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Review
2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i PHEV review
Andrew Hobbs
October 19, 2026
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i brings plug-in hybrid technology to BYD’s popular small SUV. Is this new PHEV better than the EV version?
The BYD Atto 2 EV hit the road earlier this year at the right time to take advantage of surging interest in both small SUVs and electric cars.
Now, as BYD is continuing to expand its model range, the Chinese brand has bolstered the Atto 2 with a new plug-in hybrid powertrain – claimed to be a first for the small SUV segment, but with a price tag that puts in right alongside regular hybrids.
The aim, BYD says, is to “democratise” new energy vehicles – making electrification more accessible to mainstream consumers, as well as creating what it says is Australia's most affordable PHEV.
With the Atto 2 PHEV starting below $25,000 before on-road costs, BYD can easily be said to have put its money where its mouth is. But will the plug-in hybrid be enough of an SUV to tempt buyers away from some formidable non-plug-in hybrid rivals? And will it be green enough to tempt would-be EV owners?
That’s what we’re asking ourselves as we take the BYD Atto 2 DM-i on a scenic trip through the green paddocks, twisting roads and hilly forests of NSW’s Hawkesbury region – whether the DM-i represents a turning point, or just another twist in the road?
How much does the 2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i cost and how does it compare?
BYD often leads with a highly competitive pricing strategy and the new 2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i is no exception to the rule.
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i Essential has a starting price of $24,990 plus on-road costs, and the company is offering a drive-away price of $25,990 for all Essential models ordered before December 24, 2026.
Sales of the BYD Atto 2 DM-i Premium start from $29,990 plus ORCs, which in Victoria would see the vehicle cost a private buyer $33,445.75 drive-away.
The PHEV prices are cheaper than BYD’s battery-electric Atto 2 Dynamic and Atto 2 Premium models, which respectively sell for $31,990 and $35,990 plus on-roads.
With both offering 130kW of power, the Atto 2 EVs are slightly more powerful than the 122kW offered by the Essential DM-i, but less than the Premium DM-i (156kW).
The key difference between the two DM-i models is in their battery capacity, with the Essential equipped with a 7.85kWh battery while the Premium has an 18.03kWh power pack that doubles the EV-only range.
BYD is currently promoting the Atto 2 DM-i as Australia’s only small SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, making the accurate observation that the car has no direct competitors locally.
While that is true, there are several small hybrid SUVs in the market that do not require plugging in to an AC outlet. And BYD’s biggest challenge may be in convincing buyers to choose it over established hybrid vehicles that occupy the same price bracket.
For example, the MG ZS Excite Hybrid+ FWD, its lower-spec hybrid model, offers a 158kW/465Nm petrol-electric powertrain for $30,888 drive-away in a vehicle that is slightly longer and about 100kg lighter. The Chery Tiggo 4 Urban Hybrid FWD offers a 150kW/310Nm powertrain for $29,990 drive-away – a middle ground between the BYD Atto 2 DM-i Essential and Premium in terms of both engine output and price.
Small hybrid SUVs from Korean and Japanese manufacturers are also relatively easily found in a similar price bracket, with the Hyundai Kona Hybrid 1.6 FWD available for $36,950 plus on-road costs, the 2.0-litre Toyota Corolla Cross GX Hybrid offered for $37,440 plus ORCs and the new-generation Kia Seltos S Hybrid (also with a 1.6-litre hybrid) set to launch in the fourth quarter from $39,990 drive-away.
Apart from paint options adding $600 (white as standard, grey and black for both models and turquoise on the Premium only), there are no major options for the BYD Atto 2 DM-i.
The Atto 2 DM-i is covered by BYD’s six-year/150,000km new vehicle warranty, eight-year/160,000km high-voltage traction battery warranty and separate eight-year/150,000km drive unit warranty.
Service intervals are set at every 12 months or with mileage based on the odometer reading (every 20,000km). Capped price servicing cost over the first five years is $2230 in total for both DM-i models, which includes a $930 service at the fourth year.
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i has a strong EV connection to the drive.
BYD Atto 2 DM-i touchscreen displays a feed from its 360-degree camera.
Both the Dynamic and Premium versions of the BYD Atto 2 DM-i use Hankook tyres.
The BYD Atto 2 Premium DM-i front seats are heated, but only the driver's seat is power-adjustable.
