2026 BYD Atto 2 review

How much does a 2026 BYD Atto 2 cost?

BYD Automotive offers two grades for the BYD Atto 2 electric SUV. The entry-level Dynamic is priced from $31,990 plus on-road costs, making it the cheapest electric SUV on sale in Australia, while the Premium version we’re driving here costs $35,990 plus ORCs.

Both BYD Atto 2 models are powered by the same 130kW electric motor mounted on the front axle, taking energy from a 51kWh BYD blade battery for a claimed range of 345km (WLTP). With the basic powertrain remaining the same, the difference between the two models comes down to features and creature comforts – and the inclusion list for the Premium model is frankly impressive for the price.

The BYD Atto 2 Premium is fitted standard with wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, electrically adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, there’s a 360-degree camera, advanced driver assistance safety suite, premium sound system, connected car technologies (with a subscription) and a configurable driver information display. 

A 12.3-inch colour touchscreen elevates the Atto 2 Premium from the Dynamic model, which makes do with a 10-inch set-up. Vehicle to Load (V2L) charging is also available via a supplied adaptor which connects to the charge port and provides two charging sockets to power devices on the road.

Consider that some of BYD’s competitors include these features only on the very priciest of models and it's not hard to conclude that the BYD Atto 2 is definitely packed with the gear that matters to buyers.

BYD Automotive has also improved its vehicle warranty in the past 12 months, so it is less restrictive and covers more components. That will benefit Atto 2 buyers who are now supported with a 6-year, 150,000km vehicle warranty and an 8-year, 160,000km battery warranty. All that said, it's worth considering that other manufacturers including Toyota and Hyundai are more generous with their vehicle warranties with no kilometre limitations applied to their own warranties.

Drivers can choose to service within the rapidly growing BYD dealer network (which already has 27 service centres in Victoria alone), and will take advantage of a service interval of 24 months/20,000km (whichever comes first).

More: Best new car warranties in Australia

2026 BYD Atto 2 exterior design

The exterior design of the 2026 BYD Atto 2 benefits from European styling led by the head of BYD design Wolfgang Egger, who was brought in from Porsche and Volkswagen. We’ve been presented with a black car, a $600 optional paint colour which shows up fingerprints too easily, but there are three other paint colours available including white as the only standard, no-cost colour.

The Atto 2 is 4310mm long, 1675mm high and 1830mm wide, making it comparable to a Toyota Yaris Cross or Hyundai Kona. While it is about the same length as the Kona, it has a higher roofline which translates to usable interior space. It has a sister car in the form of the Atto 1 compact hatch which is Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle, but as an SUV the Atto 2 offers the extra appeal of a bigger boot and more flexibility, so is likely to have broader appeal.

LED headlights and a unique tail-lamp signature incorporating an infinity symbol at either side help to distinguish the Atto 2 on the road, but the overall impact of the car's conventional design is that this is an SUV that will blend in with traffic, so buyers looking for an accessible no-nonsense electric vehicle that doesn't stand out from the crowd would do well to consider it.

Distinguishing this Premium grade from the most affordable Atto 2 Dynamic, which is fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels and budget Westlake tyres, are larger 17-inch alloy wheels shod with specialist Hankook EV SUV tyres.

More: Research and compare BYD vehicles on sale in Australia

What is the BYD Atto 2 like inside?

There’s plenty of technology in the form of the large colour touchscreen and separate driver information display, but the 2026 BYD Atto 2 stops short of overwhelming the driver with digital touchpoints. This is the modern affliction of many affordable EVs as costs are cut out of production through the elimination of buttons, dials and even manual vent controls.

While plenty of functions are controlled through the touchscreen and voice control, BYD manages to avoid a really stark appearance with a relatively conventional approach to the cabin.

The sports-focused front seat design is attractive with black synthetic leather upholstery edged with a lime stitching. From the driver’s position, everything looks good and well-finished. The only hint that this is a budget car is around steering wheel, where the indicator and gear-shifter stalks feel a bit cheap and cheerful, but you can forgive this detail when you focus on the value elsewhere in its package.

