BYD has launched the Atto 2 DM-i in Australia, where its A$24,990 starting price before on-road costs makes the Essential the country’s cheapest plug-in hybrid. The small SUV is also available as a A$29,990 Premium. CarExpert drove the Premium at the Sydney launch, as the entry-level Essential was not available to test.
Both versions pair a 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and front-wheel drive. The Essential has a 7.85kWh LFP battery, 122kW of combined output and a claimed 39km of WLTP electric range. The Premium uses an 18.03kWh battery, produces 156kW and is rated for 90km of electric driving. BYD quotes claimed fuel consumption of 1.8L/100km and 0.7L/100km respectively, but the review did not gather a representative real-world figure.
The Premium’s cabin impressed with comfortable seats, quality-feeling materials and generous space for rear passengers. Its 425-litre boot is larger on paper than the Atto 2 EV’s 380-litre capacity. The touchscreen-heavy controls drew criticism for making some basic tasks cumbersome, while the instrument display was also considered awkward to navigate.
On the road, the plug-in hybrid system was easy to use and switched smoothly between electric and petrol power. The engine became conspicuously noisy and its vibrations could be felt through the floor; steering was light and short of feedback. The Atto 2 DM-i joins BYD’s all-electric Atto 2 and sits below the larger Sealion 5 in the brand’s Australian PHEV range.