BYD Atto 1 vs Audi SQ7

What's the difference?

The BYD Atto 1 has already earned its place in history as the cheapest new EV ever sold in Australia. And the good news is that, on the strength of bigger-battery Premium version, it rarely puts a foot wrong as a city car, exceeding performance, efficiency, refinement and comfort expectations. The Atto 1 really delivers around town.

But the baby BYD’s price is too close to larger EVs with better range, while extended exposure reveals issues with seat comfort, touchscreen access/distraction, ADAS interference and nervous steering feel at speed. Australian road tuning is required to rectify these.

Still, as a cheap urban EV runabout, the Atto 1 Premium still (just) stands alone. A glimpse into the future, someday, all city cars will likely follow in the bold BYD’s footsteps.

There are newer options than the current Audi SQ7 and SQ8, including those which use the same platform, but don't write these luxury large SUVs off just yet.

It's a rare thing that a vehicle costing $200,000 has an air of pragmatism about it, but the SQ7 does. Its sensible leather upholstery, decent practicality, towing capability and near-excess of interior space make it a great family wagon.

As a counterpoint, the sharper looking SQ8 has minimal trade-off in comfort and interior room (at least for five) and is the kind of statement piece you'd expect for the price — especially in one of its loud paint colours.

Whichever way you leap, it's true that while the SQ7 and SQ8 are ageing, they are doing so gracefully and remain a superb option in this segment.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.

Fun fact. Designer Wolfgang Egger was responsible for the gorgeous Alfa Romeo 156 of 1997 among others, as well as some Audis and Lamborghinis later on. You can definitely see the latter’s influence in the Atto 1’s angular face.

Based on the Dolphin architecture and badged the Dolphin Surf elsewhere (as well as Seagull but that name wouldn’t fly here), the BYD’s boxy proportions are pure supermini and is about the size of the previous-generation Honda Jazz.

However, the designers have added some crossover cues to the styling, including plastic cladding around the wheel arches, to give it a pseudo SUV look.

Inside, though, the Atto 1 is unashamedly hatchback in layout and appearance, with a contemporary, minimalist dash, big central touchscreen with precious few buttons and loads of storage.

In other words, a typical modern small car from China.

If you're getting an SQ7, you'll want to tick the 'Black Pack' box because otherwise there are a lot of high-gloss silver details, especially at the rear that don't suit this tall and slightly awkward SUV.

The SQ8 is more convincing, appearing wider on the road with its new 'singleframe' grille design seemingly sucking it even closer to the tarmac like some kind of overgrown Audi RS3.

Both get an attractive new 2D design for the Audi rings and L-shaped grille details. These aid the SQ7's front end which is more muscular and purposeful than before.

The attractive lights have moved higher up the front end for enhanced presence, too. You get Matrix LEDs as standard but these candles are the hardcore HD Matrix items that feature laser light for further even longer light throw at night. They are simply awesome.

Fresh 22-inch alloy wheels and minor changes to badges finish off the exterior treatment for both cars.

The SQ8's bold specification — finished here in 'Sakhir Gold' — sets it apart from other SUVs as the metallic gold paint shimmers in the sunlight. The SQ8 is also available with whopping great 23-inch alloy wheels that you see here.

Inside, both cars share a similar architecture with 10.1-inch touchscreen for the multimedia and an 8.6-inch item below for heating and ventilation settings. 

The SQ7 is a great example of a design ageing without dating, its confident horizontal lines and well-proportioned cabin features are as attractive as they were at launch, if less impressive than the related VW Touareg's whopping 15-inch screen or the minimalist Range Rover Sport.

Adding to the feeling of quality is that signature Audi smell — a combination of leather and the Sensory Package's perfume, no doubt. The SQ7 keeps a round-bottom steering wheel which remains one of the best in the business, it's just the right size and diameter trimmed with dimpled leather.

Final flourishes include the optional contrast red stitching and seatbelts as well as eye-catching turned aluminium trims.

The BYD’s boxiness sure pays dividends accessing the Atto 1's interior, aided by tall doors, a high roof and lofty seating.

Initial impressions are very positive.

Lots of space, a decent driving position (in the Premium at least; the Essential has rake-only steering adjustment), grippy little wheel and a solid look and feel impart a sense of quality. This does not seem built down to a price.

