BYD Atto 3 electric midsize SUV unveiled with 521 km range

The electric car segment is rapidly growing in India. Chinese electric carmaker BYD has launched the BYD Atto 3 electric midsize SUV in India with a claimed rage of 521 km at a starting price of Rs. 33.99 lakh. Since it’s announcement earlier in the year, the Atto 3 has secured 1,500 bookings, highlighting the interest in the Chinese electric SUV. Deliveries are expected to commence in January 2023. Here is everything you need to know about the latest electric car to enter the Indian market.

Table of Contents

• BYD Atto 3 Specifications
• BYD Atto 3 Powertrains and Range
• BYD Atto 3 Exterior
• BYD Atto 3 Interior
• BYD Atto 3 Safety Features
• BYD Atto 3 Competitors

BYD Atto 3 Specifications

BYD Atto 3 Powertrains and Range

The headline feature for the BYD Atto 3 is the 521 km claimed range from the 60.48 kWh battery pack. The Atto 3 is based on BYD’s own e-Platform 3.0 electric car platform that uses Blade Battery technology for the battery pack. The Blade Battery improves the safety of the lithium ion battery pack and is claimed to be less susceptible to catching fire after being damaged. The technology also features higher energy density, allowing for longer range on electric cars.

The battery powers the permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 150 kW and 310 Nm of peak torque. These figures come together to give the Atto 3 the capability to sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in under 7.3 seconds. Once you’ve exhausted the battery charge, the Atto 3 can charge from 0 to 80% charge in 50 minutes using an 80 kW DC fast charger. On a standard AC plug, charging will take up to 10 hours.

BYD Atto 3 Exterior

The Atto 3 boasts of an EV-first exterior design that is a departure from the shared design other manufacturers have used for their electric cars. The front is completely closed off and features a curvaceous design with aggressive elements. The angular headlamps are connected by a thick chrome grille while the bumper features the front radars for the ADAS system.

Like the front, the rear features a full width LED light bar that connects the LED tail lamp clusters on each end. The side profile is sculpted and don’t feature any aggressive angles. Instead, it is the aerodynamic 18-inch alloy wheels that will catch your eye. Overall, the design is extremely understated and there are no obvious ways to tell the Atto 3 is an all-electric car.

BYD Atto 3 Interior

If the exterior seems a little conventional, the interiors go beyond the definition for unconventional. BYD has focused on offering a sporty aesthetic for is interior, with the front seats designed in line with racing seats with ample side bolstering. This pales in comparison to the dashboard that features a flowing aesthetic that also houses the eccentrically styled AC vents and the rotating 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The Atto 3 also features a panoramic sunroof, electric powered front seats (driver and co-driver), ambient lighting, and a 440-litre boot space.

BYD Atto 3 Safety Features

The Atto 3 has been equipped with seven airbags along with ABS, ESC, hill descent control and traction control. BYD has also included driver assistance features in the form of lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, blindspot monitoring, and collision warning systems.

BYD Atto 3 Competitors

As the Atto 3 is a CKD car, it has been priced to compete against the likes of the MG ZS EV and the Hyundai Kona. This is how the Atto 3 compares against its competitors in terms of price and range.

At first glance, the BYD electric SUV costs Rs. 10 lakh more than its competitors. However, the Atto 3 offers 60-70 km more range than the Kona Electric and the ZS EV. The host of features and ADAS capability on the Atto 3 does make the Chinese electric SUV a worthy contender, even with the higher price.