2026 BYD Atto 2 review

The new BYD Atto 2 has arrived – and while it might be the ‘cheapest’ electric SUV on the market, it doesn’t feel ‘cheap’ in the nasty sense, whatsoever.

The pricing is spectacular, the standard spec list is strong for the top-spec variant in particular, and this small SUV is a great size with plenty of practicality on offer.

Is there a catch? Kind of. But frankly, this is one of the most impressive newcomers in the market from a brand that’s showing how seriously it wants to succeed here.

How much does the BYD Atto 2 cost?

The pricing is a huge selling point for the BYD Atto 2, as it has reset the benchmark for electric SUV-style models in our market.

There’s a bit separating the two variants in terms of standard specification, but the powertrain and battery pack is the same between the two different model grades. 

And if you’re wondering where that pricing puts the BYD in context of its EV crossover rivals, it’s cheaper than all of them – undercutting the likes of the MG S5 EV (from $40,990 drive-away) and the upcoming Leapmotor B10 (from $38,990 drive-away).

And if you’re thinking about speccing-up an established brand’s small EV, consider this – you’d almost get TWO of these high-spec BYD Atto 2s for the price of ONE Kia EV3 GT-Line, which has a smaller sunroof… but does have a much bigger battery offering more range. 

To see how the BYD Atto 2 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the BYD Atto 2 like on the inside?

If you’re hoping for something as quirky as the Atto 3 or the earlier Sealion 6 models, you may be surprised to see just how normal feeling the interior of BYD’s latest electric SUV.

Gone are the browns and reds, with simple grey and black trimming inside. It looks good, though, and there are still plenty of clever design elements to help liven up the cabin, including triangular ambient lights on the doors.

The dash isn’t ‘dominated’ by the touchscreen in the Atto 2, and that’s arguably a good thing for some. It’s still a tablet-style design and, yes, the top-shelf variant has a bigger display that can rotate to be landscape or portrait form. 

But what’s on the screen is a simple menu structure that is familiar from most new models – with a home bar at the bottom which stays on-screen all the time, showing a number of key features including home, menu, climate and other controls.

You’ll get used to the screen in no time, and if you’re someone who just likes to connect up to their phone and drive, there’s the requisite smartphone mirroring tech (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) available wirelessly, too. 

Prefer sat-nav? It’s standard, as are over-the-air (OTA) updates for the software, and you get a data plan included for the flagship grade. Plus there are multiple ways to get into the car, by using a regular key, NFC card, or Bluetooth app connectivity for access.

The screen has heaps going on, including multiple menus for specific elements of the car controls, but down between the seats there is also a row of physical controls, including a volume scroller, drive mode trigger, and demister buttons, plus a power button.

The trim is the same between the two models, but the Premium ups the ante with electric front seat adjustment for both driver (six-way) and passenger (four-way), but be mindful – longer-legged people might find there’s a bit of a lack of support under the thigh.

What can’t be ignored is the inclusion of heating and ventilation for both front seats in the Premium grade, which is a big plus. 

Storage is thoughtful up front, with decent door pockets and bottle holders, cupholders between the seats, a pair of spots for phones (with one 50W wireless charging pad in the Premium), and a lower storage tray with access to charge ports. The centre console bin is decent, too.

In the back, there’s more space than you might be expecting for a car of this size. As a six-footer, I could fit behind my own driving position with a couple of inches of room to spare, and foot room is decent as well. Headroom is good, thanks to the boxy design of the cabin, and while three across might be a squeeze for big bodies, there’s a flat floor and the seat isn’t overly sculpted either, yet it is comfortable.

The biggest complaint about the back seat is the ventilation – there’s just one adjustable air vent, meaning multi-kid families might need to manage vent-mageddon on long trips. At least there are two charge ports in the back.

And there are lots of storage options, including multi-pockets on the seatbacks, bottle sleeves in the doors, and a flip-down armrest with cupholders. ISOFIX child seat anchors are fitted in the window seats, and three top-tethers are standard.

The boot is a reasonable size for this class of SUV, at 380 litres with the rear seats up. There’s an adjustable boot floor to make the load-in space level, or deeper if you need to haul bigger items. But keep in mind that below the floor, there’s no spare tyre – just a tyre repair kit. 

Fold down the back seats and there’s an IKEA-friendly 1320L of capacity on offer. And, unlike some other budget-focused offerings, the Atto 2 comes with a cargo cover as standard.

And furthermore, there’s a massive space under the bonnet where a frunk would fit perfectly, but there isn’t one. It might make for a nice accessory for BYD to offer, considering it would be the perfect spot to put your charging cables (a Mode 2 charging cable included, and there’s a 3.3kW vehicle-to-load adapter, too).

To see how the BYD Atto 2 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

Just one drivetrain variant will be available across the Atto 2’s pair of trim levels – offering up to 345km of range on the WLTP test cycle.

The outputs and the claimed 0-100km/h time tell part of the story here. It has a competitive amount of oomph, and there are different drive modes to get the most out of it (or the least, if you’re aiming to drive economy-focused).

