very light and lifeless, and the relatively soft suspension set-up further robs any sensation of agility with lot of leaning over while cornering.

It's not a great motorway companion either: the road noise in the interior kicks up a bit of a racket and the ride struggles to settle down, even on smooth roads. Despite the soft set-up, impacts on the suspension feel quite harsh.

As for the range on offer, there are no official figures available at the time of writing. What we do know is that a 45.1kWh version, which will be sold in the rest of Europe but not the UK, has a 194-mile range. It’s reasonable, then, to expect the UK-spec Atto 2 with a 51.1kWh battery to deliver something like 215 miles officially.

True, a Vauxhall Frontera Electric has a 186-mile range, and an entry-level Hyundai Kona Electric will only travel a little further at 234 miles – but the Frontera is a lot cheaper than the Atto 2, a Kona Electric can be had with a much longer range, and even the cheapest version of the Kia EV3 can travel 270 miles.

Remember that official figures for any electric car will be virtually impossible to achieve in real-world driving conditions.

A Comfort trim level will join the Atto 2 line-up later this year, with a bigger battery and a more powerful motor (there are no details yet on the exact specification).

“I like that there are a few drive modes offered by the Atto 2, including Snow. If you want the best straight-line performance, you’ll need it in Sport.” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

While the interiors of other BYD car models have quirky features such as flippers for door handles and dumbbells for gear selectors, the Atto 2 seems to take a more serious approach. There are no such unconventional elements to point out, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Indeed, much more important than novelty design features is the fact that the driving position is very good. There’s electric adjustment for the front seats and you sit higher up than you do in a regular hatchback, although if you want adjustable lumbar support you’ll have to wait for the range-topping Comfort model.

You have a terrific view out of the front of the car all the way down to the nose of the bonnet, plus BYD’s fantastic 360-degree camera set-up is incredibly useful for protecting your alloys and paintwork when squeezing into tight parking spaces.

The interior layout is similar to other BYD car models. You get an 8.8in digital driver's display and a 12.8in touchscreen that can swivel between portrait and landscape lay-outs (although unfortunately it can’t run smartphone mirroring in portrait mode).

It uses BYD’s latest infotainment software (which will be delivered to all other models in an over-the-air update). The response time is snappy and the screen's graphics are crisp. Plus there's a helpful bar along the bottom of the touchscreen permanently displaying climate controls and configurable shortcut buttons. It’s just a shame the icons are small and can be tricky to hit while you're driving.

It’s also disappointing that there are no physical controls to adjust the temperature or fan speed – because poking at a touchscreen is far more distracting than twiddling a dial or pushing an easy-to-find button.

If you prod three fingers together anywhere on the touchscreen then swipe them up or down, it increases or decreases the temperature, while a three-finger swipe side-to-side lets you change the fan speed. That's good as far as touchscreen-only climate controls go but physical buttons would still be far less distracting.

When it comes to build quality, and fit and finish, the Atto 2’s interior – which is available in black or white colour schemes – is decent by electric SUV standards. Much of the dashboard is covered in soft-touch materials, and while it doesn’t feel amazingly plush to the touch, it’s a step up in quality from the rock hard, cheap-feeling interior of the Vauxhall Frontera Electric.

“Would I spend more than £100 for the optional microphone accessory required to use the infotainment’s karaoke function? No. YouTube and Spotify are available through the infotainment system for free to help kill time while waiting for a charge.” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

There’s lots of storage space up front in the BYD Atto 2, including two cup holders, a wireless phone-charging tray, a large compartment under the padded central armrest and another open compartment underneath the centre console.

The rear seats are very impressive for a small electric SUV. Six-foot adults will sit there very comfortably, with lots of leg and head room available, and the large windows and standard panoramic sunroof let in a lot of light.

There's quite a big bulge in the seatback of the middle seat, which isn’t as comfortable as the outer two seats to sit in, but the flat floor means there’s at least good space for feet even with three adults back there.

The Atto 2 has a 400-litre boot, which is not among the biggest boots but still pretty impressive by class standards. It's more than you get in the Smart #1 (273 litres) and Jeep Avenger Electric (355 litres) but the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia EV3 and Vauxhall Frontera Electric offer more storage (around 460 litres).

The boot also features a few handy features. For example, a height-adjustable boot floor comes as standard. In its highest setting it leaves you with a generous amount of space under the boot floor (a good spot for the charging cable) and means there’s virtually no loading lip. The rear seats split and fold down in a 60/40 split, with no step up in the extended boot floor.

With the boot floor in its lowest position it opens up the full 400 litres in one area. There are also a couple of hooks in the back for shopping bags, and some storage compartments either side of the entrance.

“I think it’s a shame when electric cars don’t have a front boot. When you open up the front of the Atto 2 you can see some electrical gubbins and what looks like plenty of space for an extra compartment, but no storage area.” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

We don’t know exact pricing yet for the BYD Atto 2, but it’s likely it will cost around £30,000 when it goes on sale. If it does, it will be towards the lower end of the price range for an electric SUV. It won't be the cheapest option (a Vauxhall Frontera Electric costs thousands less) but should still undercut plenty of rivals.

It’s also very well equipped. In the UK at launch the Atto 2 will only be available in Boost trim (other European markets will get a lower spec called Active), with 17in alloy wheels, LED lights, a 360-degree camera, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. You also get a generous six-year warranty.

A higher trim level, Comfort, will join the line-up later, with a bigger battery and a more powerful electric motor. It's likely to bring some extra equipment too – specifications and pricing will be confirmed closer to its arrival.

The Atto 2's charging speeds and times are not particularly impressive. The maximum charging rate of 60kW means a 10-80% top up takes around 37 minutes. Most rivals accept a rate of 100kW so will top up much quicker.

Like some other electric SUVs, the Atto 2 offers Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality which essentially lets you use the charging port as a three-pin plug to power things like a laptop charger or a kettle. On Boost trim you’ll need to pay extra to get the adaptor for it (it’s likely Comfort will get it as standard).

It’s worth noting that the Atto 2 gets an EV heat pump as standard to help heat the interior more efficiently in cold conditions. That's a costly extra on lots of rivals.

The Atto 2 hasn’t been tested by crash safety experts Euro NCAP yet, but it comes with lots of safety equipment as standard, which includes blind-spot monitoring as well as adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assistance.

“I think it’s great that a relatively new brand to the UK offers such a long warranty as standard.” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

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