Today, BYD officially unveiled its latest plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Atto 2. It joins the ever-growing ranks of the compact SUV segment as the newest ‘cheapest plug-in hybrid’ in the country, beating out BYD’s own Sealion 5.
The Atto 2 is built on BYD’s DM-i (Dual Mode-intelligent) hybrid technology platform and offers two derivatives for South African motorists to pick from: the cheaper Comfort model and the pricier Dynamic. They start at R450,000 and R490,000, respectively. Here’s what you’re getting for your money.
Building its dream, one model at a time
BYD is positioning the new Atto 2 between the all-electric Dolphin Surf and the larger plug-in hybrid Sealion 5 in terms of price and size. The powertrain of both models consists of a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine and a single electric motor paired with a 7.8kWh Blade battery pack. Altogether, the pair produces 122kW of power and sends 300N·m of torque to the front wheels via an e-CVT transmission.
BYD reckons you’ll only get 39 km of electric range, but 930km total when you fill up the 45-litre tank with good ol’ 95. For fuel consumption, BYD claims the Atto 2 will average 5.1L/100km. If you’re in a hurry, you’ll reach 100km/h from a standstill in a rather slugish 9.1 seconds. If you’re really in a hurry and don’t mind paying the price, it’ll reach a top speed of 178km/h… eventually.
The interior of the Atto 2 features a mix of tech and plastic, with enough room for the average human. Its centre-mounted infotainment display can’t rotate like the previous BYD cars we’ve driven. This is a feature we were told won’t show up in future BYD models. We’ll have to see about that.
BYD made a bigger deal about its companion app at this launch. Aside from remote functionality we’ve seen before (scheduled pre-heating the cabin, remote engine start/stop), you can apparently share your digital car key with up to five other people over WhatsApp. This wasn’t something we could test with previous review models, as they change drivers every week. So we’ll have to take their word on that. Hopefully, nobody works out how to get around that and steal your vehicle without even needing the key.
“We understand that many consumers are interested in electrified vehicles but are looking for a solution that fits seamlessly into their daily lives. The ATTO 2 DM-i delivers exactly that, combining exceptional fuel efficiency, advanced technology, outstanding safety and practical everyday usability in a package that is both attainable and exciting,” said Steve Chang, Managing Director of BYD Auto South Africa.
