BYD Atto 3 Critiques — 5 Months On The Street In Australia

The BYD Atto 3 was launched in Australia final quarter of final 12 months. At the moment, I spoke with Caleb Gittins, who instructed me that ordering his automobile was like inserting a takeaway order on-line — it was that straightforward. He not too long ago knowledgeable me that the automobile is due for its complimentary 5000 km service, and so I requested him what it has been like driving the Atto 3 in Australia.

Caleb’s BYD Atto 3. Picture courtesy of Caleb Gittins.

The Atto 3 is a big addition to the electrical car choices in Australia and is at present the very best promoting non-Tesla on this nation.

Caleb tells me the service went effectively. I’m wanting ahead to understanding what must be completed for an Atto 3 at a 5000 km service go to. Simply checking all the things over, I suppose? The automobile was serviced by Eagers at Albion in Brisbane. Eagers additionally attended to the BYD security recall. In some way, the manufacturing unit carpeted over the anchor level for the kid seats. Though the Atto 3 has over-the-air replace functionality, Eagers wanted to put in up to date software program.

Caleb is loving the automobile. He prices at residence. He typically has to commute over 300 km to work within the rural metropolis of Toowoomba — a couple of 300 km spherical journey — however that’s not an issue within the Atto 3 with its acknowledged vary of 480 km. (Although, Caleb tells me it’s nearer to 420 km in actual life.) Toowoomba is up on the highest of the Nice Dividing Vary, however regardless of the hill climb, he nonetheless arrives residence with 25% cost left in his battery. The drive is made simpler with adaptive cruise management and lane retaining enabled.

He’s wanting ahead to Android Auto popping out quickly to combine his automobile and cellphone extra intently. BYD is within the strategy of adapting its software program to go well with Android Auto.

I requested about reactions to the automobile from co-workers and pals. He stated he will get plenty of feedback in regards to the inside — it’s fairly distinctive, particularly the door handles and the banjo strings. He has given plenty of take a look at drives. At any time when he parks, strangers come as much as him and ask him what it’s. He’s considering of taking off the “Construct Your Desires” that labels the automobile throughout the again. “It doesn’t imply something,” he says. After main the way in which, Caleb is now seeing a couple of BYDs in his residence suburb within the north of Brisbane.

One commentator has been Caleb’s postie. “You’ve bought two Teslas now?” he asks. (Caleb’s housemate drives a Mannequin 3.) “No. It’s a BYD.” After all, an evidence needed to observe. In addition they had put in an additional wall charger. They now have one within the storage and one exterior. “I save lots of of {dollars} on petrol, so I don’t thoughts spending further for the charger. It’s extra handy,” he tells me.

Caleb’s Wallbox charger. Picture courtesy Caleb Gittins.

Caleb says he has been educating folks and the general response is optimistic. Many individuals don’t realise that it’s electrical.

Since Caleb’s housemate owns a Mannequin 3 and I do know that they talk about their vehicles, I couldn’t resist asking for a comparability. The 2 vehicles reside aspect by aspect. What is healthier about every? The Tesla Mannequin 3 doesn’t have a 360-degree digicam, car to load, a retractable sunroof, or Android Auto. Nonetheless, the Tesla has automated wipers, the automobile could be managed with an app, and it has driver profiles. Apparently, BYD has a automobile app in different nations, it simply hasn’t gotten to Australia but.

I requested in regards to the BYD assist teams on Fb — pages that I take advantage of for analysis regularly. He says he checks in often and may reply the easy questions for newbies. Caleb not too long ago introduced his automobile to an Affiliation of Unbiased Retirees gathering to debate EVs and present the members some samples. I noticed that he’s greater than able to demonstrating his automobile.

Thanks for sharing, Caleb. We’ll catch up at 10,000 km maybe.

My enquiries on Fb, on the BYD dialogue web page, inspired Xingyu Qiu to share his story.

Xingyu’s BYD Atto 3. Picture courtesy Xingyu Qiu

“I’ve been an proprietor since November 2022 and have pushed over 7000 km in my BYD Atto 3.

The highest 5 pluses I’ve discovered are:

1. Comparatively quiet for the value class. A lot better than a Tesla Mannequin 3/Y.
2. Very compliant journey on effectively sealed/paved/maintained roads.
3. Very vibrant LED headlights with good attain.
4. Availability of low auto regenerative braking on accelerator carry off means it seems like a traditional automobile. It’s additionally far smoother to function and likewise extra environment friendly than a excessive auto regenerative braking.
5. Very environment friendly drive. Sure it is just a entrance mounted 150 kW motor, and regardless of weighing practically 2 tons, I’m managing 12.8-14 kWh/100 km and I’m a reasonably engaged driver.

BYD inside. Picture courtesy of Xingyu Qiu.

High 5 minuses:

1. Dealing with. The tyres are objectively unhealthy. Its braking efficiency is probably going one among if not the worst in its value/measurement section. I swapped out the Batman tyres ASAP, to Bridgestone Turanzas and each metric (together with quietness) has improved.
2. Suspension. On sealed/flat roads it can not get any higher for this section of car. As quickly as you hit repeated undulations (say, on a freeway), the dearth of management within the suspension is extraordinarily apparent. The automobile bounces up and down far more than another compact SUV would. That is clearly tuned for low/medium velocity city environments with effectively maintained roads.
3. Headlights don’t undertaking broad sufficient. They may have added a set cornering mild, however it’s about 20° narrower than a CX-30 Astina/CX-5 Akera matrix LED headlights.
4. The beeps and bongs are overly delicate, particularly the lane centering help system. Resting your hand on the wheel just isn’t sufficient, it’s good to give it energetic enter each 5–10 seconds or the automobile will suppose you’re not holding the wheel. This turns into an enormous difficulty on very straight roads the place enter is actually not required.
5. Entrance parking sensors are very poorly designed. There is just one sensor for every of the entrance corners, and none straight ahead going through. This implies solely whenever you get tremendous near one thing in entrance of you, does the nook sensors begin going off.”

BYD is introducing two new fashions this 12 months and I anticipate that they’ll climb the gross sales charts simply as rapidly because the Atto 3 has. Identical to in China, BYD will likely be Tesla’s major competitors in Australia.