Its claimed efficiency figure is 17.1kWh per 100km, and on test I actually saw a better result than that –16.1kWh/100km across my testing, which included a heap of higher-speed driving on the highway, urban driving in Sydney, and some enthusiastic cornering as well.

To see how the BYD Atto 2 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the BYD Atto 2 drive?

I had driven the Atto 2 in China and also at the BYD brand day a few weeks ago, and each time I came away thinking it would be soft and a bit unenthusiastic.

But in reality, it’s a charming little tike that is clearly aimed more at comfort than corner-carving, yet still offers a bit of fun factor if that’s what you’re seeking.

The suspension is softly set, but it deals really well with upsetting sharp edges and bigger bumps in the surface at speed, while at lower speeds you can feel the stiffness of the body making itself known, but it’s not too sharp or unpleasant, even if the road surface is.

The steering is light and makes it feel easy to drive at urban pace, and while there are a few modes to play with for steering and drive modes, it never feels like a masterclass in manoeuvring. Does that matter? I don’t think so. I gave it heaps through some corners on the Old Pac, and I found it to be a bit of fun!

There’s no doubt that this powertrain is fit for purpose, with an ample amount of urgency on offer when you floor it, either from a standstill (when you might experience some tyre scrabble!), or at highway speed if you need to overtake.

The fact it has a smaller battery and is lighter than some others in the small electric SUV segment means it feels like it has a level of agility and an easy driving nature to it, and if you’re considering this one against the bigger, pricier Atto 3 – I reckon this is a more fun car to drive.

The safety systems may take some acclimation – there’s a speed sign recognition system that defaults back on, and while it isn’t as annoying in its chimes as some rivals, it does still bing and bong at you a bit. You can turn it off by way of the drop-down menu on the screen if you want to, but you’ll have to do it every time. Same with the lane-keeping, which can be a little insistent in its pushiness.

But the high-spec model’s surround-view camera is a treat, and while the base grade only gets a rear camera and back-up sensors, it does the job pretty well considering this little SUV offers good visibility from the driver’s seat.

There is multi-mode regen braking, with two settings to pick from – but neither are assertive like a ‘single pedal’ mode (which can allow you to just use the accelerator in most situations to speed up and slow down).

The brake pedal feel might be a little difficult to get used to as well, if you’re unfamiliar with regenerative braking and the impact it can have on the physical pedal travel.

I was, however, impressed by the refinement – it’s a small car but the sound insulation is decent, and it feels composed and smooth in a wide range of scenarios.

To see how the BYD Atto 2 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

The BYD Atto 2 is well equipped, even at the entry level. But it seems clear that the step up from the base grade to the top-spec variant is $4000 well spent.

2026 BYD Atto 2 Dynamic standard equipment highlights:

• 16-inch alloy wheels in 215/65 R16 Westlake tyres
• Tyre repair kit
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Keyless entry and start
• BYD digital key
• LED headlights
• 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Over-the-air software updates
• 4-speaker sound system
• Leatherette upholstery
• 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
• 4-way manually adjustable passenger seat
• 60:40 split/fold rear seats
• USB-A and USB-C outlets, front and rear
• Single-zone air-conditioning
• Rear air vents
• Heat pump

The Atto 2 Premium adds:

• 17-inch alloy wheels in 215/60 R17 Hankook tyres
• Panoramic glass roof with sunshade
• Roof rails
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• 1x 50W wireless phone charger
• 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system rotating
• 8-speaker sound system
• 6-way power driver’s seat
• 4-way power passenger seat
• Heated and ventilated front seats

It’s great (and rare!) to see a heat pump offered at this kind of price. They are exceptionally efficient at warming the car up on cooler days, helping lessen battery drain in wintertime.

To me, the extra couple of takeaway coffees per week to repay the high-grade model is a sacrifice easily made.

To see how the BYD Atto 2 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the BYD Atto 2 safe?

The new BYD Atto 2 hasn’t been tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP at the time of writing. It has a strong array of standard safety technology and equipment, though.

Atto 2 Dynamic safety features include:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep assist
• Emergency lane-keep assist
• Rear cross-traffic assist
• Safe exit warning
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Traffic sign recognition
• Speed limit assist
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Automatic high beam headlights

The Premium adds:

• Surround-view camera
• Front parking sensors

The Atto 2 has six airbags: dual front, front side, and full-length curtain coverage.

To see how the BYD Atto 2 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the BYD Atto 2 cost to run?

BYD Australia offers a six-year, 150,000km warranty, while the BYD Blade battery pack is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty.

Servicing details are still to be confirmed.

Roadside assistance is included for 12 months for free, topping up when you service with the brand’s approved network of repair shops/dealerships.

To see how the BYD Atto 2 lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the BYD Atto 2

Cheap, and cheerful. This is a terrific option for buyers who are okay with a smaller car that has a smaller battery, and therefore less driving range.

If you’re still stuck in the mindset that a car needs to have a battery big enough to drive from Sydney to Melbourne, you’re silly. But also, you’ll be missing out on a quality option, even if it has a little battery that might require more regular charging than some.

If you can work within its parameters, you’ll be getting a great little electric SUV.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new BYD Atto 2. Click here to get a great deal

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MORE: Explore the BYD Atto 2 showroom