BYD Atto 1 Essential review: small but mighty

The BYD Atto 1, known as the Seagull in China, has finally landed in New Zealand, and it has somewhat rattled not just the small EV segment, but also the small car segment on a whole thanks to its seriously competitive pricing.

We previously had a blast driving its Chinese domestic market counterpart around a coned-off track in a car park in China, where it proved to be both seriously competent and immensely entertaining, quickly becoming the favourite of the Aussie and Kiwi motoring journos, despite their being a large number of considerably more powerful, sporty and luxurious cars available to drive.

The Atto 1 is slightly larger than a Suzuki Swift and, despite being all electric, is priced at roughly the same price point as the little Suzuki, with the entry-level Essential model we drive here starting the range at frankly startling $29,990.

That small price tag does come with another small number, however, and that is the Essential's range of ‘just’ 220km. I put the just in quotation marks because, is that really a problem? The Atto 1 is unashamedly a city car, particularly in its entry guise, and a range of 220km is more than enough for its intended use case and shouldn’t be considered a negative these days of fast charging times and plentiful chargers.

Of course, while the Atto 1 was massively fun in its Seagull form in a Chinese car park, the big question is whether that immense fun would translate to real-world Kiwi roads.

And, thankfully, the answer to that is a resounding "yes," but it comes with a few significant electronic quirks that may put some off. For now at least. But more on that later.

On the outside: what are the BYD Atto 1 Essential's main design features?

The Atto 1 sports a look that is both quirky and distinctive. It’s a cute, if slightly awkward, city car that appears a little pinched in the middle. Its appeal is very colour-dependent; while our light-blue test model looked a bit naff, it looks absolutely brilliant in other shades, particularly the bright yellow.

The design is largely inoffensive, and it’s unlikely to be called ugly by most. The base model we tested comes on steel wheels, but they are adorned with brilliant aero-style wheel covers that really suit the car's aesthetic and look surprisingly good.

Overall, it's a distinctive design that stands out in the urban landscape without being overly polarising. Just a little bit.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the BYD Atto 1 Essential's cabin like?

Stepping inside the Atto 1, you'll find a cabin that feels like a significant step up from the more basic Chinese version. The design language clearly reflects that of its larger sibling, the Atto 3, particularly in the switchgear.

That small price tag does come with another small number, however, and that is the Essential's range of ‘just’ 220km. I put the just in quotation marks because, is that really a problem?

While it avoids its larger sibling’s odd gym-inspired styling (and, thankfully the strange “fake muscle” trim), it does feature a similar row of rotary-style switches on the dash, including a volume control that is remarkably easy to turn off accidentally.

The cabin is very comfortable and surprisingly roomy for such a tiny car, and while a lot of hard plastics are present, everything feels of very good quality. 

The seats are covered in a functional, if not totally convincing, fake leather, and a useful phone platform is located on the centre console, though it's not a wireless charger in this base model.

The one oddity in the interior is the infotainment screen. Like all BYDs, it’s a bright, responsive, and vibrant display, but it's very small, which in itself is not the issue.

The issue is that the user interface from BYD's larger screens has simply been scaled down, making icons and text tiny and potentially difficult for some drivers to read easily. Such as me…

On the road is where the Atto 1 truly shines: for a small car, it boasts an amazingly good ride and delightfully sharp, responsive handling.

Another small irritation is the Essential model's lack of a one-touch function for winding the windows up. They drop on a single touch, but you need to hold the switch to get them up again. It's a small omission, but a surprising and slightly annoying one.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the BYD Atto 1 Essential like to drive?

On the road is where the Atto 1 truly shines: for a small car, it boasts an amazingly good ride and delightfully sharp, responsive handling.

It's an impressively high-quality, cheap, small vehicle that also happens to be an EV, achieving true price parity with petrol equivalents like the Suzuki Swift. 

The nose just dives into corners with enthusiasm, and there's a predictable, controllable, and fun hint of lift-off oversteer that allows you to adjust your line by coming off the throttle. This engaging dynamic is a hallmark of great small cars and is enhanced here by the EV's very low centre of gravity.

The ride quality is impressive; despite riding on tiny, narrow tires that still actually offer plenty of grip, it remains comfortable, compliant and extremely well controlled. Due to its short wheelbase, it can get jostled by surface imperfections, but it never feels unpleasant.

Performance is sprightly for city driving, and it handles overtakes on narrow roads just fine, though it might feel a bit breathless when attempting to pass at 100km/h or accelerate up hills. Not a fault of the Atto, just a by-product of it being a small budget car really.

However, the driving experience is severely hampered by the driver-assist systems. The driver monitoring system is infuriatingly overactive; during a 50 kilometre drive, it issued 43 incorrect warnings to "keep my eyes on the road," often triggered by bright sunlight.

Furthermore, the lane-centring function for the radar cruise control is infuriating, constantly ping-ponging the car between the lane markings.

If your driving is primarily around town, this quirky, capable, and fun-to-drive EV is a compelling package that is hard to ignore.

Both can be turned off, but will be on again the next time you start the car, highlighting the fact that the Atto 1 sorely needs a simple profile setting or an over-the-air update to either add one, make the systems less overactive and intrusive or, preferably, both.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the BYD Atto 1 Essential's warranty and servicing situation?

The BYD Atto 1 Essential comes with a 6-year/150,000km warranty, with 8 years of roadside assistance and an EV Battery warranty of 8 years/160,000kms. The Atto1 requires an initial service at 3 months, then every 12 months or 20,000km. BYD offers a number of pre-paid service plans via its dealers.

On the whole: what do we think of the BYD Atto 1 Essential?

The BYD Atto 1 is a fabulous little car.

It's an impressively high-quality, cheap, small vehicle that also happens to be an EV, achieving true price parity with petrol equivalents like the Suzuki Swift. It’s immensely fun to drive, with fantastic ride quality and sharp handling that makes zipping around town a joy.

However, the brilliant chassis is let down by its flawed electronic driver aids. The hyperactive driver monitoring and erratic lane-centring are not just annoying; they're infuriating.

Despite these glaring issues - which should be able to be fixed with a software update - the Atto 1 represents remarkable value for money.

If your driving is primarily around town, this quirky, capable, and fun-to-drive EV is a compelling package that is hard to ignore. If, however, you intend to head out on road trips, then I would suggest looking at the more expensive $35,990 Premium model that adds more power and close to 100km more range.

BYD Atto 1 Essential FAQs

What kind of car is the BYD Atto 1 Essential?

A small electric city hatch.

Does the BYD Atto 1 Essential have hybrid or EV technology?

Yes, it is all-electric.

What’s the energy economy of the BYD Atto 1 Essential?

BYD claims an average combined energy consumption of 15.5kWh/100km for the Atto 1 Essential.

Is the BYD Atto 1 Essential safe?

The Atto 1 Essential gets six airbags, including front and side airbags for the front seat occupants, and curtain airbags. It has a 5 Star NCAP safety rating.

What safety and assistance features does the BYD Atto 1 Essential have?

What are the BYD Atto 1 Essential's main rivals?

• Dongfeng Box ($29,990): Slightly bigger, but not as good. Worrying safety rating.
• GWM Ora ($33,990): The only other EV that comes close, price-wise. Older and less engaging.
• Suzuki Swift RSC ($29,990): About the only thing more engaging to drive for the money. Not an EV.
• Toyota Yaris GX Hybrid ($33,590): It's a Toyota. And it is rather good. Not an EV either.
• MG3 Excite Hybrid+ ($30,990): Value-packed and frugal hybrid. Again, not an EV though.