BYD Atto 3 Electric Review

So my MIL's trusty Corolla recently began to give her issues, so they went to explore some car options whilst pondering on whether to repair or change. The current climate of high COE is quite prohibitive, but electric vehicles (EV)s have emerged as an up and coming possibility.

The government is certainly pushing the whole concept of clean cars very hard. However one needs to deep dive into the pros and cons beyond the idea of clean energy that they are selling, especially in a country where cars cost four or five times what they would in other countries. 

You can read about my concerns in a previous post: 
(https://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2024/01/why-my-next-car-is-unlikely-to-be.html) 

So let's talk about the BYD Atto. This car has taken the local car scene by storm, offering a very attractive pricing, good space and more in a rather attractive package.

Exterior

The car is quite modern, using a SUV styling but not so high as to make the hip point too daunting for the elderly, which is nice in a rapidly aging country. The doors open wide, and close with a decent thump. There are real door handles, a nice touch instead of the awkward flush handles that pop out in other cars. But some others like that. Fit and finish is not too bad externally. It is not too big and unwieldy, measuring less than 4.5m long making it easy to navigate the narrow car park at Vantage Motors. The auto tailgate with a kick can be added after market. 

Interior

Despite the relatively compact size, it will comfortably sit two six foot adults front and back. Three abreast will be good for short journeys. Knee room is good, and there is enough lateral support in front with well spaced pedals. The steering is small and has a nice grip. The PVC leather seats are ok but there is no height adjustment for the front seats as it is meant to be a 'sporting' seat. A 440l boot is very usable with a floor that can be fitted flush with the boot sill or made deeper for more capacity. The Isofix points are a bit hard to access and seem a little more narrow. The seats themselves are plush and the fake leather is easy to clean. 

The doors open wide enough front and back, but the door pocket has this cable styling, which is meant to look like a Chinese Zither, but the challenge will be how long will it last? There are front and back door pockets, something not always found in every car. 

The materials used are mostly soft touch especially above the waistline, but some materials don't feel like they will last all ten years. At least the touch buttons are not as plasticky or flimsy as in the recent Thai Made Hondas, like the Civic.

The large touch screen in the centre dominates, and it can be rotated 90 degrees, but operating it whilst driving will be tricky at best. Some controls are available in the central area and the steering wheel, but you are expected to use voice control for many of the functions whilst on the move. It is mostly usable, but some commands are missed. There is Android and Apple Carplay wireless with charging available, and A plus C USB ports spread throughout the car. 

If you have an older car like a Corolla which came with very little function, this car has a whole list of safety features, convenience functions and more. It will dazzle the Corolla owner and delight some, but how many are going to be used or remain functional in a few years remains to be seen.  

The Drive

This is the money. Coming from a naturally aspirated CVT belt 1.6l car, which is what many buyers will have driven, this car will be stunning. The EV motor is instant, engaging and give a nice push in the back. Joining traffic, going up hill will be effortless. The ride is soft enough, but the higher CG means it will roll a bit but it is way better than the older HRV / Vezel in this aspect, but perhaps not as good as a BMW. 

The engine is quiet, the fitted Continental Ecocontact tires are reasonably quiet 18inch affairs. You will hear the road, but it is not too distracting and you can have a good conversation at highway speeds. Visibility is quite decent too. The car was designed to make the transition from a normal car to an EV simple and it shows. 

So for a 10 min drive, and coming from an average common Asian make car, this car will seem extremely intriguing. The drive is snappy, the feature list, amazing. The fuel savings are also another attraction. If you own a landed home, the free charger can really cut down your monthly bills.

But, before you whip out that check book, do your maths and here comes the details.

Do your maths on the yearly deprecation. There is no residual value as the ARF and VES rebate are all eaten away. Also the lowest price tag is a bait, you will need to get the highest tier to stand a chance of actually driving the car away. 

The battery warranty is eight years. A new one will cost 30k. So if you keep using it til the tenth year, you may need to check on that additional cost. If you intend to sell it, it is now hard to predict what is the market for an old EV with an equally old battery that may need replacement and costs 30k. 

Those features are sexy to look at and make the initial ownership very exciting. Until they break down. Then perhaps that featureless but utterly depending Corolla will suddenly look attractive when the repair bill climbs. And after market workshops may not be able to help with software issues or electronic components. Servicing will need to be done at the authorised dealer to keep the warranty. 

Tires will also cost more, since they are 18" and need to be EV ready to bear the extra weight. You might be look at $400 a piece or more, whereas the Corolla's tires might cost you a total of $400. 

For those who live in a city, and have no intention of going across the border, range anxiety is usually not an issue, but those who love going over might need to plan their route more carefully. 

Finally there are reports of fires. Now how bad these will be is difficult to tell but firemen also will share that electrical fires are hard to handle and often they just let the fire burn out by itself, resulting in a total vehicle loss. So make sure you get a good insurance policy. 

I have share more concerns in a past post linked about, but if all of these are not too worrisome, then you have a very nice package car which offers a lot of go, low running costs, space and plenty of mod cons and features in a nice car that looks very modern too. Sounds a bit like the French ones they are selling one floor below. 

Many buyers have found the price tag and features irresistible, which has made this car a best seller and for good reason too. So caveat emptor and enjoy the exciting new world of EVs! 

** I have no financial interest or other interests in any of the items / events I write about.