BYD heralds launch of what could be Australia’s most affordable electric SUV

BYD, one of the fastest-growing car brands in Australia, has today announced that it will be adding a new EV to its lineup later this year, potentially as Australia’s most affordable electric SUV.

In Q4, the company will launch the Atto 2 model in the local market, arriving in two variants while featuring its signature blade battery and cell-to-body (CTB) technology.

BYD Australia General  Manager, Wing You said: “With its exciting looks, superlative technology, and eminent versatility, the Atto 2 promises to be a game-changer in the small-size SUV segment,”.

“The Atto family of vehicles is expanding in Australia, and we’re confident this latest addition will  be well received by local buyers.”  

The new Atto 2 will be offered in Dynamic and Premium variants at launch, both featuring a 51.13 kWh battery pack, which is expected to deliver over 300 km of WLTP range.

This battery pack will power a 130 kW front-mounted motor, which produces up to 290 Nm of torque that will drive the wheels.

On the motor front, it features BYD’s 8- in-1 powertrain, which integrates the motor, reducer, motor controller, on-board charger, DC-DC  converter, high-voltage distribution unit (PDU), battery management system (BMS), and vehicle  control unit (VCU).  

It also sits on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, which also utilises Cell-to-Body (CTB) construction to provide extra structural integrity to the chassis.

In Europe, the Atto 2 can charge at up to 65 kW on a DC charger, charging the battery from 10-80% in around 37 minutes. That’s fairly respectable for a small electric SUV in our market as well.

Like most other BYD vehicles, vehicle-to-load or V2L is on offer, with up to 3.3 kW of AC power available from the battery pack to power other devices.

On the charge port itself, it is located on the right side of the vehicle, which is the same side as the current Atto 3 and Dolphin vehicles, making it familiar to current BYD customers.

On the styling front, the Atto 2 has a more traditional look, reminiscent of some other compact SUVs in the market. It is part of BYD’s Dynasty series, which it shares with the Atto 3, so there are resemblances to its bigger counterpart, which has been selling quite well since its launch in Australia in 2022.

At the rear of the Atto 2, a light bar appears to extend from one end of the car to the other. It also features a rear window wiper, just like the one found on the Atto 3.

A key difference on the Atto 2 is that, unlike the Atto 3, a rear-diffuser-like section is seen on the rear bumper, which could help with the efficiency of the vehicle.

On the inside, an 8.8-inch screen located behind the steering wheel is found, along with a minimalist interior design that features a rotatable infotainment screen, similar to other BYD models.

This infotainment screen will come in two sizes, depending on the variant. Entry-level Dynamic variant will feature a 10.1-inch screen while the Premium model will include a bigger 12.8-inch screen.

The screen will also feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, along with OTA updates to enhance in-car software.

There is also quite a bit of interior space packed into the Atto 2, including for taller passengers, thanks to its panoramic sunroof.

Looking at some of the safety features, this car will come with BYD’s full suite, including  ADAS, six airbags, and, depending on the variant, a reversing or 360-degree camera system seen in BYD’s other models.

Overall, the new Atto 2 is expected to become one of the company’s best-sellers in our local market as it plans to increase its foothold in the growing EV market.

Detailed specs, and pricing of the new Atto 2 will be announced closer to the SUV’s launch in the coming months.