The elevated centre console/fixed armrest provides ample storage below and easy reach of USB ports, sturdy cupholders above and a raised smartphone rest that doubles as a charger (again, only on Premium), allowing for quick downward glances without having to touch the device. Helpful.

Further points are won due to the very clean and minimalist dash presentation, with an electronic instrument display ahead of the driver (not a given nowadays thanks to Tesla’s minimalism-gone-mad influence), offering all the information you need in a concise and notably colourful manner.

That 10.1-inch central touchscreen, meanwhile, is probably one of the better examples from China, possessing superficially logical operation, clear markings and a row of fast-access icons for climate, audio, vehicle function, home screen and other controls.

However, the more time you spend in the Atto 1, the more the cabin doesn’t stand up that well under scrutiny.

The shapely tombstone-style front seats, which look a million dollars, are comfortable on short journeys but disappoint during longer drives, revealing a lack of sufficient back and thigh support.

There are no regenerative braking paddle shifters for single-pedal driving, just an on/off tile requiring a distracting and time-consuming touchscreen-menu deep-dive.

In fact, most functions demand at least one or two eyes-off-the-road-ahead prods of the screen, which is annoying and potentially hazardous.

Using the climate control is a good (bad) example.

Infernally fiddly screen slide controllers that are hard to pin-point with a hovering finger while the car is moving, let alone modulate, leads to temperature-selection fury. And those vinyl seats are clammy regardless of humidity levels and their perforations don’t help. Setting the desired climate environment is an utter faff.

And why must BYD’s synthetic leather smell so pungent? The off-gas odour can be nauseating for some on warmer days.

Worse still, even a glance towards the touchscreen sets off the distraction nannies. Frustrating. So is the intrusive lane-keep assist tech, unless you keep the car perfectly centred, with its constant nudging of the wheel while it nags away. More like Aggro 1.

Inevitably, turning these and other ADAS warnings off requires several menu deep-dives, leading to more driver-distraction paranoia. It’s a circle of stupidity for tech that’s meant to protect. And every new drive defaults to ‘on’. It's an infuriating mess.

Meanwhile, the Atto 1’s (two-person-only, remember) rear seat area also starts off promisingly, with easy entry/egress, adequate space (even for long legs and big feet) and a backrest and cushion combo offering sufficient comfort and support.

Amenities include useful door storage, overhead grab handles and map pockets, while the back of the centre console provides a cubby area just wide enough hold a bottle or larger keep-cup. That’s necessary because there is no folding armrest or subsequent cupholders back there, nor reading lights or USB ports.

And while the upward sweep of the window line means the rear can seem dark, the shape of the front seats allows some vision around and even through them for rear occupants.

Further back, the boot area is larger than the BYD’s diminutive size suggests, at 308 litres with backrests erect and 1037L with them folded forward.

The deep floor hides an even deeper cavity that’s large enough for charger cables, laptops and other paraphernalia that should be out of sight. That almost negates the need for the AWOL luggage cover.

But there's also a tyre repair kit instead of a spare wheel in there, and regular readers will know how incorrect that is. Every vehicle sold in Australia should come with one. Even city cars.

Loading/unloading is easy and there are hooks to secure things to, but clearing the high lip may be an effort for some.

And, though an EV, the is no extra storage to be found under the bonnet. The Atto 1 has no front boot, or froot.

The difference between aged and dated is best summed up, though, by the excellent usability of the SQ7's cabin controls.

The separate screen for ventilation, for example, makes it simple to adjust seat or vent temperatures without interrupting the main screen's navigation instruction or other media systems.

When using wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto the top screen is entirely devoted to the other software with no remnants of Audi's system. It runs smoothly at all times.

Switching back to Audi's system, and there's a lack of contrast to the dark main screen and navigation. The touch targets are huge, though, and the satisfying click of the haptic feedback is welcome when driving. It seems expensive and natural in a world of feel-free touch operation.

Audi's 12.3-inch digital driver's display remains one of the best in the business. Legible and customisable with bespoke sport modes and the ability to show a full-size map, if you wish.

You can keeping devices charged with a wireless pad or there are two USB-C ports under the cushy centre armrest. A 12-volt socket is also available, and two more charge points are found in the back.

