Summary
The BYD Atto 3 is a mid-sized all-electric SUV, and its Chinese manufacturer’s first foray into the UK market. The model became available to order in Spring 2023 and started hitting UK roads a few months later.
Arriving to challenge established family-sized EVs like the Kia Niro EV and Volkswagen ID.4, Car‘s Alan Taylor-Jones comments that the Atto 3 is “a solid start” for the BYD brand – a competitive performance package with a respectable battery range and plenty of on-board tech for a reasonable price tag. “It’s not as satisfying to drive as the best in class, but it’s comfier than most which goes a long way to make up for it.”
“The character of this car is off-putting in the end”, says Erin Baker of Auto Trader. “The brakes and steering lack the dynamic finesse of cars designed for European drivers.” Parkers concludes that the Atto 3’s rear headroom is “not great”. The Carbuyer team also points out that BYD is a new name with an unknown long-term reliability record.
Despite its drawbacks when compared to more expensive rivals, reviewers generally believe that the Chinese manufacturer has produced a credible contender in one of the fastest-growing and most competitive segments in the new car market, which bodes well for future models.
As of February 2026, the BYD Atto 3 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 73%. It scores top marks for its excellent safety rating and zero tailpipe emissions, although media reviews have been less complimentary so far. We don’t currently have a complete set of running costs, so this score could change once those are available, and it’s still too early to have any meaningful reliability data as the Atto 3 is a brand-new model.
Atto 3 highlights
- Well-built, upmarket interior
- Well-equipped as standard
- Comfortable driving experience
- Reasonably priced
Atto 3 lowlights
- Long-term reliability unknown
- Charging speeds could be quicker
- Rivals are more fun to drive
- Rear headroom is rather tight
Key specifications
Body style: Medium SUV/crossover
Engines: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £36,490 on-road
Launched: Spring 2023
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed: Design
Score: 7.4 / 10
“The BYD Atto 3 offers enough to make the car worth looking at among those considering the switch to electric motoring. It fulfils most of the practical needs one looks for in a new car, while for those seriously concerned about their carbon footprint, the battery technology and lack of cobalt will be an attraction. It’s a newcomer definitely worth checking out.”
Author: Andrew Charman
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“New kid on the block BYD has hit the ground running with its all-electric family SUV, combining quirky design with a comfortable ride in the Atto 3.”
Author: Ellis Hyde
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“We like the BYD Atto 3’s comfort and its stylish, well-made interior, while the technology is as good as it gets right now. The car is efficient and safe – the biggest challenge it has is to keep BYD’s full name quiet – having Build Your Dreams emblazoned across the back may put some buyers off.”
Author: Steve Fowler
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“It is the character of this car that is off-putting in the end. The brakes and steering lack the dynamic finesse of cars designed for European drivers, who tend to drive on twisty roads and are in a permanent hurry to be somewhere else.”
Author: Erin Baker
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Business Car
Model reviewed: Design 60kWh
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Atto 3 impresses, is good value for money, offers a tidy drive and has a spacious and unusually styled interior. Range and interior quality issues aside, it remains a serious and credible EV rival to the established opposition.”
Author: Martyn Collins
Read review
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD looks good value for money, drives well, the quality is good, and it has a spacious and interesting interior. But will the 260-mile range be enough?”
Author: Martyn Collins
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Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“If we’re talking thoroughly sensible family transportation, the BYD Atto 3 is definitely worthy of your consideration. Performance is strong enough, the range respectable and it’s certainly keenly priced for the sheer amount of kit you get. Sadly it’s not as satisfying to drive as the best in class, but it’s comfier than most which goes a long way to make up for it.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The new BYD Atto 3 is a great-value electric SUV with a cool interior and a useful 260-mile range.”
Author: Steve Fowler, Andy Goodwin
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“For a first foray into the UK market, the BYD Atto 3 is a respectable effort. It offers the value and quality to seriously consider compared with the established names, although that lack of space may prove a sticking point.”
Author: Ryan Hirons
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Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Atto 3 is a quirky but compelling electric family SUV with a comfortable and well-appointed cabin that allows it to stand out from the pre-established competition.”
