BYD Atto 2 - the perfect first electric SUV for Aussie families?
This cracking new car could be the perfect vehicle for millions of Aussies, if it wasn’t for one major issue.
This could be the perfect first electric SUV for families in Australia.
It’s the BYD Atto 2 – one of the most inoffensive new EVs on the market, and the price is anything but offensive.
It starts at just $31,990 plus on-roads (about $34,700 drive-away) for the base model Dynamic and tops out at $35,990 plus on-roads (or $38,900 drive-away) for the top-spec Premium.
The two share the same powertrain and battery set-up.
It’s a simple proposition: front motor with 130kW/290Nm, front-wheel-drive, and a decent 51kWh battery with up to 345km of combined driving range. And there it is. The proverbial elephant in the room.
For urban drivers, this amount of range won’t be an issue. Some people might only need to charge it up every fortnight. Other satellite suburbanites might have to think about the realities, because 345km isn’t as much range as you could get if you spent more.
But. Again. The price.
So, what are you getting for the money? The base car doesn’t skimp, with full LED lighting, 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, fake leather trim, manual front seat adjustment, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio, sat nav, over-the-air software updates, single-zone climate control and a heat pump for better cold-weather efficiency.
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For the cost of a few sacrificed takeaway coffees a week, you could upgrade to the Premium, which adds 17-inch alloy wheels with better Hankook tyres (Westlake rubber on the base), a big panoramic glass roof, roof rails, power-folding mirrors, and inside it gets a bigger 12.8-inch touchscreen, a wireless phone charger, eight-speaker stereo (up from four), and it gets electric front seat adjustment with heating and ventilation.
The interior is very comfortable and easy to get used to. It feels pretty special for the money, considering it costs less than a Yaris Cross and feels about 100 times nicer.
The biggest issue may be the under-thigh support for taller drivers, but there’s otherwise a lot of space on offer, and the seats are comfortable. Visibility for the driver is good, and in the high-grade model you get a surround-view camera system with front and rear sensors (just rear camera and back sensors in the base).
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The screens are easy to learn, the controls are logical, and there are some physical controls for volume and drive modes, among others. Honestly, it all works really well, and there’s good storage up front and in the back, including bottle holders in the doors and a set of multi-pockets on the seat backs.
Rear seat space is better than you’d think for a 4.3m-long car, with its boxy body offering lots of headroom. There are ISOFIX points and three top-tethers for little kids, too, but annoyingly only one directional vent in the back.
As for the drive experience, this is a competent and enjoyable little city EV commuter car. It isn’t just good at being small and nimble, though - it also does the job at freeway speed, with a competent and comfortable ride and predictable steering.
It never feels short of grunt, and hustles along with ease. There are different drive modes to choose from, and a few different steering modes and regen braking settings, but there’s no proper “one-pedal” driving system, if that matters. The brake feel is good, and it stops, starts and steers very predictably.
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Even the safety technology works a treat, for the most part.
It hasn’t got any safety rating just yet, but there’s a host of active tech, including speed sign recognition and smart cruise control that can do a bit of stopping, starting and steering for you.
The brand offers six-years and 150,000km of new-car warranty, and an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty. Five years of roadside assistance is included.
This little electric SUV is budget-friendly. It’s also driver- and passenger-friendly, and is easily one of the most agreeable newcomers in the electrified crossover segment.
Originally published as BYD Atto 2 - the perfect first electric SUV for Aussie families?
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