If there's one criticism in the front, it's the fairly limited storage. The door bins are big enough for a 600mL bottle but not much more and beneath the armrest the tray is shallow. The only other storage spots are the two cupholders which are the perfect size for a small take-away coffee.

While on the critiques, the drive mode selector is awkwardly hidden near the passenger below the touchscreen.

The seats are amazingly comfortable with ample support and power adjust for everything, including under-thigh length and bolsters. Several massage programs can be accessed through the menus, too.

Continuing the comfortable seating, the SQ7's second row is capacious with plenty of head, leg and toe room even for those over 180cm.

The bench slides forwards and backwards manually and the backrest is adjustable. A fold-down armrest contains two more small cupholders, and there are two separate climate zones, two vents and heated outboard seats.

However, folding and unfolding the second row is a bit complex and quite heavy work with a strange mix between electric and manual movement to access the third row — a Nissan Pathfinder does this better.

Once back there, the third row is passable for adults providing the second row is slid forward.

There are ISOFIX ports and top tether anchors for both power-deployed third row seats, so you can fit up to five children's seats in an SQ7.

The SQ8's second row is still generous but you do lose a small amount of headroom owing to the sloping roof design.

You also sacrifice some boot space, at 608L with five seats and 1755L with the second row folded. That's still a lot but the spacious SQ7's 793L/1921L figures are even better and 295L with all seven seats up is respectable. Both have sturdy 40/20/40 split-fold rear seats.

As the vehicles are equipped with air suspension, owners can raise or lower the boot floor to make it easier to load bulky objects if needed. A power tailgate is standard on both models.

A retractable luggage cover, netted pocket, boot lights and some underfloor storage complete the boot, however both cars lack a spare tyre of any sort. A tyre inflation kit is included.

Audi's range of Q7 and Q8 large SUVs starts at $117,284 for the 45TDI and there's a plug-in hybrid version from $152,284, both before on-road costs. The flagship SQ7 and SQ8 are $174,815 and $178,815, respectively.

The pair is a rare example of a discounted new car, albeit by a slim $585, so you'd expect these behemoths to offer comprehensive standard specification.

Features such as 22-inch alloy wheels, ambient interior lighting, soft close doors, power-adjust heated and ventilated seats, quad-zone climate control, 'Valcona' leather upholstery, a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, full-length sunroof, navigation and a head-up display are included.

Naturally, options are available in packs and standalone choices with all vehicles we drove featuring at least one of the expensive box-ticks.

The 'Sensory Pack' seems a logical choice, bundling a 23-speaker, 1920-watt sound system with raising tweeters, 'Dinamica' headlining, massage seats, heated rear seats, Audi's air ioniser and interior perfume, extended leather upholstery and rear sun shades for $14,400.

Another major option is the $10,900 'Dynamic Package' with active roll stabilisation and Quattro Sport rear differential.

Stand-out stand-alone options include HD Matrix LED and Laser headlights combined with customisable OLED rear signatures ($3950) and the black exterior styling packages ($1850, or $2550 for the Plus version).

The as-tested price for the tow pack-equipped ($1500) 'Daytona Grey' car we spent most time in was rather high at $209,215 before on-road costs — that's over $30K worth of extras.

The Atto 1's electric motor is offered in two output choices. Either way, it can be found under the bonnet and driving the front wheels via a single-speed transmission.

The Essential scores a low-power version making 65kW and 175Nm of torque, which is enough for a 0-100km/h sprint time of a still-decent 11.1 seconds, while the Premium’s high-power unit ups those to 115kW and 220Nm respectively, shaving two seconds off in the process. Top speed is said to be 135km/h.

Note that, while the latter grade’s 43.2kWh battery adds 96kg overall compared to the smaller 30kWh model, it still enjoys a way-superior power-to-weight ratio of 82.7kW/tonne versus just 50.2kW/tonne.

The SQ7 and SQ8 both use a 4.0-litre twin-turbo 'hot vee' V8 petrol after the diesel SQ7 was abandoned in mid-2022.

It is the same engine you'll find in just about every application of this MLB platform, including the Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus — though it makes more power elsewhere.

In Audi's two medium-sporty SUVs it produces 373kW at 5500rpm and 770Nm between 2000-4000rpm.

