Hyundai Santa Fe vs BYD Atto 3

What's the difference?

So I asked at the beginning if the Hyundai Santa Fe FWD petrol offered enough for families looking for a large seven-seat SUV and the answer is: YES!

It's practical, has people-mover space and storage and is downright comfortable to drive. There's so much to like here.

So, would I recommend this new Atto 3 Evo to my friend, or indeed anyone in the market for a mid-size electric SUV?

While it may look largely the same as it did back in 2022, the Atto 3 is now a far more compelling proposition than it was then. Certainly BYD has established itself in the market and that means there is more certainty for buyers.

But this new Atto 3 Premium is a big leap forward when it comes to the driving experience. And while that’s not likely to be a huge factor for most mid-size electric SUV buyers, given the price has only crept up marginally (by modern standards) it remains competitively positioned.

For context, the Leapmotor C10 is another mid-size, rear-wheel drive electric SUV from China and it is even more expensive than the Atto 3 and is, to be blunt, nowhere near as good.

If BYD continues to produce cars this good there’s no reason to believe it won’t be a major player for years to come.

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

It's boxy and bold and you certainly won't mistake it for anything else on the road. That's both good and bad.

The front works beautifully; pairing a chunky and square aesthetic with cool H-shaped LED headlights (a running motif throughout the car). The front and sides look like the chiseled face of a Greek hero or the latest Romantasy crush, but the rear is just awkward. It's essentially just a big blank body panel and the only interesting thing about the back are the H-shaped tail lights.

Head inside and the interior is exactly the same as the base FWD hybrid variant - you get an interesting black and grey tartan fabric upholstery across the seats, and enough soft touchpoints scattered throughout to stop you looking too hard at the heavy use of plastics.

The dashboard shares similar chunky proportions with the exterior and you can see lots of H shapes in the air vents and panelling, so it flows pretty well inside.

The highlight is 100 per cent the large curved panel on the dash that houses the dual 12.3-inch displays. They look high-end and instantly lift the cabin from feeling 'basic'.

Joinery is flush, nothing rattles and there's an overwhelming sense of high-build quality inside. It's a cabin you'll be able to spend a lot of time in.

Despite the major changes underneath, BYD hasn’t really changed much from a design point-of-view. Which is a trend for the brand, with the 2024 update also focusing primarily on improving technology rather than the looks. 

Externally there is a new lower bumper, which has some subtle changes to its air-intakes, extended daytime running lights, slightly slimmer side skirts and a reshaped rear spoiler. 

Inside there are a few minor differences, with the gear selector moving to the steering column to create more storage space in the centre console, and the steering wheel is a new design. 

The other notable change is the driver instrument display, which has grown from five- to 8.8-inch.

There’s also a new grey interior colour trim, which looks more premium to this reviewer’s eyes than the blue/white cabin of the older model.

And, for better or worse, the Atto 3’s most memorable feature, the ‘guitar strings’ on the door, remain. While they may not be to everyone’s taste, there is an argument to be made that BYD should be acknowledged for not making the simplest/cheapest cabin possible.  

I've said it before but I'll say it again. The cabin offers similar, if not the same, level of practicality of a people mover with passenger space and storage solutions.

In fact, Hyundai may have shot their other three-row SUV, the Palisade, in the foot here because I'm not sure why you'd now bother forking out an extra $13,800 on the base Elite grade over out test model. Not when each row will be comfortable for an adult and feature decent amenities.

With seats that don't sit too high and a 177mm ground clearance, the Santa Fe is an easy SUV to get in and out of, even for kids.

The front- and middle-row seats are the most comfortable when it comes to padding and under-thigh support. The powered drivers seat also offers adjustable lumbar support on top of the heat functions that both front seats get.

Storage is top-notch with lots of cubbies to choose from up front with dual gloveboxes, one that can fit a manual and one that will hold smaller items like a wallet, wet wipes etc.

The middle console is huge and has a removable shelf but is also shared with the middle row as the bottom pulls out into a storage drawer for them. This means you can cut out the middle man (AKA the parent) and have a handy place to put any roadie snacks.

The centre console features two phone cradles and a large shelf underneath that easily holds a handbag or Saturday night's takeaway.

There are a total of 12 cupholders (2/6/4) and four drink holders (one in each door storage bin) plus a sunglasses holder and map pockets on the back of the front seats. So, definitely spoiled for choice when it comes to individual storage.

