BYD ATTO 2 DM-i review

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Driving position 

The BYD ATTO 2 DM-i has a large amount of adjustability in the driving position, making it incredibly easy to get comfortable in.  

We usually find with electric cars that the seat just doesn’t go low enough for drivers above six feet, but in the ATTO 2, this wasn’t a problem.  

In fact, we didn’t even sit as low as it would go, and that’s rare.  

It's really very spacious, and there’s lots of visibility – especially out the rear window.  

Tech and features 

BYD ATTO 2 DM-i trims 

– Active 

– Boost 

BYD likes to keep things simple with just two trim levels: Active and Boost, the latter of which was our test car’s specification.   

All versions come with an 8.8-inch digital driver’s display, a 12.8-inch central screen, a reversing camera and sensors, a Google-based infotainment system and a wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Upgrade to the Boost trim, and you get a high-quality vegan leather interior, a panoramic sunroof with an electric sunshade, heated front seats and steering wheel, a 50W wireless phone charger, as well as some powertrain improvements, which we’ll get onto later. 

In this instance, we’d recommend upgrading to the better-equipped Boost trim because you’re getting the whole kitchen sink thrown at a car that’s still less than £30,000 brand new. 

Engines and power 

BYD ATTO 2 DM-i performance stats 

– Power: 165hp to 212hp 

– 0-62mph: 7.5 to 9.1 seconds 

– Top speed: 111mph 

– Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive (FWD) 

In the same way the trims affect spec, they also influence how much power each car has. 

Both versions are powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine mated with two electric motors to drive the front wheels, but the entry-level Active produces 165hp, whereas the Boost gets 212hp – a lot for a car in this class. 

The same goes for 0-62mph times, which are 9.1 and 7.5 seconds, respectively. 

 We’ve driven the all-electric ATTO 2 before this plug-in hybrid and can safely say they both have plenty of poke.  

The ATTO 2 DM-i Boost, with its 47 extra horsepower, is by far the better pick if you tend to do a lot of motorway miles or just need something with a bit more grunt for overtaking. 

Around town and at most speeds (provided there’s juice in the battery), the ATTO 2 will drive quite happily in EV mode, unless you really stamp on the accelerator.  

This is great, and a good chance to rely on the Boost’s 55-mile electric-only range, because you know that even when that’s depleted, you can rely on the engine to take you the rest of the way. 

We spent a fair amount of time on fast A roads and motorways, and we’re glad to report that it feels very refined and never felt sluggish – a lot like the ATTO 2 EV we drove a few months ago. 

Handling and ride comfort 

The ATTO 2’s ride is generally good, though it isn’t as refined as, say, a Kia EV3 or Škoda Elroq.  

It’s supple most of the time but can get unsettled on harsher British roads (of which we have a lot), so a small suspension setup change is all that’s needed for it to ride better on our rubbish road surfaces. 

This is probably more a reflection on our tarmac than BYD’s car, but other vehicles do just take it on the chin a bit better. 

Road noise is kept to a minimum, but a bit of wind noise can creep in from the door mirrors at 70mph.  

The steering is light, making parking and city manoeuvres easy, but it doesn’t deliver much feedback. We didn’t expect an electric SUV to offer much in the way of driving dynamics and feel, so this is about right for this class of car. 

Boot space 

BYD ATTO 2 DM-i boot space:  

– Boot space: 425 litres 

– Incl. rear seats folded: 1,335 litres 

The ATTO 2 DM-i has a 425-litre boot, with extra storage underneath to store the charging cables, etc.  

By comparison, the Ford Puma has 456 litres and the Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid gets 321 litres.  But let's not forget, neither of these have to carry around the battery for a plug-in hybrid system, so extra props to the BYD. 

Fold down the rear seats, and the ATTO’s space grows to 1,335 litres, which is plenty of space for longer items you need to transport around.  

Rear seats 

Considering how small the car is, there’s tonnes of space in the back. 

There’s certainly enough legroom and headroom for grown adults, making it comfortable even on longer trips.  

The cabin benefits from BYD’s clever packaging, which miraculously means no transmission tunnel hump in the way of the middle passenger’s foot space – this is very rare to find in a non-EV. 

Storage solutions 

Inside the cabin, BYD utilises a split-level design to squeeze out extra room for your daily essentials.  

By moving the gear selector to the steering column, they freed up a massive open storage bridge underneath the centre console, which is perfect for storing a handbag, tablets or charging cables.  

The top level of the console features a wireless smartphone charging pad, two large cupholders and a deep storage bin beneath the armrest.  

You also get deep door pockets that easily hold large water bottles and a dedicated overhead sunglasses holder. 

BYD ATTO 2 DM-i dimensions  

– Height: 1,675mm 

– Width: 1,830mm 

– Length: 4,330mm 

– Kerb weight: 1,510kg (Active), 1,620kg (Boost) 

Safety 

What’s clever about the BYD ATTO 2 DM-i is that it uses advanced structural engineering and smart tech to maximise safety.  

Built with Cell-to-Body architecture, its ultra-rigid Blade Battery is welded directly into the car's frame. This turns the battery into a core structural shield that dramatically increases body strength and protects the cabin in the event of a big shunt. 

Inside, passive crash protection includes six standard airbags – dual front, front side and full-length side curtain airbags.  

Families benefit from standard ISOFIX and i-Size child-seat anchor points on the outer rear seats and the front passenger seat.  

Additionally, the seatbelts use advanced pretensioners and force limiters to minimise belt-inflicted injuries during a sudden stop. 

Active safety is managed by an Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) that uses radar and cameras to prevent accidents. It includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward and Rear Collision Warnings, Blind Spot Detection and Emergency Lane Keeping Assist.  

A built-in Driver Monitoring System also tracks the driver to alert them if they show signs of fatigue or distraction. 

Finally, navigating tight spaces is made easy with visibility tools like a 360-degree panoramic camera that eliminates blind spots.  

This setup works alongside Rear Cross Traffic Alert with automatic braking, which can automatically stop the car if a pedestrian, cyclist or vehicle unexpectedly crosses behind you while you are reversing. 

Fuel economy 

There are two different trims, which, apart from spec, vary in fuel efficiency and range too. 

The base Active version has a small 7.8kWh battery pack that offers an electric range of 24 miles. This isn’t massive, and may not suit those whose commute is a little longer. 

That’s where the Boost trim steps in with a larger 18kWh power pack and a much more useful 55-mile EV range and combined range of 621 miles – enough to get from London to Inverness without refuelling. 

BYD claims it’ll return 55mpg, and in our test over a 200-mile test route on mixed roads, we averaged above 65mpg for most of the drive.  

But as with any PHEV, fuel economy depends on the charge of your battery and the length of your trip, but charge frequently to use the least amount of petrol. 

Reliability 

BYD is still a relatively new car brand in the UK, so long-term reliability is still unknown. But from what we do know, they’re holding up very well indeed.  

From new, every BYD gets a six-year/93,750-mile warranty followed by an eight-year/155,350-mile one for the battery pack.