The start button is located in the centre console alongside a drive mode toggle, a regen braking switch, hazard lights and max windscreen clearing button. These are some of the main functions that you might need to find quickly so it's great they aren't squirelled away on the touchscreen. There's also a couple of cupholders, and a spot under the console to stash a small bag or wallet. There’s also a decent sized cubby which is big enough for a bottle of milk, although you won’t be able to close the lid.

There's nice detail, too, in the wireless charging pad which is positioned in front of the cabin air vents to maximise cooling. In addition, there's also a vent and fan under the phone to keep it cool. Anyone who has experienced a phone overheating while charging on a wireless pad will know BYD gets us. That said, there's only single-zone climate control, but at least the driver and passenger can choose their own seat temp.

Driver’s seat comfort is great, there’s plenty of support and it doesn’t require any fidgeting midway through a long drive to get comfortable. The steering wheel has rake and reach adjust so you can get it in the right spot, and surprisingly at this point, both the driver’s and front passenger’s seats are electrically adjustable, along with heating and ventilation.

In the rear seats, there’s loads of padding in the base cushion and a decent amount of legroom and headroom. It’s more room that second-row passengers would typically get in a hatchback and doesn’t feel cramped – although three adults across the rear would be challenging. Two child restraints will fit easily though, with two ISOFIX points available and three top tethers.

Boot space is clever and decent, too; there’s a false floor which hides the storage space for the charge cables and loads of room for shopping. A folding pushchair or golf bag should be able to fit across the wide opening. There's also two deep cubbies either side of the boot to put things so they don’t roll around.

Both second-row seats fold forward (split 60/40) so you’ve got the practicality of an SUV. It doesn't come quite flat but it's roomy enough. To boost available boot space, there’s no spare wheel but you do get an inflator kit.

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Is the BYD Atto 2 good to drive?

In short, the BYD Atto 2 is an accomplished small car, and I’d go so far as to say it impresses. My first pair of drives on a long freeway stretch both at posted limits and in traffic solidified my thoughts that the BYD Atto 2 is a very competent commuter.

The ride is well sorted and the suspension does a good job of keeping the car feeling solid on the road. As part of the affordability efforts, the rear suspension is a torsion beam rather than multi-link so this is not a car with deft handling characteristics, but neither is it too compromised, even on uneven country roads.  

There’s little tyre noise from the Hankook rubber and grip is decent – the Atto 2 drive coincided with a hefty downpour, and it felt assured on the road, perhaps assisted by its overall weight, and the low centre of gravity which is a feature of electric cars.

There are selectable drive modes as well which the driver can use to preference a driving style – Normal mode is easy to use, with regen braking quite a light touch. There’s also an Eco mode which improves efficiency, a Sport mode which delivers increased throttle responsiveness and delivers more feedback from the steering, and a Snowfield setting which improves traction. The car remembers your preference after turning it off so there’s no need to reselect your choice.

If I were seeking an area for improvement it would be that there is a small amount of rebound which could be addressed with improved damping. But because this is a small SUV, it’s easy to forgive, in fact it's likely to be imperceptible and of no concern to most drivers and passengers. It really is a minor criticism.

Other aspects that drivers will appreciate is the light steering which makes the Atto 2 incredibly easy to drive, and the tiny turning circle, which makes U-turns and parking an absolute breeze. Electric vehicles already benefit from smaller turning circles, but in a small car like the Atto 2, it’s even sweeter. Also assisting with parking is the 360-degree camera with selectable angles which is welcomed at this price.

So the BYD Atto 2 is pretty perfect, then? Not exactly. I had two significant issues with the advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) where the adaptive cruise simply switched off. Once was in the dark in relatively heavy rain where the cruise control switched off and wasn’t able to be reactivated for several kilometres, and the second time was in morning fog where all systems became unavailable for an extended period.

Neither of these weather events were unusual or extreme so it was disappointing to have this experience. Hopefully this is an issue which can be addressed with a software update as it's most likely a visibility issue related to sensor or radar.

More: Electric vehicles in Australia - everything you need to know

How efficient is the BYD Atto 2 and how does it charge?