The technology is easy to use and high-quality with display screens that feature crisp graphics and a responsive multimedia touchscreen. The system features wireless phone mirroring for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

Charging options are good throughout the car with six USB-C ports (2/2/2), and a 12-volt socket and wireless charging pad up front.

Rounding out the cabin is the large boot which offers 642L when the third row is stowed, and up to 1963L when just the front seats are in use.

The loading space is level but you still get a handy under-floor compartment for small items. And the full-size spare tyre and powered tailgate are always practical to have!

The new driver instrument display is a big improvement. Frankly, the old screen was quite small and provided limited information compared to this newer, larger display.

The 15.8-inch multimedia touchscreen came with the last update and remains a relatively straightforward system to use. However, the need to take your eyes off the road to adjust controls for the air-conditioning is unnecessary and could be fixed by the simple addition of physical controls. 

The decision to move the gear selector to the steering column liberates a good amount of space between the front seats. 

There is now room for two smartphones to sit side-by-side (although only one wireless charging pad), as well as two cupholders and a lidded console box.

Space inside the cabin obviously remains the same, with good room for what is a small (or at least a smaller mid-size) SUV.

Cargo space, on the other hand, is changed. The Dynamic measures 434-litres, which is almost identical to the previous model. Things are different for the Premium with the shift to the rear-mounted motor, with the rear boot measuring 490L plus there is now a 101L under bonnet storage space.

BYD has taken this opportunity with the major update to make some tweaks to its price and positioning. The line-up has been changed with the Dynamic name replacing Essential on the entry-level model, while the flagship remains the Premium.

The Dynamic starts at $41,990 and the Premium at $46,990, both prices exclude on-road costs. Notably, both of those are a jump up from the out-going model, which started at just $39,990 for the Essential and $44,990 for the Premium.

However, there are some good reasons for the jump, which we’ll detail in a moment. But the overall level of standard equipment is good, so the value proposition remains appealing.

2026 BYD Atto 3 Evo Dynamic standard equipment

• Six-way electrically-adjustable driver’s seat 
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Eight-speaker audio
• Wired & wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay 
• V2L (Vehicle to Load) capability
• Intelligent voice assistant 
• Remote vehicle functions

2026 BYD Atto 3 Evo Premium standard equipment

• Dual-zone climate control
• Driver’s seat with four-way power lumbar adjust

Our Santa Fe is the front-wheel-drive base variant, which features an eight-speed dual-clutch auto transmission and a 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces up to 206kW of power and 422Nm of torque.

Our model has a braked towing capacity of 2000kg, which is up from its hybrid siblings which can only tow up to 1650kg.

The Dynamic retains the same front-mounted, front-wheel drive electric motor as the Essential, which provides 150kW/310Nm of performance.

The Premium, on the other hand, gets an entirely new underpinning, with BYD’s new ‘e-Platform 3.0’ chassis, which introduces 800V electrical architecture (compared to 400V for the Dynamic). This includes a larger battery but also a switch to a rear-mounted, rear-wheel drive motor that makes 230kW/380Nm, which is a sizeable bump from the Dynamic.

The base petrol Santa Fe has an official combined fuel cycle usage of 9.3L/100km and 67L fuel tank, giving it a theoretical driving range of 740km, which isn’t as good as its hybrid siblings but still sufficient for the odd road trip.

After doing lots of open-roading this week and a good three days of city dwelling, my real-world usage has popped out at 8.7L/100km, which is a solid result for such a large SUV.

Naturally, the changes to the motors and platform also mean some major changes to the batteries and driving range.

The Premium now features a 74.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, which allows for a claimed range of 510km, up from the 420km previously offered by the pre-updated model.

The Dynamic, however, has the 420km range, as it now uses the same 60.4kWh LFP battery as the old Essential Extended Range. 

The previously available 49.9kWh battery, that had 325km of range, is now dropped. So, while the Dynamic technically costs more than the previous Essential, it comes with a bigger battery so you’re getting a higher specification vehicle.

BYD claims the charging speed has been increased thanks to the new 800V architecture. The Premium is now capable of taking up to 220kW of DC charging, which means it can get to 80 per cent capacity in as little as 25 minutes.

The Atto 3 Evo also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, which means you can draw power from the car’s battery to power small electronic devices if needed.

