I’m sure many are now familiar with Chinese company BYD. For those still in the dark, a little background. They are the third most valuable car company in the world and have been around for three decades. Of more significance, they are also the number one producer of electric cars globally. In addition, they also build buses, trucks, and monorails. And there’s more… they also provide Tesla, Toyota, and other manufacturers with batteries.

Their presence in the UK continues to grow and they hope to have 100 dealers operating by the end of this year. Seven models are currently available, six fully electric and one hybrid. They are one of the fastest growing brands in our market and they now boast a 2% market share. From humble beginnings with the ATTO 3.
An invite to the latest model launch was gladly accepted and I soon found myself at BYD’s new swish headquarters in Uxbridge, ready so sample the new ATTO 2, a fully electric B-segment SUV.

The ATTO 2 will be offered in two trims: Boost (from £30,850) and Comfort (from £34,950), both fully electric and featuring BYD’s innovative Blade Battery technology. This means cutting edge safety, durability and performance.

The new Boost model has a front-mounted motor producing 130kW and 290Nm of torque (battery size 51.1 kWh), whilst the Comfort variant produces 150kW and 310Nm (battery size 64.8 kWh). Both models can travel from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds and boast a top speed of 99mph.

BYD tell us that the WLTP range for the Boost model is up to 214 miles, with a city range topping out at 302 miles. The larger battery delivers a range of 267 miles, or 375 miles in city driving. Competitive I would suggest.

Charging speeds are 82kW DC and 155kW for the two models, meaning a Boost model can restore the battery from 10% to 80% in 38 minutes (down to 25 minutes in the Comfort version). A simple overnight charge will do the job on a home 7kW unit. Both models come fitted with a heat pump as standard, which is an option not even available on many of the car’s competitors. This helps to maximise range and efficiency, particularly in cold weather.

The ATTO 2 is BYD’s most compact SUV, yet the interior is surprisingly spacious. Tall rear seat passengers will have leg and headroom aplenty, and the boot offers 450 litres of usable space, easily extended to 1,340 litres with the back seats folded down.

As is the BYD way, equipment count is high so expect a 12.8-inch rotatable touchscreen, wireless smartphone charging, high-tech audio system with eight speakers, intelligent voice control (say ‘Hi BYD’) and vehicle-to-load technology. The Comfort model adds privacy glass in the rear, electrically folding door mirrors, adjustable lumbar support for the driver’s seat and an extra 50 litres of boot space. Most will buy this model for the bigger battery, not the extra equipment.

I should also mention the panoramic glass roof, which bathes the cabin in light, but with no blind, might be a bit bright for some on a very sunny day.

So, what’s the ATTO 2 like to drive? The driving position is good, the slightly raised driving position affording a good view out. A couple of hours behind the wheel resulted in no noticeable aches and pains from this slightly creaky older driver.

Our test route included a good mix of different situations, from motorway to urban crawl and everything in between. Around town, the light steering and good turning circle makes for easy progress, yet the car did not feel out of its depth on the M40 leg of the drive. A windy day, I did notice the car being blown off course a tad, and there was some flutter from around the door mirrors. Keeping up with the fast-flowing traffic was easy enough.

Fast A and B roads made up much of the route and there is little to report. The steering lacks feel at higher speeds, so there’s little fun in pushing the car through the bends. I settled for ‘Eco’ mode and enjoyed the drive at a slower pace, as I expect most buyers of this type of car will do. Range appeared to be reasonably accurate, so expect 180 to 190 miles from the Boost model I drove.

Ride comfort was reasonable, better around town and fine on the motorway. High-tech driving aids are standard, some helping the cause. Adaptive cruise control worked well, the lane-keeping assist was swiftly deactivated, and I had no need of the automatic emergency braking. 360-degree cameras undoubtedly help with low-speed manoeuvring.

The Boost model is in dealerships now and available to buy, with the Comfort likely to be here towards the end of the year. There is an attractive 0% finance deal this month, so put £339 down and pay £339 per month. 5 years free servicing is included too.

The ATTO 2 must compete in an increasingly crowded market, with strong competition from the likes of the Hyundai Kona, Volvo EX30, Skoda Elroq and exciting new Renault 4. It is definitely worth a look and may just tick all the right boxes being well equipped, comfortable, easy to drive and spacious. Keener drivers may well find they are better suited elsewhere.