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The BYD ATTO 2 is a B-segment compact SUV that offers a driving experience that’s both comfortable and agile, with two models delivering driving ranges of 214 miles or 267 miles.
BYD was founded in China in 1995 as a rechargeable battery maker and is now dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions that reduce global reliance on fossil fuels. The company’s new energy vehicle footprint now covers 6 continents, 96 countries and regions, and more than 400 cities. BYD Auto was founded in 2003 and has remained top of ‘new energy’ (EV and PHEV) passenger vehicle sales in China for 10 years in a row. Yet only a few years ago most UK motorists hadn’t heard of BYD, but that has been changing with the launch in the UK of the Dolphin, ATTO 3, Seal, Sealion, Dolphin Surf, and now the ATTO 2.
The BYD ATTO 2 is a five-seater B-segment compact SUV with a two-model line-up: Boost with a 214-mile range, and Comfort with a 267-mile range.
Like other BYD models, the ATTO 2 features a Blade battery with a capacity of 51.1kWh in Boost models and 64.8 kWh in Comfort models.
The Blade battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) as a cathode material, which is seen as having higher levels of safety and durability compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, while also being 100% free of cobalt. LFP batteries are more resistant to extreme temperatures, less sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and can withstand more charge and discharge cycles with hardly any loss of capacity, making them particularly durable. BYD claims that the Blade battery delivers class-leading safety, durability and performance, as well as being space efficient.
The ATTO 2 also features Cell-to-Body (CTB) construction, which integrates the battery completely into the vehicle chassis, delivering improved packaging and body rigidity.
Built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, the ATTO 2 has a completely flat floor which increases space inside the car, particularly for rear seat passengers. Measuring 4,310mm long, the Boost model has a 400-litre boot, with a large space under the false boot floor to store charging cables. The size of the boot increases to 450 litres in the Comfort model. Folding the rear seats down gives 1,340 litres of space in Boost trim, or 1,370 litres in Comfort trim.
The ATTO 2 cabin has a light, clean appearance like other BYD family members. Unlike some other brands, BYD models all look quite different from each other in terms of exterior styling; the ATTO 2 has the look of a Mercedes-Benz EQB about the rear end.
The BYD ATTO 2 is an easy car to drive, with very comfortable ride quality, no doubt assisted by 17-inch wheels with high profile tyres, and the car also has some agility, helped by its compact dimensions. When the instant responses from the electric powertrain are added into the mix, the result is an EV that’s fun. However note that the ATTO 2 is front-wheel drive, so enthusiastic acceleration on wet roads can result in wheelspin and torque steer.
The ATTO 2 Boost produces 130 kW of power and 290 Nm of torque, and the Comfort model produces 150 kW and 310 Nm, but both have the same 0-62 mph time of 7.9 seconds.
Gears are selected via a stalk on the right-hand side of the steering column, and there’s a small physical button in the centre console to select standard or high brake regeneration. Drive modes are also chosen via a physical button on the centre console; the options are Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow (which appears as ‘Snowfield’ in the driver’s display). If you put the ATTO 2 in Sport mode, unusually, it stays in Sport mode when you restart the car.
There’s a physical volume controller, as well as a start/stop button (although you don’t need to press this to start the car), and one of the main features of the centre console is two large bays for phones, one of which offers wireless charging, and there’s wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The driver’s seat has electric adjustment, although you can’t change the angle of the seat base, and the steering wheel has reach adjustment, but it doesn’t come out very far.
All versions of the ATTO 2 feature an 8.8-inch driver’s instrument panel, and most car controls are accessed via the central 12.8-inch touchscreen, which can rotate between landscape and portrait formats. There are some shortcut buttons along the bottom of the screen, and a further row of shortcut boxes above these, but you don’t get the clear buttons that are present in many rivals. Quite a lot of button-pressing through different screens is required to switch on the heated seats and heated steering wheel.
‘Secret controls’ include the ability to swipe up and down on the touchscreen with three fingers to adjust the cabin temperature, while swiping from side to side changes the ventilation fan speed.
Most Chinese EVs have over-intrusive driver assistance systems that result in a lot of beeping and boinging. If you don’t switch all these systems off in the ATTO 2 then there seem to be fewer beeps and boings, but one particularly annoying feature is an audible warning message saying “Keep your eyes on the road”, which happens when you look left and right at junctions, and even if you do keep your eyes on the road. So you’re left with no choice but to delve into the touchscreen and switch off as many driver assistance systems as possible. This results in a lot of button-pressing, and good luck funding how to switch off the “Keep your eyes on the road” warning – this is very hidden away under ‘Cabin Perception”.
The ATTO 2 has a voice control system for controlling car functions, which generated mixed results.
The BYD ATTO 2 Boost model with its 51.1 kWh Blade battery, as tested, has an official WLTP combined electric driving range of 214 miles. After a week on test the car was averaging 200 miles on a full charge. The Comfort model, with the larger 64.8 kWh battery, has a WLTP range of 267 miles.
The ATTO 2 Boost has a maximum rapid charging rate of 82 kW, which increases to 155 kW for the Comfort model, making the longer range and the faster charging time two of the key benefits of the Comfort trim level. Boost models can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in 38 minutes, which reduces to 25 minutes for Comfort trim. The ATTO 2 can also charge at 11 kW AC.
Unusually in this size of car, the ATTO 2 has a heat pump as standard, which helps to maximise range in cold weather.
The ATTO 2 also offers Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, with an external socket allowing users to power a variety of electrical devices.
Prices for the BYD ATTO 2 Boost model start at £30,850, or £34,950 for the Comfort model, which is due to arrive in the UK by the end of 2025.
All versions of the ATTO 2 have 17-inch alloy wheels, front seats that are heated and electrically adjustable, together with a heated steering wheel.
The ATTO 2 comes in Time Grey paint as standard, with three colours of Hiking Green (as tested), Skiing White and Obsidian Black available as options.
For a company that most UK motorists hadn’t heard of a few years ago, BYD now has a wide range of EVs on sale in the UK, with the ATTO 2 filling the gap in the important B-segment compact SUV category. The ATTO 2 is comfortable, responsive and agile to drive, and features a heat pump and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability as standard, but if you want a longer range and faster charging you’ll need to opt for the more expensive Comfort model rather than the Boost trim. The BYD ATTO 2 is awarded a Green Car Guide rating of 8 out of 10.
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Paul Clarke, GreenCarGuide Editor