The Atto 2 DM-i has 425 litres of boot space that can extend to 1335L with the rear seats folded.
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What is the BYD Atto 2 DM-i like inside and out?
Like its EV equivalent, the 2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i boasts sculpted bodywork, LED daytime running lights and the brand’s signature cross-over tail-lights – though with a subtly refashioned front bumper and integrated grille for engine cooling requirements.
The Atto 2 DM-i measures 4330mm long, 1830mm wide and 1675mm high – 200mm longer than the Atto 2 EV and similar in proportions to a Toyota Yaris Cross or Hyundai Kona, although with a slightly higher roof.
The Atto 2 Dynamic runs on 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Dynamic has 17-inch alloys. Both have Hankook tyres.
The Atto 2 DM-i has 425 litres of boot space, more than enough for a couple of suitcases or a decent-size pram, as well as a boot cargo cover and a couple of cubbies on either side for small products like bread or milk.
There is a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function available on the Atto 2 DM-i Premium only, providing 3kW of external power output that BYD says will make it possible to power coolers, lanterns, barbecues or even coffee machines.
The boot space can extend to a maximum of 1335 litres with the rear seats folded in a 60:40 split – though this is enhanced by the fact that there is no spare tyre in the car, only an inflator kit.
When in use, the back seats offer air vents, USB-A and -C charging options, and lots of legroom and headroom for a comfortable journey.
There are plenty of handy features in the front for the driver and front passenger. The drinks holder is large enough to take a protein shaker, and a sunglasses pouch sits in the overhead console in the roof lining. The centre console box is also quite spacious and able to fit a handbag or small satchel.
The interior features a clean dashboard layout and clever design details, along with ambient lighting, black synthetic leather seats and, on the Premium model only, a six-speaker sound system (four on the Essential) and a panoramic glass sunroof.
Driver seating in the BYD Atto 2 DM-i Premium is power-adjustable six ways, with six-way manual adjustment for the Essential driver. Both the Essential and Premium offer four-way manual adjustment for front passenger seats. Seat heating is only available in the front seats on the Premium model.
A 50W wireless phone charger has been installed below the air vents, and there are USB-A/C ports up front too.
An 8.8-inch digital instrument display for the driver shows the speed and other important information, while switches for the adaptive cruise control and surround-view monitor are on the steering wheel itself, along with volume and phone controls.
The Start button, drive mode toggle, hazard lights and max windscreen clearing button are in the centre console, while the gear selector, indicators and wiper controls are on the steering column.
But the car’s centrepiece display is its central touch screen – 10.1 inches on the Essential and 12.8 inches on the Premium – which supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Aside from the air-conditioning and the radio and other audio controls, the panel is used to control seat heating, ambient lighting, regenerative braking and some safety assist controls. The driver can also schedule charging times, such as overnight during off-peak periods.
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i is slightly longer than its EV equivalent at 4330mm long.
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i's back seat offers air vents, USB-A/C charging options, and plenty of legroom and headroom.
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i pairs a 1.5-litre hybrid engine with an LFP Blade battery and a high-efficiency e-motor.
BYD's signature cross-over tail-lights, also known as a "Chinese knot" are highly distinctive.
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How does the BYD Atto 2 DM-i Hybrid drive?
The BYD Atto 2 is, of course, best known as an electric vehicle, but with this DM-i plug-in hybrid variant there’s still a strong EV connection and feel to the driving, as BYD chief product officer Sajid Hasan claimed at the national media launch.
“It’s an electric vehicle, and the petrol motor, 95% of the time it acts as a generator – so you’re getting all that instant torque and strong acceleration in this vehicle because it is more like an electric vehicle,” he said.
“Particularly for this car where it's going to be used in the city, [travelling] zero to 60km/h most of the time, that efficiency, that driving feel, is much better as an electric vehicle than it is as a petrol vehicle.”
The Atto 2 PHEV transitions from the wheels being driven by an electric motor, to being driven by both the motor and the engine, as well as to a mode where the engine charges the battery, easily without any change to performance.
During our stint of urban driving, the car delivered, accelerating well upon request and being nimble enough to manoeuvre in crowded traffic. It was easy to navigate and operated quietly – an initial hum on starting later fading away to become barely noticeable.
