Six visitor days at the Paris Motor Show will be an endurance test for the Chinese electric SUV BYD Atto 3. With a rotating screen and elastic rubber bands on the doors, it offers kids plenty of play and fun – not all rubber bands. it will probably get rid of it.
However, if the child likes the car, this may affect the parents’ decision to buy the Chinese car. Especially in popular compact SUVs, the choice is so large that it is difficult to stand out from the crowd. With a length of 4.46 meters, Atto 3 is successful not only with its pleasant appearance, but with many unusual gadgets in the interior.
throttle and guitar strings
The first thing we see in the blue cockpit is the large, rotating touchscreen. In portrait format, the above information is particularly easy to read without having to look away from the road. The digital gauges on the steering column are a bit small. The gear selector is similar to the throttle on an airplane, with large, round air ducts at the front.
Red rubber bands hold items on door shelves in place. They can be plucked and sound like guitar strings. Since when has family peace been ensured during the holiday trip? In any case, the quality of the choice of materials and workmanship is correct. Hard plastic is only found in the foot section. The space is suitable for the classroom. Three kids can sit comfortably in the back, but things get tight for three adults. The trunk also offers ample space with 440 to 1338 liters.
Chinese e-drive
The Atto 3 is the first model in BYD’s e-Platform 3.0. According to BYD, it provides an 89 percent system efficiency by integrating all the key components of the drivetrain even better and more efficiently. A heat pump that comes as standard also contributes to this, and electric cars lose less range at low temperatures.
An electric motor drives the front axle in the Atto 3 with 204 hp (150 kW) and a maximum torque of 310 Nm. The battery has a capacity of 60.5 kilowatt-hours, which allows the SUV to cover 420 kilometers according to WLTP – in practice it should be less than 350 kilometers with a lot of highway traffic. It draws 88 kW of electricity on the fast charger – that’s not the highest value either. The battery recharges to 80 percent in 29 minutes.
This is how the Chinese go
We can do a short test tour at a closed airport. Our first impression: The Atto 3 is a solid electric SUV with unobtrusive handling. Gets rid of normal e-punch while accelerating. So we don’t have to press the accelerator pedal carefully so as not to whip the family, because even if we hit the accelerator, the system doesn’t put in full power right away. The SUV reaches 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, with a top speed of 130 km/h.
The overall package is compatible with the BYD Atto 3 and can be attractive for families with a fairly small budget. Price will be decisive for the success of the Chinese. This is yet to be determined as the brand is not expected to launch in Switzerland until 2023. However, Blick expects a starting price of around CHF 40,000.