2025 BYD Atto 3 owner review

Dan and his family decided the time was right to make the switch to an electric vehicle and retire their trusty Hyundai Tucson. But with some very specific criteria, including a maximum width of 1890mm, they had to choose carefully.

A BYD Atto 3 got the guernsey. Here, Dan shares his reflections as a first-time EV owner. 

Overall impressions of the BYD Atto 3?

I’m broadly very happy with the car. It services our family of four, including a couple of growing pre-teens and an oodle. It fits us all with space to spare. It’s also an easy car to own and drive. It is comfy and the tech is great, with “Hey BYD” voice assistance commands and Android Auto. There are also seemingly no hidden extra costs, with charging cables and a wifi subscription included at purchase.

Why did you buy an EV?

When it was finally time to put our dear old Hyundai Tucson workhorse out to pasture last July, we decided to go electric. We ran the numbers and worked out that purchasing a new EV through a novated lease would mean significantly less financial outlay over the lifetime of the vehicle than keeping the old car running or buying a new non-EV. We have solar panels, so were also attracted to the idea of fuelling the car directly from the sun. Basically, we went electric for economic reasons with the added sweetener of using more renewable energy.

Why did you choose the BYD Atto 3?

We had some very specific criteria. The car had to fit within our narrow driveway (under 1890mm), while comfortably accommodating our family of four, and having enough range to manage road trips of over 300km, which we take regularly. We also loved the idea of having a sunroof!

Which rivals did you seriously consider?

We test-drove the Volkswagen ID4, a Zeekr X and a Polestar 4. The BYD Atto 3 won because it represented clearly the best value package, in terms of range and tech versus purchase price. While we were initially attracted by the more premium brands, we couldn’t justify the extra cost. The showroom experience at BYD was very relaxed and transparent, so that gave us confidence.

Which variant did you buy and why?

We bought the 2025 BYD Atto 3 Premium. It’s the long-range version, with a 60.48kWh Blade Battery that delivers up to 480km of driving range. It has a 150kW/310Nm electric motor driving the front wheels, 88kW DC fast charging, an upgraded 15.6-inch rotating touchscreen, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and a panoramic sunroof. We ordered one in black and were disappointed when the dealer called us to say they were out of stock. But we needed the car quickly, so accepted a model in Ski White, which is a greyish white. The colour is okay, but I’m still envious when I see the black ones around town!

How do you charge the car most of the time?

We charge the Atto 3 from a standard outdoor power socket at home. While we haven't invested in a home battery yet, we try to maximise our rooftop solar generation by charging during the day whenever possible.

Is that charging speed fast enough for how you use the car?

For the way we use the car, the charging speed has been more than adequate. We rarely drive more than 50km per day, so a couple of home charges per week means we don’t run out of charge. We rarely need to use public fast chargers, but occasionally we will use DC charging when doing a grocery shop, or if one presents at a convenient time or location.

What real-world range are you getting?

In mostly mixed driving around Sydney, we typically see around 420-460km of range from a full charge. Around town the car is very efficient, but longer motorway trips reduce the range, particularly at higher speeds or with extra drag or weight. We regularly drive down from the Inner West of Syndey to Lake Conjola (about 220km). Generally, we will have about 180-200km range left on arrival from a full charge (460-480km).

Has range or charging availability changed how you travel?

Yes, but not significantly. The Atto 3 has enough range for our normal weekly driving, and we rarely need to think about charging. However, road trips require more planning than we did in our old Tucson. When we first bought the Atto, we dived in with a long road trip from Sydney to the South Coast, Canberra and back. This taught us a lot about route planning and app management. We got down to under 20km range at one point when one of our planned charging points was out of order on arrival. At that point, both ours and the car’s range anxiety was extremely high! This has only happened once and I daresay, we won’t let it happen again. Regional charging infrastructure is slowly catching up, with more charging options on the south coast since we’ve bought our car, but EV driving absolutely demands that you plan road trips much more thoroughly.

What does the BYD Atto 3 cost you to charge and run?

Running costs are noticeably lower than our previous petrol car. Most of our charging is done at home using a standard outdoor power socket, and we try to charge during the day to make the most of our rooftop solar. While we haven't calculated an exact monthly cost, electricity costs are only a fraction of what we used to spend on fuel (about $60 per week). We felt fortunate to go electric a few months before fuel prices rose due to the Iran war. We’ve done one scheduled service that cost around $170. BYD recommends one per year at this stage. Insurance was about 20 per cent more expensive than our Tucson for some reason.

How does the BYD Atto 3 drive overall?

I’m not really someone who drives for pleasure, so apologies to the rev-heads. However, I find the Atto 3 driving experience clearly superior to comparable ICE vehicles, as the tech is so good. It is comfortable and easy to drive, particularly around town where the instant torque makes it feel very responsive and nippy. Occasionally, I’ll rent a petrol car or van for a trip or a job, and the driving experience always feels very sluggish and cumbersome by comparison. While the Atto 3 isn’t a sporty car, it strikes a balance between comfort, performance and everyday usability. It’s basically very easy to drive and responds to your commands quickly.

How practical is it for your household?

Our biggest concern was whether the Atto 3 would be big enough, as it looks smaller than a Tucson from the outside. Thankfully, it is roomy enough. I’m 6 ft 6 and there’s enough leg room in the driver’s seat to drive long distances comfortably. My partner complains that she would rather be higher from the ground; it does feel like a lower seat than other classic SUVs. There’s plenty of room for three passengers in the back, while the flat floor and wide space make it feel bigger inside than we expected. The boot is large enough for groceries, sports gear, and weekend trips away. However, we supplement that space with a roofrack for long trips. As an everyday family car, it ticks a lot of boxes.

What do you think of the interior design and comfort?

The seats are supportive, the driving position is excellent and the rotating touchscreen adds a bit of novelty. There's plenty of storage and device charging points throughout the cabin, and the overall fit and finish feels well above what we expected at this price point. There are some quirky features, like disco lighting settings, funny internal door handles and twanging chords on the door frames. Our family enjoy these but they are not for everyone. One bone of contention: the air con is not as powerful to what we are used to. The windscreen takes longer to defog in the cold and the cabin longer to cool in the heat.