The BYD Atto 2 arrives with a two-model range kicking off with the Dynamic, at $31,990, before on-road costs, before stepping up to the Premium at $35,990 BOC. They both get the same motor and battery, by the way, so the extra money comes down to extra kit.

The Dynamic rides on 16-inch alloys wrapped in cheaper Westlake rubber, scores LED headlights and daytime running lights and gets rain-sensing wipers and heated wing mirrors. Inside, there’s a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, an 8.8-inch driver display, synthetic leather seats with manual adjustment up front and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto linked to a four-speaker stereo.

The Premium rides on 17-inch alloys wearing better Hankook rubber, and there’s a panoramic glass roof with a shade and roof racks. Inside, the central screen grows to 12.8 inches, and there’s an eight-speaker stereo and a wireless charge pad. Your seats are now electronically adjusted and heated and cooled.

In the cabin of the Atto 2, BYD has made two pretty good choices. The first is that the cabin feels toned down compared with the Atto 3 (which is all chunky wheel-style controls and vents). This one feels far more sedate and conventional in its design, which I think is a win. The other good decision is to equip the Atto 2 with soft plastics, rather than hard scratchy ones, in places like the door panels. In some cheaper cars, you feel your elbows constantly rubbing against cheap-feeling plastics, but that’s not the case here.

Both Atto 2 models share the same powertrain - a front-mounted electric motor producing 130kW/290Nm which is sent to the front tyres.

The BYD Atto 2 sits on the brand's fully-flat EV platform, which means this is a five-seat small SUV with genuine room in the back for adult-sized passengers. A 175cm-tall occupant can sit comfortably behind their own driving position, with ample knee and headroom to avoid feeling cramped. There's also heating and cooling in the front seats in the top-spec Premium model, while both trims find seats wrapped in artificial leather.

Acceleration in the Atto 2 feels fairly sedate, even under flat-footed urgency. BYD reckons you can knock off the sprint to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds in both trim levels.

Both BYD Atto 2 models share the same battery, a 51.1kWh 'Blade' LFP unit, which should unlock a promised WLTP driving range of 345km.