The BYD Atto 2 drives beyond the prejudices

The Opel Frontera, the Citroën C3 Aircross, the Skoda Elroq, the Kia EV3 and many more: The segment of the compact electric SUVs is currently booming! To assert yourself in this highly competitive market segment will therefore not be an easy task for the BYD Atto 2. Its strengths are all the more important: the interior leaves an exceptionally high -quality impression. The selection of materials, its feel, the perceived quality, processing-all of this gives the impression of a premium vehicle. This high -quality appearance is supplemented by a generous space. Two adults sit comfortably and well -supported in the back seat, while the 400 -liter trunk with its double loading floor ensures a flat loading area and is therefore in the class standard.

Price advantage

In addition to these positive aspects, the ATTO 2 already impresses in the basic version with extensive standard equipment. This includes light and rain sensors, automatic distance and alleviating control, a fixed panoramic glass roof, a keyless access, a heat pump and a reversing camera. Of course, all electronic assistance systems required by the EU are also on board. And all for only 28,999 euros. The mere purchase price is less crucial than the impressive price-performance ratio.

Screen, my beautiful screen

Another highlight is the infotainment system with a rotating touchscreen in 10 or 12.8 inches (depending on the equipment line) – a trademark of BYD. Despite the far -reaching control over the screen, the ergonomics remains user -friendly. Certain functions such as driving mode voters, the front disc heating or energy recovery can continue to be operated using physical buttons between the driver and the front passenger. In addition, there are practical touchscreen shortcuts for climate control: If you stroke three fingers vertically, the temperature adapts. A horizontal movement regulates the fan strength. Simply and quite practical while driving.

Comfort instead of sportiness

On the street, however, the Atto 2 still shows potential for improvement. The 170-hp front engine ensures enough thrust to keep up with the traffic and to offer some driving fun every now and then. In addition, the chassis swallows well and offers a stable body introduction to curves. But the driving behavior remains unspectacular overall and does not convey any dynamic driving experience. When the gait faster, the front wheels and the standard Hankook tires quickly reach their limits and have an effort to keep the trail. If you want to enjoy the Atto 2, you should choose a moderate pace. It is also advisable to deactivate the sometimes intrusive driving assistance systems such as the speed limit warning or driver monitoring that tirelessly raise the alarm in the smallest control deviation – a problem that many Chinese brands have not yet solved.

Good in everyday life, less for long distances

If you drive the Atto 2 relaxed, you can get the best out of the rather small 45.12 kWh battery: a little more than 250 km of real reach according to our test results, while the official WLTP range is specified at 312 km. An average value for this segment, which should be sufficient for the everyday life of most users. However, the limited loading speed is more problematic: a maximum of 65 kW at a public quick charging station. This means that a load lasts about 37 minutes from 10 to 80 percent – around ten minutes longer than the competition. If you want more range and faster charging, you should wait for the Comfort version announced for the summer, which promises 400 km WLTP range and an improved charging capacity-but at a higher price.