The petrol engine definitely has more pep to it than the hybrid variants I've sampled. The power is responsive and you still feel like there’s heaps leftover when you have to overtake or get up a hill without any annoying engine whines.

The steering isn’t too heavy, despite the size of this car but turning off the lane-keeping aid will keep the on-road experience feeling smooth. Otherwise, you sort of ping-pong in your lane as the aid readjusts strongly.

All Santa Fes feel way more nimble than they have any right to in corners. You do get some roll, but our test model is sure-footed, even in heavy wet weather. 

The eight-speed dual-clutch auto transmission is smooth enough and you don’t get any annoying lags when you accelerate from a full stop, which is unusual for such a unit.

Ride comfort is pretty high as well, with suspension that feels forgiving over the worst of the bumps and a cabin that remains quiet, even at higher speeds. 

You have really great visibility in this model because of how big the windows are and the taller driving position helps as well. None of the pillars hindered my vision either from my driving position.

The Santa Fe well and truly fills out a car space and it was easy to see it in a car park because the butt hangs out a bit, but it’s still easy to park with its very clear 360-degree camera system and parking sensors at the front, side and rear. So while it is big, it doesn't feel big to park.

Overall, the petrol Santa Fe is an simple SUV to drive and will be a forgiving choice for lots of different driving styles.

BYD didn’t have any examples of the Dynamic for us to drive, which makes sense given the significance of the changes to the Premium. 

Previous experience with the front-wheel drive version of the Atto 3 didn’t leave much of an impression. It’s a perfectly acceptable mid-size SUV in terms of how it drives and rides, but it didn’t do anything special that made it stand out in a very competitive field.

This new Premium model, however, is a different story. The switch to the rear-wheel drive layout unsurprisingly has a dramatic impact on the way it drives. 

Around town, at urban speed, it feels good but where it shines is on the open road. It’s not wildly fast when you put your foot down, like some other EVs, but it has excellent composure and feels responsive. 

It’s not what you’d call a sporty or ‘hot SUV’ but it certainly leaves a good impression, one that will last longer than the front-wheel drive version.

Certainly the steering could be tuned better, it doesn’t offer much feeling, particularly just off-centre. And the ride can be noticeably firm at times, hitting bumps with a sharpness that you can feel in the cabin. It’s another example of where the Chinese brands could benefit from local suspension and chassis tuning to help it better suit Australia’s unique conditions.

In addition to the other changes underneath, BYD has also taken this opportunity to include some additional safety. The Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) gets a new Child Presence Detection function with an in‑cabin sensor that can alert you if someone is left in the vehicle after it is locked. There’s also a new Driver Monitoring System for both models.

The Atto 3 still has a maximum five-star ANCAP rating from a 2022 crash test.

Other standard safety equipment includes:

• Seven airbags
• 360-degree camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Adaptive cruise control
• Speed limit detection
• Speed limit control
• Traffic sign recognition
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Forward collision warning 
• Rear collision warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert 
• Emergency lane keeping assist
• Blind spot detection

In addition the Premium adds:

• Front cross-traffic alert
• Front cross-traffic brake 

The Santa Fe comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which isn’t as good as some of its rivals, especially with Nissan now offering a 10-year warranty on its models, albeit conditional.

The pre-paid servicing plans are competitive, though, and the five-year plan averages just $481 per service.

Servicing intervals could get a bit annoying if you do a lot of kays every year as they're at every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first.

The Santa Fe petrol is a simple gal and enjoys 91RON unleaded petrol and is even E10 suitable.

One of my ‘dislikes’ when I drove the Atto 3 in 2024 was “long-term BYD prospects still unclear” - driven by the fact it was still a relatively small brand with a limited line-up (the Shark 6 wouldn’t launch until two months later). Well, as I write this in September of 2026 it’s safe to say BYD’s long-term prospects look as good as any brand.

It is sitting in second spot on the year-to-date sales charts, behind only Toyota but surpassing the likes of Kia, Ford and Mazda. There can be no question BYD has cemented its place in the Australian market.

It already has more than 100 dealer and service locations, with plans to grow that to 150 by the end of 2026.

As for the Atto 3’s specific ownership credentials, it’s covered by the brand’s standard six-year/150,000km warranty. The battery has a separate eight-year/160,000km warranty and the Drive Unit (the motor) is covered for eight years and 150,000km.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 20,000km, and with capped price servicing the Dynamic should cost you $1410 and the Premium $1670 for the first five years.