UK Drive: Is the BYD Atto 3 Evo a worthy contender in the electric SUV market?

What is it?

BYD has become a well-established Chinese brand ever since it arrived in the UK in 2023.

The Atto 3 is an important car for the marque as it was the first BYD to kick-start the firm on our shores and three years later, it has given its longest-serving model a new lease of life in with the Atto 3 Evo – an updated variant with lots of key technological and mechanical upgrades to make this an even more tempting proposition next to its European and Korean competitors.

What’s new?

BYD has not only given the car a new name, but a new powertrain.

In addition, it sits on BYD’s latest ‘e-Platform 3.0’ architecture and uses a ‘Cell-to-Body’ structure where the cells of the battery are directly integrated into the chassis of the car, increasing space inside for occupants and luggage.

Other changes include a revised front bumper with an active grille, slimmer side skirts, new wheel designs, an updated rear bumper and the car boasts an 800-volt electrical system, allowing for ultra-rapid charging speeds.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Atto 3 Evo is equipped with a new 74.8kWh battery pack with a choice of single or dual-motor setups.

We’re driving the latter configuration which provides a healthy 443bhp and 560Nm of torque. That means the car is good for 60mph in just 3.7 seconds and it will reach a top speed of 124mph.

Thanks to the car’s 800-volt architecture, 220kW DC rapid-charging is compatible, allowing for 10 to 80 per cent to be completed in 25 minutes. BYD claims that the car in this setup can travel up to 292 miles between charges.

The rear-wheel drive single electric motor variant produces 309bhp and 380Nm of torque, while it can travel up to a claimed 316 miles between trips to the plug.

What’s it like to drive?

The Atto 3 Evo’s driving experience isn’t the most compelling in its class. That’s because the steering, brake feel and chassis control don’t bond well with the car’s power delivery.

On a twisty road, the car is unsettled by even the slightest of bumps, while the handling is vague and the steering feels artificially heavy. The brake pedal is also very grabby, which doesn’t inspire confidence when approaching a corner.

The chassis also leans a lot around corners and despite there being a ‘sport’ driving mode, we couldn’t tell much of the difference between ‘normal’, ‘eco’ and ‘snow’.

The dual-motor setup provides an immense amount of power, and the car’s acceleration is instantaneous, though for a midsize family SUV, the Atto 3 Evo with this setup feels unnecessarily fast.

How does it look?

From a distance, the Atto 3 Evo looks similar to the outgoing model, but there is more to it than meets the eye.

At the front, the car uses BYD’s ‘Dragon Face’ design language with a revised front bumper with an active front grille to improve efficiency.

The side profile includes slimmer side skirts and fresh wheel designs, while the charging flap has been repositioned to the rear of the car from the front wing.

At the back, there are knot-style taillights and a new rear spoiler, all to give this SUV a more modern appearance.

What’s it like inside?

The Atto 3 Evo’s cabin is much more interesting than lots of other Chinese SUVs with its plush-feeling materials and wavey-styled dashboard.

Changes to the cabin include a new steering wheel-mounted gear selector, a revised 8.8-inch digital driver’s display, updated seats with adjustable headrests, a new steering wheel and extra equipment such as heated rear seats.

Storage is plentiful with the floating centre console housing a large cut out, there is a decent amount of space under the centre armrest and big door bins that are behind elastic strings.

Space in the back is more than acceptable with the flat floor making it easier for three to sit comfortably, while the new ‘Cell-to-Body’ structure allows for more leg and knee room for rear-seat occupants. Sadly, our test car’s panoramic sunroof does eat into headroom, with six-foot adults finding their heads will touch the roofline.

In the back, the car’s increased size means that there is now 490 litres of space – 50 litres more than the old car. Fold the rear seats down, and that increases to 1,360 litres, which is more than what you’ll find on a Kia EV3.

There is also a new 95-litre ‘frunk’, which adds more flexibility and is the ideal space to stow the car’s charging cables.

What’s the spec like?

BYD offers lots of standard equipment across its range of cars and the Atto 3 Evo is no exception.

The range starts at £38,990 for the entry-level Design and features a 15.6-inch infotainment system, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree surround camera, an energy-saving heat pump and heated front seats.

Our top-of-the-range Excellence model bumps the price up to £42,730 and boasts a head-up display, a panoramic sunroof and heated outer rear seats.

The Atto 3 Evo also comes with a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, which allows the car’s battery pack to power electrical appliances such as a coffee machine or hairdryer.

Verdict

BYD has done a good job of turning the Atto 3 into a much more tempting proposition with the Evo.

Its decent levels of standard kit and increased interior space makes it a much more family-friendly option in this sector of the market.

However, its below average driving characteristics spoils its overall appeal, and instead, cars like the Skoda Elroq and Kia EV3 represent better value for money.