I drove the Chinese car that could kill off Tesla | Tech News

2025 has been a robust 12 months for BYD, now one of the greatest Chinese electric car corporations in the UK. Back in May, BYD gross sales exceeded Tesla in the UK for the first time with the model registering unprecedented growth throughout the continent that can solely be described as outstanding. 

In July, BYD registered 13,503 new autos throughout Europe, a huge 225% year-on-year growth and just below 5,000 more than Tesla. Off the forecourt, BYD have prolonged their presence, from their earlier workplace into a model new state-of-the-art facility in Uxbridge, West London. 

Almost 18 months in the past, we bought behind the wheel of BYD’s Atto 3 which is generally remembered for quirky options resembling guitar strings and eccentric door handles. 

Almost a 12 months and a half on, BYD has launched the sequel, the Atto 2. A model that seems like a step up and a more grown up model for a model that’s matured into one of the UK’s most prolific. 

Exterior 

From the outdoors, the Atto 2 seems nearly equivalent to its predecessor and is unlikely to get heads turning. The new model measures 1675mm high, 4310mm long and 1830mm broad however doesn’t stand out in addition to many of the car’s rivals in the b-SUV phase resembling the Kia EV 3 or Renault 4. 

The car is available in a alternative of 4 colors with house owners capable of choose from ‘Climbing Grey’, ‘Hiking Green’, ‘Skiing White’ and ‘Cosmos Black’.

Entering the vehicle couldn’t be simpler with the BYD Atto additionally benefitting from NFC technology which could make car keys a factor of the previous. According to BYD, motorists will have the ability to use their smartphones or watches to unlock their vehicle effortlessly, even in locations with restricted signal resembling underground car parks. 

Cost 

The BYD Atto is available in two trims, the entry-level Boost presently on sale in the UK and the higher-end Comfort arriving at the finish of December. 

The Atto Boost retails at £30,850, with street customers capable of get their palms on the model for simply £339 monthly with 0% APR. The Comfort is barely more, priced at £34,950, with month-to-month installments barely increased at £369 monthly.

However, consumers of the Comfort will benefit from further options, together with a barely increased vary and quicker DC Charging. Owners may even benefit from an spectacular six-year or 90,000-mile guarantee, with the battery having fun with an eight-year or 120,000-mile guarantee.

Meanwhile, these ordering the model in September can even take benefit of 5 years of free servicing. In comparability, Tesla’s most cost-effective vehicle, the Model 3, begins from nearly £40,000.

Performance 

The Atto 2 provides a comfy driving expertise that instantly feels a step above its predecessor. Last time, we praised the Atto 3 for offering a clean experience, which has solely been elevated in the Atto 2. The car glides over the floor with bumpy tarmac, potholes and even gravel all barely noticeable when in the driver’s seat.

The Atto 2 has sharp, responsive steering with the entrance tyres gripping into corners, making a journey via the countryside a enjoyable and memorable expertise. The car isn’t constructed for efficiency, however like most electric autos, the torque and acceleration continues to be spectacular for these coming from an ICE petrol or diesel model. 

BYD claims the model can attain 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds, barely down on the 7.3 seconds supplied in the Atto 3. However, the prime velocity in the Atto 2 and Atto 3 is equivalent, with the model capped at 99mph, more than enough for the metropolis viewers it’s attempting to draw. 

The Atto 2 Boost model options a 51.1kWh Blade Battery with a WLTP vary of up to 214 miles. BYD claims the 82kW DC charger can prime up autos from 10% to 80% in simply 38 minutes. 

Meanwhile, the Comfort model comes outfitted with a 64kWh Blade Battery with a increased 267-mile vary and faster charging. 

The Chinese producer claims the model can hit 80% charge in simply 25 minutes on the higher-end Atto 2. Unlike some electric fashions, the Atto 2’s regenerative braking isn’t as robust, with street customers unable to benefit from one-pedal driving. 

As with all fashionable vehicles, security features resembling lane-keeping help and driver distraction instruments are additionally fitted as normal. I discovered the driver monitoring software to be much less delicate than others, with a quiet bleep gently directing your imaginative and prescient back to the street.

However, I struggled with the lane-keeping help on motorways which felt inflexible, arduous and nearly as if the tech was attempting to push my palms off the wheel. Some of these could be deactivated with a flick via the menus on the infotainment screen or via a useful button positioned on the steering wheel, though these will reset when the vehicle is powered down.

Interior 

Stepping inside the cabin, the Atto 2 feels a more grown-up model of its predecessor. Gone are the quirky guitar strings and artsy door handles in exchange for a cleaner and more wise design. The electronically adjusted vegan leather-based seats are comfy on long journeys with the option to heat them up at the contact of a button. 

The Atto 2 additionally advantages from a panoramic sunroof, adjustable sunshade and a 360-degree panoramic digicam. The dashboard is dominated by a fast 12.8-inch rotatable touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay fitted as normal. 

The screen show was clear with maps superbly introduced and 0 lag as I flicked effortlessly between radio stations, podcasts and navigation with a fast swish. 

The Atto 3 was fitted with an aeroplane-style joystick to change between gear place modes however this has been ditched for a lever behind the steering wheel in the Atto 2. 

The new model can be outfitted with a beneficiant 450-litre boot space, more than a lot of C-segment household hatchbacks. With the adjustable rear seats folded down, the Atto 2 can really maintain up to 1,340 litres with ease. However, the inside is barely let down with cheap-feeling plastics and a rock-hard steering wheel. 

Conclusion 

The Atto 2 is a step up from its predecessor, the Atto 3, and symbolic proof of how BYD has grown into a more critical competitor over the previous 18 months. The car handles nicely with sharp, responsive steering in corners and a robust experience, eliminating the sharpness of tough street surfaces and potholes. 

The Atto 2 advantages from quicker charging than its predecessor, whereas the 271-mile vary in the Comfort model is more than enough for metropolis driving. Inside, the Atto 2 advantages from the newest security tech, a high definition infotainment screen and a increased high quality inside. 

The wonderful multi-year guarantee settlement and 5 years of free servicing in September could make it an engaging proposition for patrons. However, the model is let down by an uninspiring exterior design in comparison with its rivals and low cost plastics inside the inside. 

BYD’s rising gross sales and increasing services are set to make the Chinese producer a main participant in the UK over the coming years. The Atto 2 is simply one other piece in the jigsaw for one of the freshest manufacturers in the UK.