LAOIS MOTORING: BYD Atto 3 EV shows that Made In China might just be the new benchmark

For many years the stamp of quality of many products was “made in Germany”. Let’s be honest “made in China” was usually associated with cheaper type products but if the latest new cars I have been road testing from China are anything to go by that may be about to change!

This week's read test is another EV from China called the BYD Atto 3. 

BYD stands for Build Your Dreams and no matter how hard I try I can’t bring myself to say that its a car name that I like. It doesn’t quite roll off the tongue as saying I drive an Audi, or BMW. However get past the strange name and we have what I discovered to be is a very nice car indeed!

Before I go on remember BYD Cars overtook Tesla last year to become the largest manufacturer of EV’s in the world! So they know a thing or two even if here we are only hearing about them now.

So how does it look?

The Atto 3 is a stylish if somewhat conservatively styled EV. There is nothing particularly memorable or outstanding about its exterior design. It blends in rather than stands out but nevertheless its a attractive clean looking design that doe not steam “EV”.

What’s it like inside?

Press the touch sensitive door handle and if the “key” is on your person the door unlocks to reveal a truly lovely interior. While the exterior feels restrained the designers seem to have been given more freedom with the interior and frankly its absolutely lovely.

Wonderful design details include the huge 12.8 inch central screen which rotates at the push of a steering wheel mounted button to be either landscape or portrait……. A neat but practical party trick.

The door pockets are coloured ropes which link to the door speakers mimicking the shape of a guitar while the two tone dash board has wonderful sweeps and curves. The one piece heated front seats look and feel vey comfortable and the centre console boasts plenty of user friendly buttons for many functions though sadly they put climate control through the touchscreen.

There is also a T shaped aviation inspired drive selector. It really all looks absolutely fantastic. My only gripe really is that the driver display mounted on the steering column is really a bit small and some of the digits therefore harder to read.

The fit and feel of everything is really outstanding. Its really roomy, and is superbly equipped as standard. Quite frankly its a match for any of the German premium brands. It is that good!

What’s under the bonnet?

The car has a 60 .5 kWh battery with an electric motor driving the front wheels producing 204 bhp. Performance is just fine. Claimed range is 420km from 100% charge. I managed closer to 360km from 100% which is still pretty good. On fast charger it will go from about 20% to 80% charge in about 25 minutes.

How does it drive?

Very well actually. Its quiet and refined and handling is good of not inspirational. The damping on poor roads is just about right and grip is good whether on wet or dry roads. In town it feels nimble and easy to park while on the motorway or country roads its endearingly comfortable. 

Hugh’s Verdict

The BYD Atto 3 Active costs from €39,078, it boasts a a 4 year 120,000km warranty for the car, an 8 year 200,000km warranty for the battery and an 8 year 150,000km warranty for the drive train.

I have to say this is one of the nicest EV’s I have tested of late and so I rarely say this but it gets my highest recommendation!