Confirmed for Malaysia, here's 24 photos of the BYD Atto 3, aka Yuan Plus in China; 510 km range, 204 PS/ 310 Nm
Jerrica · Oct 10, 2022 04:00 PM
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Two variants available: Standard Range and Extended Range
Standard Range: 49.92 kWh, 430 km (CLTC), 204 PS
Extended Range: 60.48 kWh, 510 km (CLTC), 204 PS (identical to Standard Range)
By now you’ve probably heard that BYD, the biggest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in the world as of June 2022, is looking to make its debut in Malaysia. One of two vehicles that will break the ice is the BYD Atto 3. Here are 24 photos of the EV to show you why you should give this Chinese EV a chance.
The BYD Atto 3 is an all-electric SUV much like the popular Hyundai Kona Electric and MG ZS EV. Measuring 4,455 x 1,875 x 1,615 mm in length, width, and height, the Atto 3 is between the size of the Honda HR-V and Honda CR-V.
In China, the Atto 3 is known as the BYD Yuan Plus. Note that the Yuan Plus is the name of the second generation BYD Yuan and not a special edition variant.
The Yuan Plus was launched in China back in 2021. Even from the time it was launched, BYD had plans to market the car overseas. To make it more international lingo friendly the EV was rebranded as the Atto 3 for markets such as Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia too.
For the second generation, BYD has done away with the black grille and added a chrome trim in its place. The chrome trim was designed to flow seamlessly into the slit-like LED headlights so it has a cohesive smiling look.
Soft shoulder lines decorate the sides for a sophisticated soft look while the stylish propeller-style wheels grab the attention. Instead of giving the car the illusion of a floating roof, the C-pillar gets a silver trim to create contrast.
The rear is designed to look equally soft contrasted with a sporty rear bumper. The taillights are connected by a light bar that runs across the tailgate to make the rear end look slightly futuristic.
On the inside, the interior features a dual-tone blue and beige finish to liven up the atmosphere. The flat bottom steering wheel and its chrome trim inject a touch of sportiness into the cabin.
On international models, the floating 12.8-inch touchscreen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment even has voice command that can be activated by saying “Hi BYD”, very similar to the “Hi Proton” function.
Globally, the Atto 3 comes with a choice of two variants. In Australia, the variants are known as the Standard Range and the Extended Range.
The Standard Range comes with a 49.92 kWh battery that is capable of 430 km based on the Chinese WLTP (CLTC). The Extended Range has a 60.48 kWh battery that is good for 510 km, also measured on the CLTC.
The Atto 3 is propelled by its two front-mounted motors that do 204 PS and 310 Nm, both variants have the same power output. The Atto 3 can make the century sprint in 7.3 seconds.
As for charging, the Atto 3’s onboard charger allows up to 7 kW AC charging for both the Standard and Extended ranges. DC Charging for the Standard Range, meanwhile, is rated at 70 kW while the Extended Range accepts up to 80 kW.
The Atto 3 uses BYD's new Blade Battery technology. BYD claims that the battery is safer than other EV batteries as it is harder to penetrate even with a nail. Even when it was penetrated it emitted neither smoke or fire, proving that it is not as prone to fire as other batteries. Other than that, the battery is also touted as more durable and has higher power density.
Like the Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, the Atto 3 also features vehicle-to-load (V2L) function. The function allows you to power and charge other appliances, so you can also power your espresso machine on the go.
On the safety front, the Atto 3 comes equipped with seven airbags as standard as well as a 360-degree panoramic view monitor.
ADAS equipment includes AEB, Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Rear-Cross Traffic Assist (RCTA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop and go (all-speed).
In China, the BYD Yuan Plus is priced from CNY 144,274 (~RM 93,000) for the smaller 49.92 kWh battery version and CNY 154,274 (~RM 99,000) for the larger 60.48 kWh version.
For the prices in Australia, the Atto 3 starts from AUD 44,990 (~RM 136,000) for the Standard Range while the Extended Range goes for AUD 47,990 (~RM 146,000). Prices quoted are before incentives.
The prices in Aussie might be an indicator of what the prices will be like when the Atto 3 arrives in Malaysia. If Sime Darby, the appointed local distributor of BYD cars in Malaysia, manages to price the car under RM 150,000, the Atto 3 will become one of the cheapest EV on sale in our country.
There isn’t a time in memory that doesn’t involve staring at cars. After discovering the excitement of watching Schumacher vs Hakkinen, Formula 1 became a major part of life. The love for cars and F1 ultimately led to a job with CAR Magazine. The untimely death of the magazine meant a hiatus from cars at lifestyle women’s magazine Marie Claire before another opportunity came knocking again.
