First Drive: BYD Atto 2
I have always felt that plug-in hybrids in South Africa have had a pricing problem rather than a technology problem. The idea of owning a plug-in hybrid makes so much sense since it offers the best of both worlds, minus the range anxiety that still puts many buyers off EVs. The catch is that most PHEVs have been priced far above their ICE-powered counterparts.
Let’s be realistic. When you’re shopping in the R500k-R1 million bracket, you are spoilt for choice with options such as the Haval H6 GT PHEV at R799,900 and the Omoda C9 PHEV at R999,000. For argument’s sake, looking at something like the Toyota RAV4 PHEV, you are already past the R1 million mark. It’s the same story even when you look at self-charging options such as the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV, which costs R552,400, and the Haval H6 HEV at R641,500. The BYD Atto 2, though, arriving at R449,900, becomes the country’s most affordable plug-in hybrid, placing PHEV technology into a price bracket where ordinary buyers might actually sit up and take notice.
Affordable PHEV, what does it bring to the table?
In typical Chinese fashion, BYD has thrown a stack of kit at this price point that legacy brands would still charge a premium for. Both the Comfort and Dynamic derivatives use the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine and front-mounted electric motor, fed by a tiny 7.8kWh battery, for a combined output of 122kW and 300Nm. Identical hardware powers the two variants, with the split between them coming down to equipment rather than the drivetrain.
And the Comfort isn’t the stripped-out base model you’d expect at this price. You get both passive and active features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning, six airbags, rear parking distance sensors, and a rear-view camera. Other features include 16-inch alloy wheels, a 4-speaker sound system, USB ports for front and rear passengers, cloth upholstery, a manually adjustable driver’s seat, a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster.
Moving up to the Dynamic model adds adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree surround-view camera, synthetic leather, a 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen, a 50W wireless phone charger, and a panoramic sunroof. Enough to justify the R40,000 difference? I reckon it is.
How’s the quality inside?
It’s a solid interior. My drive was a short one, but it was enough to note no rattles or creaks. Thankfully, BYD has gone for physical buttons where it actually matters, such as drive modes, the windscreen demister, and EV/HEV switching, instead of burying them three menus deep in the touchscreen like some manufacturers insist on doing. Everything else is accessible via the screen. Thankfully, the infotainment is easy to use, and I didn’t find myself scrolling through menus for basic settings during the drive. To add to that, the interior looks built to age well.
As for space, taller passengers in the back will likely find legroom tight, but the boot should be generous enough for buyers in this segment. It’s rated at 425 litres, while folding down the rear seats expands it to 1,335 litres.
How does it drive?
Well, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The hybridised 1.5-litre engine pulls from a stop without drama, even at highway speeds, but there’s a hesitation during overtaking manoeuvres past 120km/h, where the engine and hybrid system seem unsure whether to lean on electricity or petrol. What you get is an indecisive handover between the two, right when you need the car to commit. The e-CVT doesn’t help. Push it hard, and it drones with that familiar whine that climbs faster than your actual road speed.
We’ll report back once we get the Atto 2 on a proper test, where these inconsistencies can be picked apart properly over a week of varied driving. When it comes to ride quality, it’s impressive, but not the best in the segment. You can feel the added weight of the hybrid battery, and the 1.5-tonne kerb weight makes itself known over road imperfections. It’s not uncomfortable, just noticeably heavier than typical hybrid crossovers such as the Chery Tiggo Cross (1,387kg) and Toyota Corolla Cross HEV (1,385kg).
Does it make for a sensible buy?
A resounding yes. PHEVs in South Africa are usually priced higher, and the Atto 2 changes that entire conversation. Factor in BYD’s claim of up to 40km on pure electricity and a combined range of up to 930km, as well as not worrying about charging the car or hunting for the nearest charger, and that’s a win on its own.
Again, it’s not the most powerful PHEV in its class, but that’s not the point. The point is R449,900 buys a plug-in hybrid in a country where the next rung up the PHEV ladder starts closer to R800,000, and the one after that flirts with a million rand. Self-charging hybrids are also not affordable. For reference, the Toyota Corolla Cross HEV is over half a million, while the H6 HEV is more than that. Against that backdrop, the Atto 2’s rough edges stop mattering as much. You’re not cross-shopping it against a Volvo or a Lexus, but everything else in this price bracket, and nothing else in this price range offers plug-in ability.
BYD has finally priced the PHEV for the average, sensible, cash-strapped consumer, and for that alone, the Atto 2 deserves the attention it’s getting.
