BYD has declared that it is the world's #1 manufacturer and seller of EVs, and it is not lying. It has beaten Telsa in EV production since last year but recently gave up the sales top spot back to the American EV maker after poor sales in the first quarter of 2024.
I have seen quite a few BYDs in the country, meaning Filipinos are warming up to pure electric mobility. Several of them were Atto 3s, which says a lot about this compact crossover SUV, just one of five local models of the Chinese automaker in the Philippines.
This is my second test drive of a pure electric vehicle (EV), and I have to be honest: every percent coming off the battery increases my heart rate by 1 beat per minute. I'll explain why later in the article.
The Atto 3 could be fancier on the outside. Except for a missing grille, because sans an engine, it does not need air flowing under the hood and looks like any other upscale crossover. You may balk at the word 'upscale' for a Chinese model, but its adaptive LED headlamps with daytime running lamps, sequential turn signals, LED bar, panoramic sunroof, and stylish 18-inch wheels deserve it.
To make it more appealing, I suggest offering it in over three colors (this hue is called Surf Blue); lower its height for higher aerodynamic efficiency (to add sportiness and set it apart from conventional crossovers); and add a power tailgate.
It has a smart key, but I wish BYD had unlock buttons on both door handles. The current design only allows the driver to open hands-free from the driver's door. But it only gets tricky if you carry many items, so it's a small concern.
BYD successfully makes the cockpit look unique with a layered, two-tone dashboard and multiple lines marking the different panels. It is not a common design you'll see in any car, which makes it stand out, but I would prefer they used the space for holders and flat surfaces to place/stow various items.
The techie in me loved the minimized five-inch instrument panel, which still displayed the necessary data for drivers, including the battery charge left. But the centerpiece is the 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen panel with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth audio streaming. It has a wireless charging pad and USB ports (two Type-A and Type-C ports in the first and second row) and sends audio to a Dirac HD eight-speaker system.
Part of the cabin design is the circular vents of the A/C system and the round mount of the inner door pulls. It was funny to see how first-time passengers tried to figure out how to open the doors from the inside.
It has two-tone leather bucket seats with red piping that matches the strings on the door pockets, which help keep items in place. It has a flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel, rear air vents, and a drop-down armrest (second row).
The cabin feels roomier without the transmission tunnel eating up space in the second row. Despite being an EV, BYD made the user interface easy to use and understand. My only adjustment would be a higher driving position because either the bottom of the glass house or the seats are too low. After all, low obstacles like gutters are hard to see.
The propulsion comes from a 60.5-kWh battery, which sends 204-PS and 310-Nm of torque to the front motors. Without a gearbox, acceleration is instant, making this crossover one of the quickest (and quietest) I've driven yet.
Handling could be better, but comfort is on par with segment standards. The Atto 3 Premium costs P1.798 million. That is mid-size SUV range already, but this is faster, livelier, and more reactive to throttle input.
Home charging requires a grounded outlet. BYD PH will install a 7-kW wall charger (faster than the 2-kW portable charger it comes with) but if it will be far from the main breaker, there will be an additional cost. AC Mobility offers free charging at its stations, but they are few and far between and mostly in malls. Unless you're in shopping mode, these are all out of the way. Plus, all these, including Shell Recharge (which offers free service for now), are slow chargers. It will be a hassle unless you're okay with burning about three hours to get a 20-25% charge.
Based on one week's use, I can't say if it's more fuel efficient than gas- or diesel-powered counterparts because one trip from Santa Rosa, Laguna to Kapitolyo, Pasig uses up about 20-25% charge (from 100%). If that equates to 25% fuel consumption, then it's less efficient than hybrids that I have driven.
Some say EVs are the future of mobility, but signs point to an industry scaling back. The 2024 BYD Atto 3 Premium is a full EV with modern amenities and cutting-edge driver-assistance systems. A few minor tweaks and a bigger battery will make it a more appealing purchase for Filipino motorists.