2022 BYD Atto 3 electric car detailed: Price, driving range, charging times, features, warranty and everything else we know so far about the MG ZS EV's biggest rival yet

BYD made waves last week, when it announced Australian pricing and specification for the Atto 3 small SUV, its first high-volume all-electric model sold locally. But now we know even more about the zero-emissions upstart that’s due in July.

Thanks to Australian electric vehicle (EV) database ZE Car, further details about the Atto 3 have been released, so strap in as we dive into the MG ZS EV’s biggest rival yet.

Variants and state-by-state pricing

That’s right; how much the Atto 3 costs depends on where you live.

First things first, though, there is a single grade available, dubbed Superior. It has two battery options: an unnamed entry-level variant and an Extended Range flagship. We’ll explain the differences between the two in one of the latter sections of this article.

To keep it simple, the Superior is priced from $44,381.35 plus on-road costs, while the Superior Extended Ranger commands a $3000 premium, at $47,381.35 (+ORCs).

But if you live in Tasmania, you’re in luck because the regular Superior’s drive-away pricing is $44,990, while the Superior Extended Range checks in at $47,990 (d/a).

Western Australians are charged considerably more, at $47,931.54 (d/a) for the Superior and $51,313.56 (d/a) for the Superior Extended Range.

That said, the Superior’s starting drive-away price in Tasmania equals that of the outgoing pre-facelift ZS EV for the title of Australia’s cheapest all-electric vehicle, although the latter is priced as such on a national basis.

And don’t forget, EV incentives are available in some states and territories, and they can go some way in reducing the cost to your wallet, with potentially thousands of dollars saved.

All-electric powertrain and performance

It doesn’t matter if you opt for the 1615kg Superior or the 1690kg Superior Extended Range, the Atto 3 comes with a 150kW/310Nm front-mounted electric motor.

Either way, those outputs are enough to enable it to sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds, which is warm-hatch territory (think Kia Cerato GT and Hyundai i30 N Line).

Comparatively, the Atto 3 currently has the ZS EV’s number when it comes to outputs (105kW/353Nm), but the latter’s facelifted model will up the ante mid-year with new, presumably more expensive Standard Range (130kW/280Nm) and Long Range (150kW/280Nm) variants.

Batteries, driving ranges and charging times

The Superior comes with a 50.1kWh LFP battery that provides 320km of WLTP-certified driving range, while as its name suggests, the Superior Extended Range ups the ante with a 60.4kWh unit that lasts up to 420km in between charges.

As such, the Atto 3 again has the advantage over the pre-facelift ZS EV, with the latter’s 44.5kWh battery serving up 263km of driving range.

But the ZE EV’s facelifted Standard Range and Long Range variants will soon arrive with 50.3kWh and 70kWh batteries for 320km and 440km of travel in between charges, respectively.

Back to the Atto 3, both the Superior and Superior Extended Range support 7kW AC charging with a Type 2 plug, and 80kW DC fast charging with a CCS Type 2 port, with the latter taking 45 minutes to increase battery capacity from 20 to 80 per cent.

The Atto 3 also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) or bi-directional charging, with up to 2.2kW of power able to outputted to anything from a coffee machine to a microwave, or any other domestic appliance.

And while you’re on the move, the Atto 3’s regenerative braking system is hard at work, with two levels available, allowing the driver to choose how aggressive the energy recuperation is.

Standard equipment and safety features

Standard equipment in the Superior grade includes multi-link rear suspension, white paintwork (grey or blue costs $700 extra), 18-inch alloy wheels with 215/55 tyres, power-folding side mirrors with heating, roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and a power tailgate.

Inside, keyless start, a rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen DiLink multimedia system, digital radio, an eight-speaker Dirac sound system, a 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster, a wireless smartphone charger, power-adjustable front seats (six-way driver/four-way passenger) and blue/grey artificial leather upholstery (one additional colour option coming soon) feature.

Of note, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is set to be added as part of an over-the-air software update due this September.

Advanced driver-assist systems extend to autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, active rear cross-traffic alert, surround-view cameras and safe exit alert – plus seven airbags.

For reference, the segment-straddling Atto 3 measures 4455mm long (with a 2720mm wheelbase), 1875mm wide and 1615mm tall. Its boot has a cargo capacity of 434L, or up to 1330L with the 60/40 split-fold rear bench stowed.

Warranty and servicing

The Atto 3 comes with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while its battery is covered by a separate seven-year/160,000km term.

Critically, after the Atto 3’s first free service at 5000km, each subsequent visit to BYD Australia’s service provider, MyCar, comes at 15,000km intervals.

Order books are open online now via EVDirect.com.au, with a $1000 deposit required, while test drives are available at the BYD/EVDirect Experience Centre in Darlinghurst, Sydney. That said, Eagers Automotive dealerships will also offer them soon.