BYD ATTO 2 review

Driving position 

The BYD ATTO 2 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, even for the rear window. But, one quirk can be found with the seats, and is present on many other new cars today – the lack of an adjustable headrest, as it’s all one piece.  

It doesn’t detract from the driving experience but can feel strange to newcomers. 

Tech and features 

BYD ATTO 2 trims 

–  Boost 

– Comfort 

BYD likes to keep things simple with just two trim levels. The entry-level model (and our test car) is the Boost trim.  

In tech terms, this gets you an 8.8-inch digital driver’s display, a 12.8-inch central screen, a heated steering wheel and front seats, a 360-degree camera, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a panoramic glass sunroof and a wireless phone charger. 

Hardly short of tech from the get-go, is it? 

Step up to the Comfort trim, and this adds driver seat lumbar support, electrically folding door mirrors and rear privacy glass. 

So really, the base car comes with everything you’d want from a tech perspective. The real differences can be found in the driving and range departments. 

Electric motors and power 

BYD ATTO 2 performance stats 

• Power: 177hp or 203hp 

• 0-62mph: 7.9 seconds 

• Top speed: 99mph 

• Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive (FWD) 

With the two trims on offer, there are also two different power outputs available. Boost models get 177hp, whereas Comfort cars get 203hp. 

In reality, there isn’t a huge difference between these two power outputs, because the 0-62mph time is 7.9 seconds regardless due to the extra weight of the bigger battery offsetting the power increase it gets. 

All versions are front-wheel drive, but they don’t necessarily feel it in day-to-day driving. Load the front wheels around a bend, and they’ll grapple for grip, but it’s far more composed than many of its rivals. 

Around town, there’s plenty of poke from the electric motor, thanks to its instant torque and silent driving. 

Even when you get up to speed, it handles motorway speeds and overtaking with ease. You hear a bit of motor whine at higher speeds, but if anything, it’s reassuring, like when you hear a petrol engine. 

Handling and ride comfort 

On everyday roads, the ATTO 2 has a generally comfortable and compliant ride, helped by its compact dimensions and soft suspension tuning.  

It handles the UK’s rougher roads pretty well. We prefer the ride in the Kia EV3, and that has larger wheels too, which should make it ride a little firmer. 

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 boot space: 

• Boot space: 400 litres 

• Incl. Rear seats folded: 1,340 litres 

• Front boot (froot): N/A 

The ATTO 2 has a 400-litre boot, with extra storage underneath to store the charging cables, etc. 

Fold down the rear seats, and this grows to 1,340 litres, which is plenty of space for longer items you need to transport around. 

By comparison, the Kia EV3 has a 460-litre boot, and the Ford Puma Gen-E has 523 litres, putting them ahead of the BYD. 

Rear seats 

There’s surprisingly generous rear‑seat space for a compact SUV. You certainly get enough legroom and headroom for grown adults, making it comfortable even on longer trips. 

The cabin benefits from BYD’s packaging, including a slim battery floor, which helps give rear passengers better legroom and foot space than you might expect in a small EV.  

This contributes to an airy, open feel in the back, despite the car’s modest exterior size. The panoramic sunroof helps here. 

Storage solutions 

There’s a decent amount of storage in the ATTO 2, especially in the front. 

You’ll find storage space under the central armrest, in the doors, glovebox and under the infotainment screen. 

Considering its size, there’s plenty to work with. 

BYD ATTO 2 dimensions 

• Height: 1,675mm 

• Width: 2,060mm (incl. mirrors) 

• Length: 4,310mm 

• Kerb weight: Up to 1,720kg 

Safety 

At the time of writing, the BYD ATTO 2 hasn’t been independently tested by Euro NCAP, but other BYDs have performed well, so we don’t doubt this one will too. 

We say this because it has a wide range of ADAS assistance features that can be accessed quickly using a swipe‑down shortcut menu on the infotainment system to disable if you please.  

This includes driver monitoring, lane‑keep assist and speed alerts.  

BYD ATTO 2: electric range, battery and charging 

Range: 214-267 miles 

Battery size: 51.1kWh to 64.8kWh 

Max charging speed: 82kW-155kW 

Charge port location: Front right 

Charge time (AC): 0-100% in less than 10 hours using a 7kW charger 

Charge time (DC): 10-80% in 25 minutes (155kW) 

Efficiency: 3.6mi/kWh 

Charging cost: From £3.50 

The electric range, charging speeds and battery sizes massively depend on which trim you go for. 

The Boost trim has a 51.1kWh battery, which is good for up to 214 miles of range. It can charge at up to 82kW, which means you’ll see a 10-80% charge in 38 minutes. 

Opt for the top-spec Comfort trim, and you get a larger 64.8kWh battery with 267 miles of range and faster charging speeds up to 155kW, good for 10-80% in 25 minutes. 

In our test, we found the ATTO 2 to stay true to its claimed efficiency of 3.6mi/kWh, even in colder climates on motorway journeys.  

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.