it seems like Chinese car makers are like buses, you wait ages for one to arrive and then a queue of them arrives. One of the latest is BYD which stands for Build your Dreams, which arrived on these shores a couple of years ago and is already making good progress with three models , the Atto 3 driven here, the Dolphin and the Seal, with the Sealion imminent.
They all offer good value for money, not cheap, but packed to the rafters with standard kit, including goodies like a powered sliding sunroof, a panoramic camera that provides 360-degree visibility and two front and four parking radars. The safety kit is also comprehensive.
A battery manufacturer turned car maker it has its eyes firmly on the younger end of the British market.
This compact SUV is an impressive vehicle, powered by a state-of-the-art 60.5 kW battery, which offers a WLTP tested range of 260 miles. There are three specifications, Active, Comfort and Design, driven here.
The vehicle supports 11 kW AC charging and can charge from 30 to 80% in just 29 minutes with a 150 kW DC charger. It also has Vehicle-to-Load technology, allowing you to charge external AC devices using the car’s battery.
It is a smart-looking vehicle and comes with quite a few novel features, including a revolving touchscreen and side pockets that let you play a tune. More on that later.
It has a distinctive European look, with a sleek, yet muscular profile enhanced by large wheel arches and integrated roof bars.
It sits on eye-catching 18-inch black and silver alloy wheels, while to the rear, the C pillar is clad with brushed aluminium trim. It looks good.
The cabin, or cockpit if you like, impresses with a bright and spacious area, with ambient lighting and dominated by a 15.6-inch central screen.
This can rotate between portrait and landscape modes, depending on your mood or preference and is supplemented by a five-inch screen sitting on the steering column delivering real time driver information.
The infotainment system controls major functions and includes a system, allowing for online updates via iCloud, navigation with voice recognition and smartphone connectivity. It also offers a high-end eight-speaker sound system.
The is also a smartphone wireless charging docking station. BYD says the interior concept is gym-inspired to give it a youthful vibe, with a central armrest, inspired by a treadmill, barbell-style door handles, kettlebell-style gear selector, and free-weight-style air vents.
It took my wife a couple of minutes to figure out which was the door handle. All very right on. The front and rear sports seats and headrests are made from sustainable vegan leather with red stitching, with the front pair offering powered multi-adjustment.
To the rear, they split 60:40, allowing a generous 440-litre boot to be expanded to an even more impressive. Additionally, there’s a compartment beneath the floor for extra stowage
It has decent head and legroom although the sloping shape restricted headroom at the rear
When it comes to performance, it delivers the instant pace via the 60.48 kWh battery which powers the vehicle to 60mph in just over seven seconds. The slight downside to power delivery is it can snatch at the steering wheel, so care is needed when flooring it.
The driver can go for economy or outright pace with a choice of four driving modes: Sport Mode, Normal Mode, Economy Mode and Snow Mode to suit driving conditions. Otherwise the car feels stable with a comfortable ride and good steering feedback when you slip Into sport mode.
Returning to the side pockets in the door. These are secured by three cords at different tensions and if plucked, play guitar-like notes. I even managed a version of Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water.
Rock and roll or what?
Factfile
- BYD Atto 3 Deign
- Price: £35,595
- Mechanical: 204PS 67kW electric motor driving front wheels via automatic gearbox
- Max speed: 99mph
- 0-60mph: 7.3 seconds
- Combined range: 260 miles
- Insurance group: tbc
- CO2 emissions: 0g/km
- BiK rating: 2%
- Warranty: 4yrs/70,000 miles
On the road 