BYD Atto 2 Premium Review

Before the Atto 2 came along, the most affordable BYD model here was the Dolphin. But it never sold as well as its siblings, the Atto 3 and Seal and later, Sealion 7.

Perhaps the Dolphin wasn't stylish enough. Or maybe its hatchback form isn't what today's consumers want. However, BYD hopes that the larger, more powerful and more affordable Atto 2 will enable the brand to make inroads in the $160k segment.

The Atto 2's appeal will undoubtedly be enhanced by its crossover form, which remains popular with consumers

The 'right' bod

The Atto 2 has the right body style for a world obsessed with SUVs and crossovers. It's a relatively good-looking model, with a sleek front end, rounded flanks, an angular rear end, and unpainted plastic claddings to lend the car a rugged vibe. Interestingly, the Atto 2's taillights have a similar pattern to the ones on the Dolphin.

Smaller cars are usually the ones that offer interesting paintwork colours. Surprisingly, however, the Breeze Green hue seen on this test unit is the most 'youthful' option available. The other options are monochromatic, consisting of Cosmos Black, Ski White, and Harbour Grey.

The design balances sleekness with ruggedness; too bad the colour options are limited

Then again, most buyers typically play it safe and opt for one of these 'boring' hues. Few would go for yellow, pink, or red variants, since it could make the car harder to sell later.

Size-wise, the Atto 2 is compact, measuring 4,310mm long, 1,830mm wide and 1,675mm tall, with a wheelbase length of 2,620mm. As we shall soon see, the well-packaged interior results in a spacious backseat, even if the wheelbase is less than 2,700mm.

The cockpit is modern and doesn't sacrifice ergonomics, with physical buttons making it easy for newbies to adapt to

Proper fittings

If your only experiences in a BYD were the Dolphin or Atto 3, then you'll like the Atto 2's cockpit. There's nothing whimsical or eclectic here - just a functional layout and sensible controls. Unlike other Chinese EV models that have nearly eliminated physical buttons, BYD retains theirs. I hope it continues to do so.

Controls for the audio, adaptive cruise control and telephony are found on the steering wheel. And unlike the buttons on the Atto 3, these feel more solid and thus have more satisfying tactility to them. It would've been nice if the climate controls were also physical, but at least they are permanently docked at the bottom of the 12.8-inch touchscreen.

The infotainment offers a selection of wallpapers and users can opt for a white background, too

Said touchscreen is responsive and more importantly, presents a relatively intuitive menu layout. For convenience, switching off the Lane Departure Warning/Lane Departure Assist functions disables them permanently, saving you the trouble of having to do it again the next time you turn on the car.

Other handy features include ventilated front seats, a 50-watt charging pad, wireless (or wired if you prefer) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB-A and USB-C ports. The latter are also provided to backseat passengers.

The ventilated front seats are great addition, but it's strange how there's only a single charging pad instead of two

Both rear legroom and headroom are generous given the wheelbase length. There's even good foot space beneath the front seats, in case occupants have large feet or bulky shoes. The only downside here is that there's only one air-con vent - would it have really cost too much to make two?

Speaking of air-conditioning, the Atto 2's system is strange. It takes a few minutes for cool air to emerge, which makes one think that something is wrong with the compressor. Not a deal-breaker, but it must work faster because you won't always get to park under shelter.

Boot capacity is 380 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,320 litres when they're folded. These figures are decent considering the car's compact dimensions, with the relatively low loading height making it easier for petite drivers to load/unload heavy items.

The well-packaged backseat offers lots of legroom and headroom for occupants, even those above 1.75m tall

Gentle manners

The Atto 2 is ideal for a first-time EV driver/owner or someone who wants an easy-going daily runabout. With 100kW (134bhp) and 290Nm of torque, there's more than enough poke for driving around Singapore.

Acceleration is seamless, but it's also progressive so as not to scare newbies. There's a 'Sport' mode for keener drivers, but it only makes the car slightly more responsive and doesn't really make a difference.

Still, when needed, nailing the accelerator pedal lets you enjoy a century sprint time of 9 seconds, which is quicker than most ICE cars with the same power output. The steering feels accurate as well, which is a pleasant surprise.

BYD seems to have understated the car's efficiency, because averaging over 5.9km/kWh comes easy

Because the Atto 2 uses a column-mounted gear selector, the indicator stalk is on the left, which to me is more intuitive than being on the right, as found in other BYD models.

The ride quality is another plus point, with pliant dampers providing a soft and forgiving ride. With so many ongoing road works that lead to poor patching jobs and undulating surfaces, the gentleness of the Atto 2 is most welcome indeed. However, wind noise is prevalent here, even at 80km/h on the expressway.

The pliant damping and comfort-biased tyres help ensure a cushy ride for everyone on board

The Atto 2 doesn't have keen drivers in mind. Push it and the car tries its best to respond, but the comfort-biased tyres and suspension only lead to understeer. Forget spirited endeavours; just enjoy the car's relaxed nature.
 
Smooth driving inputs will further complement the Atto 2's efficiency. Although the crossover's claimed average consumption is 5.9km/kWh, I easily managed 7.4km/kWh. That said, it's likely that you'll be charging this car weekly, as the 51.13kWh Blade Battery only has a WLTP range of 345km.

Promising proposition

The Atto 2 is a pleasant surprise because it's not a pared-down entry-level model. Its list of advanced driver assistance and safety features (ADAS) is generous (though it lacks blind spot monitoring), interior space is plentiful, and the layout is ergonomic. It feels better than the older, more expensive Atto 3.

Now, at the $164,000 mark (correct at time of writing), the Atto 2's main rival is the Aion Y Plus Premium, which apart from being larger and more spacious, offers a longer driving range of 430km, too. Though the Atto 2 is a promising proposition, it's only prudent to check out equivalent models before making a buying decision.

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