Test Drive BYD ATTO 3: The Most Popular Chinese Electric Car, How Does It Drive?

Although BYD's entry into the Southeast Asian market was not early among Chinese brands, it had a strong momentum. The Thai market is a good example. In 2023, BYD ATTO 3 topped the list of electric car sales in Thailand. This is enough to prove that although BYD is a latecomer, the brand and its first selling model ATTO 3 are highly recognized by consumers.

Why is this so? I think it is because BYD has accumulated a lot of experience and constantly optimizing products in the cruel market competition in China. In other words, ATTO 3 is a model that condenses BYD's latest technology and design and is a very mature product. If we look back at BYD's products a few years ago, we will find a huge difference between them. BYD's entry into the Southeast Asian market when its development momentum was strong naturally attracted a lot of attention and was highly trusted.

The blade battery, highly integrated electric drive system, and e-Platform 3.0 platform technology of ATTO 3 all represent BYD's current high level of new energy technology. And as for design, as long as we take a look at it, we can discover its bold and distinctive design. Although everyone might not love ATTO 3's design, it certainly leaves a deep impression.

Test drive vehicle basic information:

- Test drive model: BYD ATTO 3 Extended Range Premium

- Official guide price: 1,049,900 Thai Baht

- Body size: 4455×1875×1615mm, wheelbase 2720mm

- Vehicle minimum ground clearance: 150mm

- Drive Form: Front wheel drive

- Motor parameters: Maximum power 150kW (201PS), peak torque 310N·m

- Battery capacity: 60.48kWh

- Pure electric NEDC endurance: 480km

I. Test Drive Experience: Very powerful, but very domestic in driving

The power of BYD ATTO 3 is absolutely abundant. After all, the overall size and weight of the car are not large. This car has three driving modes in total, namely ECO, NORMAL, and SPORT. Even in ECO mode, the power of ATTO 3 is very plentiful, as long as we press the accelerator pedal a bit deeper, the power will be provided very rapidly and continuously.

The rapid response of power is a major advantage of pure electric vehicles, and the torque release of the motor is much faster than that of traditional internal combustion engines. The power performance of ATTO 3 under different driving modes is the same, it just adjusts the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal, for example, under the ECO mode, I might need to press deeper to get an intense acceleration experience, but in the SPORT mode, I just need to press lightly to experience such a thrill of acceleration. However, under different modes, the actual acceleration performance of the vehicle is almost the same.

But even just the difference in the response speed of the accelerator pedal can give us an intuitive feeling of different driving fun. In SPORT mode, the motor's response is very positive, which creates a feeling of very strong power and makes every acceleration of the ATTO 3 so refreshing.

However, I don't think the SPORT mode is suitable for long-term daily urban driving because its power response is too fast and it's not easy to control. I prefer to use the other two modes where the power output will be much smoother. Even if I press the pedal slightly deeper, the car won't kick me in the buttocks, the ATTO 3 is much softer in this driving mode.

Like the Dolphin, the ATTO 3's energy recovery also has two adjustable levels, "standard" and "larger". The effect of energy recovery is that when I release the accelerator pedal, the vehicle will automatically decelerate. If the deceleration effect is too obvious, the vehicle will frequently accelerate and decelerate, causing passengers to feel dizzy, but the benefit of deceleration is that the motor will charge the battery. In standard mode, there is almost no deceleration effect, driving is like a traditional fuel car, in the larger mode, you can feel a little deceleration, but ATTO 3 can still ensure Smoothness of vehicle travel, which is not easy to cause dizziness.

The reason is that ATTO 3 is equipped with the CST comfortable parking brake function. The function of this system is to adjust the braking force in real-time according to the conditions of the vehicle, ensuring the smooth and comfortable deceleration of the vehicle.

The turning ratio of ATTO 3 is set more for domestic use, but it's not too high, therefore, the car will still respond when the steering wheel is turned at small angles. The whole steering wheel is quite light, which is good for city road driving. However, if you're driving on the highway, it may feel a bit unstable and difficult to control. It would be great if the ATTO 3 could adjust according to the change in speed, allowing the steering wheel to be more stable at high speeds.

The noise was beyond my expectations. I didn’t expect ATTO 3 to use double-layer soundproofing glass. Although the noise of the wind becomes more noticeable as the speed increases during driving, as for overall noise control, I think is better than the competitors' models.

