BYD Atto 3 India Review: Check Specifications, Price And Range Of This New EV Entrant
They are also battery makers with an expertise in EVs and they don't make petrol or diesel cars.
BYD or Build Your Dreams is not just another new entrant but the biggest EV maker in the world and they have surpassed Tesla in terms of EV sales too. They are also battery makers with an expertise in EVs and they don't make petrol or diesel cars. It builds electric everything including buses and trains along with nearly everything else. In India BYD started its innings with the e6 MPV but this is serious, a proper premium SUV called Atto 3. This is their midsize premium SUV which actually slots above the MG ZS and below the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in occupying a sweet spot between the Rs 30-40 lakh mark. But, how good is it? We put it through our road test lens for that.
From the outside, the BYD Atto 3 looks interesting even if it has a subtle hint towards being a crossover. The shape is chiselled and muscular while the rear connecting tail-lamps are particularly attractive. The headlamps are slim and are matched with the blanked off grille while looking closer and the headlamps also have blue detailing. A curved roofline adds a nice touch.
Build quality for one is superb and it feels well built with a solid feeling. The quality of the paint to the build quality feels similar to Rs 50 plus luxury cars. The same applies to the unique interior which is unlike anything else. I mean, you can play guitar strings on the doors to those cool air vents while a button changes the touchscreen to portrait/landscape mode- which other car has that? Then you see those door mounted speakers which look very cool as well. The quality and design is very much a talking point here. The touchscreen itself is slick and stuffed with features/menus including a superb 360 degree camera with a crisp display feed, an in-built dash cam, ADAS technology and more. Elsewhere, there is a panoramic sunroof, dual powered seats, seven airbags, ambient lighting and synthetic leather seats. The instrument cluster is also different but very small in size.
Space at the front is excellent with supportive front bucket seats while the rear seat is just about enough for two passengers due to the length. It's a bit compact there although the boot is fairly large.
There are a lot of technical aspects which need to be understood and that includes the Blade battery and the battery management system, motor and the other electronics are all packaged into one unit. That means being lighter and better packaging. The blade battery also is more durable and safer. The Atto 3 has a front axle electric motor with 204bhp and 310Nm. There is a 60.48kW battery pack and the claimed range is 521km. In traffic the Atto 3 flies off with typical EV performance of instant torque but BYD has calibrated it to be linear. There is no wheelspin or sharp power delivery which would make anyone uncomfortable. It is quick but controlled. Even in Eco mode it's quick enough for city use while Sport typically adds more sharpness. It is plenty fast and smooth. The compact size and the light steering also makes it nimble along with being fun to drive too. Body control is sharp and despite the weight, the all round disc brakes and the tyres give plenty of grip. However, the suspension is clearly tuned to be firm and at low speeds, the potholes thud through and the ride gets better at high speeds.
Most impressive is the range where you will get 400km in the real world with mixed driving and regenerative braking is strong as well. DC fast charging will juice it up in 50 minutes while a 7Kw charger is there for home/office installation.
Price at near Rs 34 lakh, the BYD Atto 3 might seem expensive but it isn't because of its range, performance and the unique interior which sets it apart. The Blade battery tech in terms of safety also makes it one of the best EV SUVs. It feels well built and it stands out while slotting in neatly at a price point not offered by anyone else.
What we like- styling, features, quality, performance, range, battery tech
What we do not like- rear seat space, firm ride
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