The clue is in the name. The 2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i uses a fourth-generation version of BYD’s dual-mode intelligent (DM-i) plug-in hybrid powertrain, pairing a 1.5-litre hybrid engine with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ battery and a high-efficiency electric motor system.
The engine offers a maximum of 72kW and 122Nm, while the e-motor produces 145kW/300Nm – offering a combined 122kW for the Essential and 156kW for the Premium (300Nm of torque for both).
Both versions of the Atto 2 DM-i claim a fuel consumption rate of 5.6L/100km when the battery is operating on a low state of charge. That’s no better than a regular non-plug-in hybrid, but is still quite efficient, and has the advantage of EV-only driving around town when the battery is topped up.
To that end, the Essential offers a claimed electric driving range of 39km (WLTP), contributing to a total combined range of 845km. With its bigger battery, the Premium a far better 90km of EV-only driving (WLTP again) and a combined range of 895km. With that in place, there is a prospect for the Premium to complete a daily commute on electrical power alone – offering a tempting prospect for an urban buyer.
That will require some dedication to keeping the battery charged, which is limited to AC power supply only. That restricts public charging options (AC chargers are getting harder to find) and puts the onus back on the owner charging the vehicle at home, ideally with a dedicated EV charger.
Managing up to 3.3kW only, BYD says the Essential will take 2.7 hours to charge from 15% to 100%, while the Premium will take 6.1 hours due to its larger battery.
Elsewhere in the drive, the car hugs the road well and is enjoyable to drive during winding stretches and up hills – with no prospect of the vehicle being unable to handle what was thrown at it.
On the day we were testing it, I initially found the suspension on the Atto 2 DM-i a bit hard and unforgiving, but upon questioning it was discovered that the tyres were overinflated. While I do feel this was remedied once this happened, I do feel it is worth bearing in mind.
The touchscreen menus are also easy to navigate with straightforward controls, with systems able to be controlled at the push of a button – meaning driver distraction is kept to a minimum while on the road.
Whether in EV or PHEV guise, the BYD Atto 2 has not been independently crash tested by ANCAP, nor is there any Euro NCAP safety rating issued.
BYD insists the car has strong safety credentials, with Hasan pointing to the use of 15.1% hot-formed steel with ultra-high tensile strength (up to 1500MPa) to create the cabin protection area for the front row. High-strength materials make up 58.6% of the monocoque, with key sections such as the front and centre pillars and door impact beams forming a structure to help protect occupants in case of a side impact.
BYD also says the Atto 2 DM-i has a braking distance of 36.7m from 100km/h to a complete stop, which Hasan says is “certainly above average and kind of pushing into performance car territory”. This is due in part to the Atto 2 DM-i’s Intelligent Power Braking (IPB) System, integrating key braking and active safety functions, as well as active dynamic driving aids such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and adaptive cruise control (ACC).
The Atto 2 DM-i also comes equipped with blind spot detection, various lane keeping aids, adaptive front lighting and a 360-degree camera.
Other active safety systems such as lane keeping assist and speed and collision warnings are present but unobtrusive, and front and rear parking sensors work well on the Premium variant we drove – with front parking sensors absent on the Essential model.
Additional passive safety includes front and side airbags for driver and front passenger, as well as curtain airbags front and rear.
With the launch of the Atto 2 DM-i, BYD has stated its ambition to “democratise” access to electrified vehicles, creating an affordable step into the market for first-time buyers.
As such, there’s a lot to recommend both the Essential and Premium versions of the Atto 2 DM-i. The prices are low and it is easily the smallest, and cheapest, plug-in hybrid SUV in the Australian market.
BYD has taken its successful Atto 2 model and, in a sense, recalibrated it for the EV curious, providing an alternative that can run on electric power alone – albeit for a limited distance. With the petrol engine onboard, the long range and easy refuelling provides the extra reassurance many owners will crave.
With less than 40km of EV-only range, the Atto 2 Essential is less convincing than the Premium. And for both models, the lack of DC charging capacity does mean that AC charging access is essential for the vehicle to operate – which can limit its usability.
It’s still hard to go past excellent small hybrid SUVs like the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross. Nonetheless, unique in its sector, fuel efficient, fun to drive and easy to navigate, the Atto 2 DM-i has a lot to recommend it.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
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