The performance of the suspension was also beyond my expectations. Undoubtedly, ATTO 3's suspension tuning is more for domestic use, so the overall style is comfort-oriented. However, it also does quite well in terms of support. When I tried to drive at a relatively fast speed in a curve, the whole body of the car was very stable, and did not force me to slow down because of the soft suspension. I think ATTO 3 has a certain amount of fun to drive, and it's more than just a domestic pure electric SUV.

II. Static Experience: Interior Design is Very Personal, and Space Usage is High

The design of BYD ATTO 3 is not so domestic, it transmits a kind of intense emotion, a kind of passion and unrestraint that belongs to young people. Under this design, I would expect it to be less comfortable and more sports-oriented. But ATTO 3 can't do this, because as the first model to enter foreign markets, it must keep a conservative approach to practicality.

This conservatism forms a fascinating contrast with the bright individuality of its design.

I think there's not much to say about the exterior design of the ATTO 3. It adopts a low wind resistance hub, and the size and proportion of the body are in line with its positioning. BYD's Dragon Face front face design is quite classic, but by the time it evolved to the ATTO 3, the overall similarity is not as apparent, it seems that only the expression has been preserved and continued. The ATTO 3 presents a more fashionable design that is more in line with the identity of electric vehicles. Underneath the closed middle net, there is a black design similar to a grille. No matter whether your aesthetics are avant-garde or conservative, ATTO 3 can cater to you.

This conservatism is also reflected in the traditional door handles. Most electric cars prefer hidden door handles, but the ATTO 3 does not do this. It is often criticized for the line "BUILD YOUR DREAM" on the tail of the car, but the new models have changed it to the simple "BYD" three letters.

The interior design is a highlight of ATTO 3. You could say it's yacht-style, or you could say it’s airplane-style, but it's not the traditional car interior style. The circular design is its core element, and the fluidity of the lines is very strong. This car is very bold in detail design, such as the circular design of the door handles inside the car, which I have never seen before. The shape of the air outlet and the gear lever that resembles a yacht control stick are all designs that make people feel fresh. Also, the storage compartment on its doors, divided by three red lines, this design is similar to a guitar, I believe young people will like it very much.

However, these detailed designs have caused confusion, I find it difficult to classify them into a certain design style, and it is also difficult to place them under a certain theme. I believe that such a design would better suit the preferences of young people, but I really don't know whether such interior decoration would be annoying in the long run.

The ATTO 3 has a good performance in terms of space. As you can see, this car is also designed with short front and rear axles to make a wheelbase of 2720mm. From practical experience, its space utilization rate is quite high. A 177cm tall adult male sits in the back row, still leaving a space of two fists for the legs, so for routine family use, which is very sufficient. In addition, the panoramic sunroof of ATTO 3 can also reduce the sense of oppression in the car, but I believe that most people will worry about it making the car interior hotter. ATTO 3's solution is to keep the electric sunshade and open the sunroof according to actual needs.

In addition, the trunk space of ATTO 3 is also quite flexible. The regular trunk capacity is 440L, and since the rear seats can be folded down in a 60:40 ratio, its space becomes very flexible. With the rear seats all folded down, the trunk capacity reaches 1340L. In this state, it is very convenient to transport some large items for home use.

Another highlight of ATTO 3 is that it supports a 220V external power supply. During outdoor outings and camping, it can provide the necessary electricity for electrical devices, and the whole vehicle can be seen as a mobile power station. These features can expand the use scenarios of users, and it is also a manifestation of ATTO 3's emphasis on home use performance.

Test Drive Conclusion:

Without a doubt, the ATTO 3 is a fairly balanced car to drive, and is much more conservative than its design. Does this make it boring to drive? I don't think so, after all, its power performance is there, it can complete a 0-100km/h acceleration in 7.3 seconds. If we want excitement, ATTO 3 can provide it.

But I think when I drive it, I usually don't want to do that. Admittedly, the passionate interior design of the ATTO 3 constantly provokes my strong emotions, but I mostly enjoy the comfort that this car brings.

The consideration of both domestic use makes ATTO 3 somewhat full of contradictions in terms of design and driving style, but I think this is the sacrifice it has to make, it needs sales and consumer reputation.