Author: Tom Jervis, John McIlroy
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Atto 3 might not set a new price benchmark in the same way MG did with the MG4, but in terms of equipment, the Atto 3 makes everything else in the segment look a little mean.”
Author: Mike Askew
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Atto 3 is perfectly good to drive – with very comfortable ride quality in particular, the whole package is a practical size for a family car, and it’s competitively priced. Although it doesn’t charge particularly rapidly (with an 88 kW maximum rapid charging rate), the official range of 260 miles is better than many rivals in this segment and at this price point.”
Author: Paul Clarke
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The BYD Atto 3 is a decent family SUV, with a particularly quirky and eye-catching interior, a tonne of features for the money and a reasonable driving experience. Its major problem is that there are lots of other very decent cars of this type and several feel more polished than this.”
Author: Phill Tromans
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Don’t dismiss the BYD Atto 3 because of its strange name or bland looks. It’s actually a very competent electric car from a manufacturer that’s bigger than you might realise. But is it good enough to take on the Kia Niro EV and VW ID.4? We’re not so sure…”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.2 / 10
“Space inside is for the most part good while quality and equipment impresses. Given that it’s nearer the price of an EV hatch than similarly sized SUV, it’s good value, too. We do wish there was a bit more rear headroom while the driving experience isn’t going to appeal to an enthusiast.”
Author: Alan Taylor-Jones
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The Scotsman
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“In a market where the compact SUV is ubiquitous, the BYD Atto 3 does little to stand-out from the kerbside, but the quirky interior might help distinguish it from blander offerings from more established competitors. It has all the practical advantages of its class in terms of space and comfort and with decent range for the money, plus high levels of equipment across the range it makes a solid first impression.”
Author: Steven Chisholm
Read review
Model reviewed: 61 kWh Design
Score: 8 / 10
“Brands like Kia, Hyundai and Skoda took years to have a product that could be measured equally against competitors. BYD is already there, ready to go head-to-head with established players with a competent and competitive all-rounder.”
Author: Mat Allan
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The BYD Atto 3 drives well, more smoothly over speed bumps and potholes than many electric cars, weighed down as they are by heavy batteries. You get something close to the official 260-mile range from a full tank, something that can’t be said for many electric cars.”
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed: Design
Score: 8 / 10
“While not exceptional, the BYD Atto 3 is nevertheless a solid all-rounder and a rather impressive entry to the market. And on the strength of this evidence, while it might be new to the British market, BYD isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Best make sure we get its name right from the start, in other words.”
Author: Alex Robbins
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The BYD Atto 3 drives decently, and depressing though it is to say, in this class ‘decent’ is as good as it gets.”
Author: Paul Horrell
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: October 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 91%
Child protection: 89%
Vulnerable road users: 69%
Safety assist: 74%
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of February 2026, the BYD Atto 3 has not been tested by Green NCAP.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of February 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the BYD Atto 3 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Atto 3, we’ll publish the results here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 260 miles | B |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 4.3 m/KWh | B |
As of February 2026, we don’t have a complete summary of running costs for the BYD Atto 3. At this stage, all we can say is that the electrical efficiency (the equivalent of miles per gallon for a petrol or diesel car) is poor. However, BYD’s advanced battery tech means that the range is still good despite this.
We expect to get insurance and servicing cost data shortly, so check back soon.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the BYD Atto 3, you might also be interested in these alternatives.
Audi Q4 e-tron | BMW iX1 | Ford Explorer | Hyundai Kona Electric | Kia Niro EV | Mercedes-Benz EQA | MG ZS EV | Tesla Model Y | Volkswagen ID.4 | Volvo XC40 Recharge
More information
More news, reviews and information about BYD at The Car Expert
Buy a BYD Atto 3
If you’re looking to buy a new or used BYD Atto 3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car.
Search for your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more
Discover great deals available on both new and used cars. Find out more
Lease a BYD Atto 3
If you’re looking to lease a new BYD Atto 3, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find a competitive deal.
Personal contract hire deals from Carparison Leasing. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Leasing.com. Find out more
Personal contract hire deals from Carwow. Find out more
Subscribe to a BYD Atto 3
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
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Car subscriptions from Just Vehicle Solutions.
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Car subscriptions from Flexible Vehicle Contracts.
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