BYD ATTO 3 Review

The competition in the C-segment electric car market has intensified in recent years. Consumers not only want sufficient range and safe features, but also hope for an affordable price. The 2025 BYD ATTO 3 Ultra, launched this March, has an official guide price set at RM 123,800 and offers 420km of pure electric range along with 7 airbags. This makes it highly targeted within its segment. In this test drive, we focus on whether its dynamic performance is as impressive as its features and whether its practicality at this price truly meets the needs of family users.

Before getting into the car, we took a walk around the exterior. It has an overall compact SUV design, with a front fascia featuring a closed grille paired with slim LED daytime running lights, which give it a decent level of recognition. The lines on the side of the body are straight, and the waistline extending from the fender to the rear prevents the side profile from looking too plain. The connecting LED tail lights at the rear are a highlight, providing clear visibility when lit, making it easier for vehicles behind to notice while driving at night. The lighting system uses all LEDs, including the headlights and rear fog lights. In daily use, the brightness is sufficient, and there’s no need to frequently replace bulbs.

Opening the door reveals a minimalist interior design. The dashboard is covered with soft-touch materials, which feel decent without an obvious cheap vibe. The 15.6-inch rotating central touchscreen is a core feature, performing well with a smooth interface. Common functions such as navigation and music are easy to find. The multi-functional steering wheel has controls for driving assistance on the left and media volume adjustment on the right, making blind operations manageable. The seating configuration is practical, with the driver’s seat offering 6-way electric adjustments and the passenger seat offering 4-way electric adjustments. Adjustments can be made precisely to quickly find a comfortable sitting position. The instrument cluster is fully digital, displaying abundant information such as range, speed, and driving assistance status, all at a glance.

The spatial performance suits the positioning of a C-segment SUV. With a wheelbase of 2720mm, there is approximately two fist-widths of legroom for rear passengers when the front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position. This ensures no sense of crowding. The trunk has a volume of 440L, which can easily accommodate a stroller or two 28-inch suitcases. The rear seats can be folded down in a 60:40 split, making it feasible for carrying larger items. In terms of details, the rear row has air conditioning outlets, the front central armrest box offers sufficient depth, and the door storage compartments can fit large water bottles, providing a high level of practicality for daily use.

In terms of power, the 204PS permanent magnet synchronous motor delivers a torque of 310N·m, with an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.3 seconds. During actual driving, the car starts smoothly, with noticeable thrust felt with light accelerator input, making it agile for urban driving or overtaking. Switching to sport mode delivers more direct power response, and even accelerating again on highways feels effortless. In economy mode, the power output is more subdued, suitable for daily commutes and conserving battery power.

The handling and chassis performance exceed expectations. The combination of a front MacPherson strut suspension and a rear multi-link independent suspension handles urban speed bumps quite well, filtering out vibrations cleanly without feeling overly stiff. When cornering, the body roll is decently controlled, and the steering is precise — the car goes exactly where you turn it. The braking pedal feels linear, not overly sensitive in the initial travel, and maintains stability even during emergency braking.

Range and charging are the most concerned issues for electric vehicle users. During this test drive, we traveled through congested urban roads and highways, with a total mileage of about 120km. The displayed range dropped by 135km, achieving a rate close to 90%, which is considered stable. Fast charging from 30% to 80% only takes about 40 minutes. Normally, you can charge at a highway service area and replenish energy within the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. Slow charging takes 9.7 hours, making it suitable for using a home charging station at night, and you can have a fully charged car the next morning.

The driving assistance features are very comprehensive. ACC adaptive cruise control is very useful on highways as it can automatically adjust the speed by following the car ahead, reducing fatigue during long-distance driving. The 360-degree surround view camera is clear, allowing you to see obstacles around the car while parking, making it easy for new drivers to park. Lane change assist and lane departure warning are also very practical. When there is a car behind while changing lanes, the side mirrors light up to alert you, and the steering wheel slightly vibrates when you depart from a lane, preventing many potential dangers.

Noise control is well done. At speeds below 60 km/h in urban areas, you can hardly hear motor noise. At 100 km/h on the highway, there is some wind and tire noise, but it doesn't affect normal conversation. The seats offer good support and wrapping, so you won’t feel tired after sitting for a long time. The regenerative braking system has adjustable levels. At the highest level, you can feel significant drag when you release the accelerator, which can basically be used as a brake, helping save electricity.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2025 BYD ATTO 3 Ultra are very clear: affordable price, high configuration, sufficient range, and practical space. Compared to the 2024 Extend Range version, it is RM 26,000 cheaper, with the same 420km range. In terms of configuration, apart from the Dirac sound system and electric steering wheel adjustment, all the core safety and comfort features remain unchanged. It is suitable for budget-conscious users who want a safe and practical family electric car, such as young couples with children or office workers commuting in cities. If you don’t need a premium sound system or electric steering wheel, this version is definitely the cost-effective choice in its class.