Fancy a family car at SUV prices, but with supercar performance? Chinese giant BYD has delivered just that with its new electric ATTO 3 EVO.
It’s a decent looking, comfortable sports utility vehicle riding on 18 in wheels – but a real wolf in sheep’s clothing which can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in under four seconds.
That bonkers performance is roughly on a par with a standard Porsche 911 Carrera. It seemed fitting, then, that I began my test drive at the Porche-centric Boxengasse events venue, near Bicester.
Bosses at the world’s biggest electric car maker say the five-seater ATTO 3 EVO is a ‘significant technical update’, coming just three years on from the launch of the original model.
Impressed: Ray with the zippy Chinese BYD electric ATTO 3 EVO, which can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in under four seconds
But things move so fast in China that as this second-generation ATTO 3 EVO model arrives in UK showrooms, BYD has unveiled its third-generation successor at the Beijing Auto Show this week, due here late next year or early 2028.
BYD said it has responded to feedback from customers and significantly improved ATTO 3’s range, charging speeds, performance and practicality to make the new version ‘bigger, faster, smarter’. To that end, engineers have switched the SUV to a choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The previous version was front-wheel drive only.
Two motor options are available and I drove both: Design, priced from £38,990, and Excellence from £42,730. Design uses a single 309bhp rear-wheel drive motor to propel the car from rest to 62mph in a sprightly 5.5 seconds, up to a top speed of 111mph.
Bosses at the world’s biggest electric car maker say the five-seater ATTO 3 EVO is a ‘significant technical update’
Standard equipment includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen with integrated Google functions
The vehicle’s super-structure and rear suspension have been revamped
Exterior design tweaks are ‘evolutionary’ rather than revolutionary, with a new wheel design and refinements to the bumpers, side skirts and rear spoiler
Boot capacity is increased by 50 litres to 490 litres (1,360 with seats down), and there’s a new 95-litre front trunk or ‘frunk’.
But Excellence, which adds a motor on the front axle, boosts power output to 443bhp and cuts the 0 to 62mph time to a scintillating 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 124mph. But, other than bragging rights, is that really necessary for the school run or shopping trips to the supermarket?
Officially, BYD stands for ‘Build Your Dreams’ – but perhaps that should be amended to ‘Beware Your Driving licence’. For longer trips, increasing the ATTO 3 EVO’s battery by 14.4kWh to 74.8 does help extend range from 261 miles to 292 miles for Excellence, and up to 316 miles for Design.
The 220kW charging speed also doubles the maximum rate possible in the outgoing car – with a recharge to 80 per cent achievable in 25 minutes, says BYD.
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Standard equipment on both trim levels includes a 15.6-inch touchscreen with integrated Google functions, rear privacy glass, wireless smartphone charging, parking sensors, heated and electrically adjustable front seats and ambient lighting. Excellence adds a head-up display, heated rear seats and a huge sunroof.
Boot capacity is increased by 50 litres to 490 litres (1,360 with seats down), and there’s a new 95-litre front trunk or ‘frunk’.
The vehicle’s super-structure and rear suspension have also been revamped.
Exterior design tweaks are ‘evolutionary’ rather than revolutionary, with a new wheel design and refinements to the bumpers, side skirts and rear spoiler.
Inside, the gear selector has moved to the steering column behind a redesigned wheel, there’s a new 8.8-inch digital instrument panel, and a spacious airy interior feel.
It comes with a six-year/93,750-mile general warranty package plus an eight-year/155,350-mile cover for the battery.
There is a choice of six exterior colours: the new standard shade of Iris Blue is a no-cost option while the rest add an additional £750 to the price. Interior trim options are an adequate if uninspiring grey or beige.
