BYD makes another attempt to conquer the small car market with the Atto 2, but does it have what it takes to appeal in this segment?
You would think that a small car would be the easiest to perfect for a car manufacturer. After all, their target customers are generally undemanding and would mostly just want a simple runabout to drive around in the city.
But simplicity can also be hard to get right, especially in this day and age where technology advances means that expectations have been somewhat raised. Some manufacturers try to throw in fancy frills and features into small cars, but such a strategy can be difficult to pull off well.
BYD, for all their sales success in Singapore thus far, has not quite cracked the small car segment just yet, and their Dolphin hatchback has not been particularly well-received compared with their larger best-selling models.
While that could perhaps be a side effect of sky-high COE premiums making small cars unattractive to buyers here, it’s also a fact that the Dolphin feels uncompetitive compared to some of its peers.
Well, BYD has tried to take another crack at it with the Atto 2, a small SUV which would perhaps be more appealing to the local crowd. Will it fare better than the Dolphin at winning over small car buyers?
Plainly BYD
At first glance, the Atto 2 looks fairly nondescript. It doesn’t come across as a car that you will take a second look at, unless you happen to be driving one and start noticing other Atto 2s on the roads, as it does tend to happen for some strange reason. One fellow Atto 2 driver even gave a friendly wave as he drove past me.
There are some interesting SUV-esque flourishes like the black cladding on the rear bumper and lower part of the doors, as well as on the wheel arches. But otherwise, the Atto 2 is as indistinctive as they come.
The curved front end feels like an updated version of the larger Atto 3 crossover, while the rear comes with the slim horizontal light bar that is common across many of BYD’s models. As plain as it might seem, there’s no mistaking the Atto 2 as anything other than a BYD.
Simple and Sensible Space
Inside, the Atto 2 is a model of sensibility, and there’s none of the sense of whimsy that you get on the Dolphin or Atto 3. Instead, everything feels pretty straightforward, which is a plus point for an entry-level car like this, actually.
The rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen is now a BYD staple, and presents a simple layout that’s rather intuitive to use compared to many others, save for some oddities like having to reset the trip meter under the settings labeled “Sound and Display”.’
The underlying software is decent though, and probably an underrated highlight is the fact that you can switch off some of the advanced driver assistance systems like the Lane Departure Warning, and it will remain turned off the next time you start the car. Certainly cuts out a whole lot of annoyance, that’s for sure.
There are some physical buttons on the centre console, which is a nice touch, but their positioning way down low means that they are often ignored, and you find yourself reverting to the touchscreen or using the steering wheel controls instead.
The rest of the cabin is relatively simple, with a wireless charging pad, some USB chargers, and a fair amount of storage space. A small attempt at luxury frills comes in the form of front ventilated seats, which is actually useful in our climate, although perhaps not so much during the year end monsoon period when I drove the car.
The spartan theme extends to the back too. While passengers get plenty of legroom, as is typical of most EVs these days, there is only one air con vent and a couple of USB chargers. But given its price point and target market, that’s somewhat par for the course anyway.
The 380-litre boot is not the biggest around, but you could expand it to 1,320 litres by folding the rear seats down if you need more space. There’s also a handy double-level boot floor that frees up more room to accommodate taller items, which is surprisingly useful actually.
One thing that has to be noted is the Atto 2’s build quality, which does seem a bit below par. The plastics feel hard and cheap, and there are various squeaks and rattles that can be heard throughout the cabin.
While it is a fact that this is meant to be a very affordable car back in China, other manufacturers have proven that cheap cars do not mean having to put up with substandard quality.
Decent but Uninspiring Drive
The Atto 2’s status as a Cat A EV means that it’s not going to pull up any trees with its performance. The overall driving sensation can mostly be described as adequate, but it’s not exactly sparkling or memorable.
The single electric motor puts out 134bhp and 290Nm of torque, which is just about enough for daily use in Singapore. Acceleration is zippy, up to a point, but once you hit our national speed limit, the car would rather you take it easy instead of urging you to push further.
There are several selectable drive modes, including Sport, but it doesn’t seem to make a significant difference to the drivetrain’s responsiveness. Likewise, the steering assistance can be firmed up slightly via the infotainment settings, but added heftiness does not necessarily translate into extra engagement.
At the very least though, the Atto 2 doesn’t feel as flimsy as the Dolphin. There’s a good amount of composure, and it doesn’t feel unsettled when you hit a bump mid-corner, unlike its aquatic-named sibling. The steering is safe, but there’s a distinct lack of feedback, and it’s not a car that relishes any sort of fun driving.
Instead, the Atto 2 feels much more at home cruising around town. This is clearly evident from its reasonably well-sorted ride, which feels comfortable even over rough surfaces, like some of our road works-laden streets. There is a fair bit of wind noise at speeds about 80km/h, but that’s mostly just a minor niggle really.
The car’s 51.13kWh battery gives it a range of 345km on a full charge, which seems a bit lacking given that many newer EVs can achieve well over 400km these days. That said, it is fairly efficient in its power usage, and its impressive 5.9km/kWh figure feels like a realistically achievable target given the car’s laid-back nature.
A Decent Starter Car
BYD is aiming the Atto 2 at the younger crowd looking to buy their first car, and its launch party at Zouk clearly underscores that intent.
While it doesn’t quite seem to have that sense of zest or fun factor as some other small cars in the market, the Atto 2 does feel like a decent starting point for those who want something simple and easy to drive, without having to contend with too many unnecessary frills.
Its retail price of $164,388 with COE (at the time of writing) is attractive enough too in this current high COE environment, and if all you need is a sensible small EV to drive around in, the Atto 2 pretty much fits the bill.
Given their increasing numbers on our roads, it seems like the Atto 2 might just have the right formula to lead BYD to success in the small car segment here.
Technical Specifications
BYD Atto 2
Powertrain: Single Electric Motor, Front Wheel Drive
Power: 100 kW (134bhp)
Torque: 290 Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 9.0 Seconds
Top Speed: 160 km/h
Battery Capacity: 51.13 kWh
Drive Range: 345 km (claimed)
Energy Consumption: 5.9km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$164,388 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Article and photos by: Ben Chia (@benchiacars)
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