BYD Atto 1 Premium review: no small matter

Following the launch of the the BYD Atto 1 EV earlier this year, we made a bee line (seagull flight?) for the entry-level Essential model. Its sub-$30k price was a big part of the Atto 1 proposition and we were keen to see what it offered; we also threw it into a comparison test with an ICE city-car icon, the Suzuki Swift.

But it's also a fact that most private buyers will be drawn to the more upmarket Atto 1 Premium. It's $35,990, which is a big step up at this price level (a 20%, um, premium), but it offers twice as much power, another 100km range and a lot more comfort/convenience features.

Or perhaps we just could couldn't resist a test car in Pine Lime.

On the outside: what are the BYD Atto 1 Premium's main design features?

The Atto 1 looks weird, but good-weird. It's less than 4m long but relatively tall at nearly 1.6m, and rather than trying to disguise those proportions it embraces them.

Compared to the entry Essential, the Premium offers twice as much power, another 100km range and a lot more comfort/convenience features.

There are angles everywhere and the side profile emphasises the height with styling lines that rush upwards towards the C-pillar, with a little "pinch" in the middle.

It's quite a colour-sensitive car, although colour is also a matter of taste. There are four to choose from, with Apricity White the only one that comes free-of-charge. Pine Lime (as featured here), Cosmos Black and Arctic Blue are all $990 extra.

There's not a whole lot on the outside to differentiate Premium from Essential. The most obvious feature is the flagship model's 16-inch alloy wheels, compared to the entry car's 15in steel items (although they do wear handsome smoky grey aero-look wheel trims).

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the BYD Atto 1 Premium cabin like?

The Atto 1 cabin is familiar BYD... but with everything scaled down. There's the wide-aspect-ratio digital instrument panel in front of the driver and a 10.1in infotainment screen attached to the centre console. Yes, that's quite small, but it's perfectly in proportion with the Atto 1.

It's not totally digital-centric. BYD is doing an increasingly good job of blending the virtual with physical controls in all its new models.

We don't mind the small hardware; that's what this car is all about. But we do mind the tiny graphics on the instrument panel. Chinese new-energy brands like cramming as much information as possible into tiny screens anyway, but in the case of the Atto 1 the readouts are extremely unfriendly to eyes over a certain age. Perhaps we've said too much.

It's not totally digital-centric. BYD is doing an increasingly good job of blending the virtual with physical controls in all its new models, and the Atto 1 is no exception. There's a kind of "scroll" of circular buttons in the centre console that contains controls for audio, climate, drive modes and even the main gear selector: click it down for Drive and up for Reverse.

It's not perfect. The roller for audio volume is a bit fiddly and it's all too easy to accidentally shut the sound system down completely if you're feeling around for it on the move. The drive mode button is a bit dinky, too. But it's nice to have switches all the same.

Compared to the Atto 1 Essential, the Premium adds equipment including a 360-degree camera, rain-sensing wipers, privacy glass, telescopic adjustment for the steering, power adjustment for the front seats with heating, a wireless phone charging pad and one-touch up-down operation for the driver's window.

Rear-seat accomodation is impressive for a car with such a small footprint, partly because the EV platform allows a (relatively) long 2.5m wheelbase and flat floor. Note that it's only a 4-seater.

The boot capacity is decent at 308 litres but it's a fairly odd shape: short and deep, with oddly scrappy trim on the seatbacks. The rear seats are split 50/50, but fold them and you've still got a fairly lumpy load area.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the BYD Atto 1 Premium like to drive?

The Atto 1 Premium is fun to drive because it's perky without necessarily being too polished. It might have twice the power of the Essential, but the difference in performance isn't dramatic. The Premium's acceleration is just stronger for longer and isn't fazed by hills like its cheaper sibling.

Handling is best described as point-and-squirt. There's substance to the steering and the front-end grips well, but the cornering attitude of the car is also ssensitive to changes in throttle.

It's two seconds quicker to 100km/h: 9.1sec, which still isn't rapid. But it romps off the line in that enthusiastic way that only EVs can muster.

Handling is best described as point-and-squirt. There's substance to the steering and the front-end grips well, but the cornering attitude of the car is also subject to changes in throttle: understeer followed by lift-off oversteer is a natural progression in this car. It's all well-telegraphed and nicely controlled.

It's not supposed to be a backroads blaster, of course. The fact we went and did that anyway is a compliment to the character of the car.

Curiously, the Premium we reviewed seemed to have more resolved ADAS features than our test Essential (we had them within a few weeks of each other). The Essential had manic lane-centering that ping-ponged you between the white lines, and a driver-attention monitor that nagged incessantly. But both features were a lot more settled in the Premium; the result of an over-the-air (OTA) update perhaps.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the BYD Atto 1 Premium warranty and servicing situation?

The BYD Atto 1 Premium comes with a 6-year/150,000km warranty, with 8 years of roadside assistance and an EV Battery warranty of 8 years/160,000km.

The Atto1 requires an initial service at 3 months, then every 12 months or 20,000km. BYD offers pre-paid service plans via its dealers.

On the whole: what do we think of the BYD Atto 1 Premium?

The Atto 1 is a game-changer in the EV space thanks to its combination of a budget price, excellent battery technology, great overall quality... and a fun visual and dynamic character. The Premium stands out because it takes those fundamentals and adds a layer of comfort/convenience features that makes it a more appealing day-to-day companion.

We still reckon the Essential stands out more in the market because you're getting so much engineering excellence and ability for less than $30k. There's a lot more competition for the Premium at its $36k price point, so it has to work harder to make its case.

But it's hard not to come away from the Atto 1 wearing a big smile. If you're in the market for a budget city car, EV or not, it should definitely be on the shopping list.

BYD Atto 1 Premium FAQs

What kind of car is the BYD Atto 1 Premium?

A city-sized 5-door hatchback.

Does the BYD Atto 1 Premium have hybrid or EV technology?

It's pure-electric.

What’s the efficiency of the BYD Atto 1 Premium?

BYD claims 16kWh/100km (0.9kWh more than the Essential) and the WLTP range is 310km.

Is the BYD Atto 1 Premium safe?

The Atto 1 has a 5-star ANCAP rating, valid until December 2031.

What safety and assistance features does the BYD Atto 1 Premium have?

What are the BYD Atto 1 Premium's main rivals?

• Dongfeng Box ($29,990 until June, then $32,990): Back for 2026 with better safety equipment.
• GWM Ora Lux ($37,990): Slightly bigger than Atto 1, but still a quirky city-EV.
• Fiat 500e ($37,990): Only a 3-door, but also an EV with a heritage flavour (and it's super-cute).
• MG4 Urban ($38,990): MG's new city hatchback, not to be confused with the regular MG4.
• Suzuki Swift RSC ($29,990): Not an EV, but undeniably a city-car icon in NZ.