In practice, it's a swelling, punchy engine without much top-end sparkle — though 4.1 seconds to 100km/h is nothing to scoff at.

The V8 also produces a rather splendid soundtrack, striking the right balance between Detroit burble and motorsport bark for this application.

An eight-speed torque converter auto transmission has been retuned for improved shift logic and it remains buttery smooth. It's pleasing enough just manoeuvring slowly around a car park, where you can feel just well calibrated the long travel throttle and transmission logic are.

The official consumption average for the Essential is 15.5kWh/100km and its 30kWh 'Blade' LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery offers a WLTP range of 220km.

The 43.2kW Premium bumps the energy use figure up to 16kWh/100km but offers 310km WLTP.

We came close to latter claim, with 263km of mixed driving and still showing about 10 per cent of range left, while the car’s consumption readout averaged 13.7kWh/100km overall. That rose to 16.5kWh/100km during a stint of harder, highway-heavy driving.

Charging times vary. With an 11kW AC capability on both grades, the Essential needs up to 16 hours and the Premium 22 hours plugged into a regular socket, and five and seven hours respectively using an optional 7.0kW Wallbox.

Meanwhile, switching to DC fast charging, the Essential’s 65kW capability means a 10-80 per cent top-up can be achieved in under 40 minutes, against the 85kW Premium’s 30 to 50-minute requirement.

With 2340kg to heave around, not even the 48-volt mild hybrid system can save the SQ7's fuel consumption — it's a thirsty beast.

The rated ADR combined cycle (urban, extra-urban) figure is 11.8L/100km and indulging in the ample performance resulted in 16.5L/100km on the trip computer. The SQ8 was much the same.

The SQ7 is certified to tow up to 3500kg (braked), equal to a Toyota LandCruiser or Nissan Patrol.

A fairly large 85L tank gives the SQ7 a theoretical driving range of around 720km from a fill-up. Naturally, 98 octane unleaded is required.

Sadly, we cannot comment on how the 65kW/175Nm Essential drives, but with 77 per cent more power and 25 per cent more torque, the 115kW/220Nm Premium’s performance is one of its calling cards.

Lively off the mark, even in Eco, it thrives in inner urban environments, with instant throttle response for effortlessly zippy and smooth acceleration, as you’d expect of an EV.

And it just keeps on keeping on at speed, giving the Premium a terrific breadth of performance flexibility. We’re now very curious to see how the Essential goes.

Armed with light and alert steering, the Atto 1 can weave in and out of traffic gaps with confidence and precision, and is backed up by a super-tight turning circle to boot, so parking manoeuvres around town is a doddle.

BYD’s decision to set up the chassis for a soft, long-travel suspension is appreciated, since the Premium takes most bumps and humps in its stride, making this one of the comfier city cars around.

Road and tyre noises are omnipresent, but aren’t not too bad overall by supermini standards, while the Hankook 185/55R16 tyres deliver sufficient grip, even over some rain-soaked roads we endured.

Most of these Atto 1 attributes also translate well at freeway speeds, with the Premium offering ample muscle for overtaking, slick steering responses and a planted chassis feel.

But, once you hit some faster corners, the BYD’s reactive steering, lofty seating and cushy suspension conspire to create considerable body movement, especially through tighter bends, scrubbing the front wheels as it turns wide (understeer).

Yet, press on a bit harder, the Atto 1 can instantly change its attitude to oversteer, feeling darty as weight shifts from the rear, making the steering suddenly too sharp and the car too nervous, Even experienced drivers might hesitate to carry on. And this happened on dry roads.

Of course, the BYD is a city car so not designed for sports-car handling, but it does lack the confidence and control of a hard-driven Mazda 2 or Suzuki Swift. Strangely, it seems more SUV-like than supermini, dynamically.

Most owners won't care, but they will have to live with the infuriating ADAS tune, with inexplicably sudden braking when the adaptive cruise control is on, and lane-support systems that all-too-often tug and bleat endlessly like an agitated goat, becoming too distracting, and requiring far-too-fiddly touchscreen menu diving to silence, especially as they default back on with every restart.

The driver-attention warning is also in a semi-permanent state of nerves, squawking all-too-regularly unless the driver is sat perfectly still, and will easily escalate the danger level to “take-a-break” should you dare move about in your seat. Which would be regularly, due to the latter’s lack of enduring support. A literal and metaphorical pain.

