The luxury car market has always operated like an exclusive guest list, one that rarely welcomes fresh new entrants. But BYD is joining the queue with the all-new Atto 8 – a large 7-seater PHEV SUV with presence, elegance and a performance variant packing serious power.
The Atto 8 enters the market in two variants: the Premium DM-i leads the charge with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and a front-mounted electric motor working in tandem to deliver a combined 205kW and 315Nm. With a battery capacity of 19kWh, it offers a combined driving range of 892km, made possible by BYD’s Generation 5 DM Super Hybrid Technology and the second-generation Blade battery that has become one of the brand’s engineering marvels.
The second model is the Performance DM-p, and as its name suggests, pairs the same 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with a second electric motor at the rear axle for an AWD setup. The result is a combined power output of 360kW and 675Nm plus a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds… in a 7-seater. Despite having a lesser but impressive range of up to 844km, it features a bigger 35.6kWh battery pack.
Its sizeable and minimalist exterior is mirrored inside, featuring a similar design language and spacious elegance. It makes use of a wide variety of textures and darker colours that flow through the cabin, blending the dash with the speakers in a seamless and simple aesthetic, and it is one of the prettier interiors I have experienced. It’s simple but detailed, offering a sense of class without overcomplicating the space with overwhelming details and features.
There is plenty of legroom in the second row, and there is decent legroom in the rear for your sixth and seventh passengers. And of course, there is a massive 15.6-inch infotainment screen in the middle, which runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and lends the cabin a strong modern touch. BYD is making a genuine play for the luxury segment, and the pricing makes a compelling case that it belongs there.
The price starts at R1,059,900 for the Premium and R1,259,900 for the Performance, which is steep since the brand has historically positioned itself with competitively priced products in SA, so crossing the R1 million mark is a deliberate break from that pattern. It competes with the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Kia Sorento on price, but it is unique in its local PHEV domain. Chinese rivals like the range-topping Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV sit at R989,900. Yes, the Atto 8 does provide you with a stronger sense of elegance, particularly with its cabin environment, and the price is on the cusp of luxury, which comes with a new challenge. At this price point, BYD is competing on perception, and persuading local 7-seater buyers to equate a Chinese badge with premium is a competition that numbers alone won’t win. This requires proper marketing.
The Atto 8 is a unique vehicle that combines style, class, and real performance. It ticks all the boxes we look for in a premium 7-seater and would resonate well with buyers who want to stand out in an otherwise cookie-cutter segment. It may not have a permanent place on the luxury guest list just yet, but it’s close.