The efficiency and charging of the 2026 BYD Atto 2 is a tale of two halves. On the one hand, the Atto 2 delivers impressive economy, returning a figure of just 12kWh/100km for a lengthy (and tedious slow commute into the city), and 13.9kWh/100km over a combination of conditions.

These numbers compare favourably to the lab test which sees BYD claim an energy consumption figure for the Atto 2 of 17kWh/100km. Like any electric car, the energy usage will vary dramatically depending on the type of driving you’ll be doing, but for a car that promises just 345km from a fully charged battery, it's likely you’ll be considering this car for shorter city commutes, station-running or as a regional commuter. For any of those use cases, the economy should be fine.

If you’re planning longer daily commutes, you’ll likely need to think about charging options at your destination or home. Our first experience of charging the Atto 2 was less than convincing. Despite it having a smaller battery than many electric cars, we found it very slow to charge. We used the RACV three-phase 22kW AC chargers located in the RACV City Club to charge from 30 per cent. It took over 7 hours to take on 34.5kW and had still only loaded up to 91 per cent.

That does not compare favourably to BYD's claim that the Atto 2 battery can be recharged from 0-100% on an AC supply in 8.2 hours.  We backed up our test on a different 22kW AC charger and, again, found the Atto 2 slow to charge. The cable plug and socket were also hot after a couple of hours on charge, which we've never experienced in another EV.

It would be good to try the Atto 2 on a variety of chargers to see how it performs over a longer timeframe and in different charging conditions. Households looking to charge the Atto 2 at home will need to install an EV charger to minimise charging times – or plan to deliver it regular top-ups rather than running the Atto 2 low on charge, particularly ahead of critical road trips.

How safe is the BYD Atto 2?

The BYD Atto 2 has not yet been independently crash tested by ANCAP, so it doesn’t carry an official safety rating at the time of writing – something safety‑focused buyers should keep in mind. That said, the Atto 2 is well equipped with a comprehensive suite of active safety technologies standard across the range, including autonomous emergency braking with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane‑keep assist, blind‑spot monitoring, rear cross‑traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. 

In practice, the suite of driver assist systems works well, and doesn't emit the same level of intrusive noise, or respond aggressively, as we've found with some other cars.

Six airbags are fitted, and the Atto 2 is built on BYD’s latest e‑Platform 3.0 architecture, which underpins several well‑regarded EVs. While this suggests a solid safety foundation, an ANCAP assessment will be key to confirming how the Atto 2 performs in real‑world crash scenarios before it can be considered on par with class leaders that already hold a five‑star rating.

More: The safest new cars in Australia

How does the BYD Atto 2 compare?

The BYD Atto 2 Premium is a solid package which combines a generous level of specification with a vehicle which is easy to drive. For its price, it's likely to be in consideration with a broad range of buyers looking for an affordable entry to electric motoring.

As a compact SUV, it has a number of battery-electric competitors and there’s a few that are worth comparing with specs and test drives. These include the similarly sized Jaecoo J5 EV which is equipped with a larger battery for a claimed range of 402km, the larger BYD Atto 3 EV and the diminuitive but really rather excellent Hyundai Inster EV.

In terms of driveability, the Hyundai Inster offers a more engaging feel behind the wheel but the Atto 2’s space is likely to offer greater appeal, while drivers looking for style and range are likely to opt for Jaecoo's new entrant instead.

Should I buy a BYD Atto 2?

It’s no great surprise that you’re reading this review if you’re in the market for an affordable electric SUV. Recent fuel price rises and concerns about supply, along with the uptake of home solar and batteries, have created an unprecedented interest in electric vehicle options, especially at the cheaper end of the market.

The BYD Atto 2 Premium definitely hits the sweet spot for price, value and all-round appeal. As one of fastest-growing brands in Australia, BYD is seeing increased interest too, and that bodes well for the rapid rollout of dealerships required to deliver an adequate aftersales experience.

Barring the issues we found with the charging, and the drop-out of the adaptive cruise control on two occasions, we’ve concluded the BYD Atto 2 is one of the better small EVs currently available in the market.

If buying one is on your radar, though, I’d be quick to book that test drive. Affordable electric SUVs are about to become the newest must-have gadget and demand is likely to outstrip demand, at least for the short term.

^{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.}