Clearly, then, the Atto 1 can really do with some Australian road tuning and on a number of fronts at that. Until this happens, these are the dark clouds blighting the blue skies that this car’s otherwise sunny disposition delivers with every urban drive on a daily basis.

Or, in other words, stick to the urban jungle.

Our drive loop started in South-East Sydney where the SQ7's burbly V8 and air suspension fitted right in, easily soaking up the worst of the concrete expansion joints and sharp-edged potholes.

It is a joy to waft around in the refined SQ7 with its remarkably good vision out the front and back (with 360-degree cameras to help elsewhere). Standard rear-wheel steer allows the back tyres to rotate up to 5.0 degrees, giving the 5072mm long SQ7 a better turning circle (12.5m) than a Q3 small SUV.

Its driven home further by the excellent drive mode customisation. Along with the standard programs, you can set an 'Individual' mode up with various selections for the suspension, steering, powertrain response and exhaust noise.

Following the SQ7, our time in the SQ8 took in some more twisting roads and the combination of 23-inch alloys with firmer suspension settings meant that, even in 'Comfort', 'Auto' or 'Balanced' drive modes, the coupe-styled model had a busier ride.

Both SQ7 and SQ8 featured 'Sport' adaptive air suspension, sitting 15mm lower than normal with the ability to drop the ride height up to 40mm in 'Dynamic' mode or raise it 50mm in lift mode to get out of sticky situations.

Audi chose not to specify the Dynamic pack on the SQ8, though, and the difference is noticeable compared to the SQ7. The coupe SUV rolls a little more in hard cornering and doesn't engage the rear end in quite the same way.

Back in the SQ7, turn in may feel a little less sharp owing to the taller height but the active roll stabilisation and Quattro electronically-controlled limited-slip differential splitting power between the two rear wheels makes for a more confident vehicle with better punch out of corners.

Grip is prodigious and the SQ7 is always in control with 285/35R22 Bridgestone Turanza T005 tyres.

A 2.4-turn lock-to-lock steering system is well-judged, remaining light in Comfort but adding enough weight and precision in Dynamic.

The brakes — 400mm front rotors clamped by six-piston calipers with optional ceramics — are reassuring and feel Autobahn ready. 

The Audi SQ7 with Dynamic Pack is like an Olympic swimmer that's put on some kilos and had a few kids but can still gap his teenage son in a 50-metre freestyle race.

This is perhaps the perfect expression of Audi's 'S' models USPs, being totally normal when pottering despite huge reserves of talent. 

The Audi SQ7 is currently unrated by local ANCAP safety authority but Euro NCAP awarded a Q7 50TDI a maximum five stars in 2019.

It features eight airbags, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, surround-view monitor and exit-warning system to stop occupants dooring cyclists.

The adaptive cruise control is smooth and natural, although we found the lane-keep and lane-trace programs to be a little overbearing. Both can be easily disabled by holding the button at the end of the indicator stalk for about five seconds.

Here’s where the BYD slips up a bit.

Yes, it comes with a better-than-industry-standard six-year warranty, but many rivals offer between seven and 10-year coverages, while the Atto 1’s mileage warranty is capped at 150,000km when most others include unlimited mileage. And roadside assistance is only for one year, as well.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km. Capped-price servicing is available, but no precise figures were available at the time of publishing.

Estimates are from under $200 for the first and third annual services, and from $500 and $650 for the second and fourth yearly visits, respectively. Please check with BYD for updated figures.

Currently there are about 105 BYD service outlets throughout Australia, with 30 more expected by the middle of 2026. This should address one of this brand's biggest concerns – sufficient after-sales care.

Audi recommends SQ7 and SQ8 owners bring their car in for a service every 12 months or 15,000km.

Service pricing is not cheap, with a five-year package costing $4600 for either model. For reference a basic service plan for a BMW X5 costs $3450 for five years.

Audi has moved to a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with owners able to extend that (for a fee) up to nine years with Audi Advantage. An extra two years of warranty and scheduled servicing costs $4360 for the SQ7 and $4160 for SQ8.

Additionally, customers get access to Audi's loyalty programs with event invitations, ambassador experiences and discounts offers from select partner companies.