The BYD Atto 3 was launched in Australia final quarter of final 12 months. At the moment, I spoke with Caleb Gittins, who instructed me that ordering his automotive was like inserting a takeaway order on-line — it was that straightforward. He not too long ago knowledgeable me that the automotive is due for its complimentary 5000 km service, and so I requested him what it has been like driving the Atto 3 in Australia.

Caleb’s BYD Atto 3. Photograph courtesy of Caleb Gittins.

The Atto 3 is a big addition to the electrical automobile choices in Australia and is at the moment the best promoting non-Tesla on this nation.

Caleb tells me the service went nicely. I’m trying ahead to understanding what must be achieved for an Atto 3 at a 5000 km service go to. Simply checking every little thing over, I suppose? The automotive was serviced by Eagers at Albion in Brisbane. Eagers additionally attended to the BYD security recall. One way or the other, the manufacturing facility carpeted over the anchor level for the kid seats. Though the Atto 3 has over-the-air replace functionality, Eagers wanted to put in up to date software program.

Caleb is loving the automotive. He fees at house. He generally has to commute over 300 km to work within the rural metropolis of Toowoomba — a few 300 km spherical journey — however that’s not an issue within the Atto 3 with its acknowledged vary of 480 km. (Although, Caleb tells me it’s nearer to 420 km in actual life.) Toowoomba is up on the highest of the Nice Dividing Vary, however regardless of the hill climb, he nonetheless arrives house with 25% cost left in his battery. The drive is made simpler with adaptive cruise management and lane conserving enabled.

He’s trying ahead to Android Auto popping out quickly to combine his automotive and cellphone extra intently. BYD is within the strategy of adapting its software program to swimsuit Android Auto.

I requested about reactions to the automotive from co-workers and mates. He stated he will get lots of feedback in regards to the inside — it’s fairly distinctive, particularly the door handles and the banjo strings. He has given lots of take a look at drives. Each time he parks, strangers come as much as him and ask him what it’s. He’s pondering of taking off the “Construct Your Desires” that labels the automotive throughout the again. “It doesn’t imply something,” he says. After main the way in which, Caleb is now seeing a couple of BYDs in his house suburb within the north of Brisbane.

One commentator has been Caleb’s postie. “You’ve received two Teslas now?” he asks. (Caleb’s housemate drives a Mannequin 3.) “No. It’s a BYD.” In fact, a proof needed to observe. In addition they had put in an additional wall charger. They now have one within the storage and one exterior. “I save a whole lot of {dollars} on petrol, so I don’t thoughts spending further for the charger. It’s extra handy,” he tells me.

Caleb’s Wallbox charger. Photograph courtesy Caleb Gittins.

Caleb says he has been educating folks and the general response is optimistic. Many individuals don’t realise that it’s electrical.

Since Caleb’s housemate owns a Mannequin 3 and I do know that they focus on their vehicles, I couldn’t resist asking for a comparability. The 2 vehicles dwell aspect by aspect. What is best about every? The Tesla Mannequin 3 doesn’t have a 360-degree digital camera, automobile to load, a retractable sunroof, or Android Auto. Nonetheless, the Tesla has computerized wipers, the automotive might be managed with an app, and it has driver profiles. Apparently, BYD has a automotive app in different international locations, it simply hasn’t gotten to Australia but.

I requested in regards to the BYD help teams on Fb — pages that I take advantage of for analysis regularly. He says he checks in often and may reply the easy questions for newbies. Caleb not too long ago introduced his automotive to an Affiliation of Impartial Retirees gathering to debate EVs and present the members some samples. I noticed that he’s greater than able to demonstrating his automotive.

Thanks for sharing, Caleb. We’ll catch up at 10,000 km maybe.

My enquiries on Fb, on the BYD dialogue web page, inspired Xingyu Qiu to share his story.

Xingyu’s BYD Atto 3. Photograph courtesy Xingyu Qiu

“I’ve been an proprietor since November 2022 and have pushed over 7000 km in my BYD Atto 3.

The highest 5 pluses I’ve discovered are:

1. Comparatively quiet for the value class. A lot better than a Tesla Mannequin 3/Y.
2. Very compliant journey on nicely sealed/paved/maintained roads.
3. Very vivid LED headlights with good attain.
4. Availability of low auto regenerative braking on accelerator carry off means it appears like a traditional automotive. It’s additionally far smoother to function and likewise extra environment friendly than a excessive auto regenerative braking.
5. Very environment friendly drive. Sure it is just a entrance mounted 150 kW motor, and regardless of weighing practically 2 tons, I’m managing 12.8-14 kWh/100 km and I’m a reasonably engaged driver.

BYD inside. Photograph courtesy of Xingyu Qiu.

High 5 minuses:

1. Dealing with. The tyres are objectively unhealthy. Its braking efficiency is probably going certainly one of if not the worst in its value/dimension section. I swapped out the Batman tyres ASAP, to Bridgestone Turanzas and each metric (together with quietness) has improved.
2. Suspension. On sealed/flat roads it can not get any higher for this section of car. As quickly as you hit repeated undulations (say, on a freeway), the dearth of management within the suspension is extraordinarily apparent. The automotive bounces up and down far more than another compact SUV would. That is clearly tuned for low/medium pace city environments with nicely maintained roads.
3. Headlights don’t venture vast sufficient. They might have added a set cornering mild, however it’s about 20° narrower than a CX-30 Astina/CX-5 Akera matrix LED headlights.
4. The beeps and bongs are overly delicate, particularly the lane centering help system. Resting your hand on the wheel shouldn’t be sufficient, it’s worthwhile to give it energetic enter each 5–10 seconds or the automotive will assume you’re not holding the wheel. This turns into a giant challenge on very straight roads the place enter is actually not required.
5. Entrance parking sensors are very poorly designed. There is just one sensor for every of the entrance corners, and none instantly ahead dealing with. This implies solely once you get tremendous near one thing in entrance of you, does the nook sensors begin going off.”

BYD is introducing two new fashions this 12 months and I count on that they may climb the gross sales charts simply as shortly because the Atto 3 has. Similar to in China, BYD shall be Tesla’s principal competitors in Australia.