Twelve months and 18,000 kilometres. That’s what I’ve put on my BYD Atto 3 Extended Range since picking it up in January 2025. I’ve driven it to work, to the Sunshine Coast, to the Gold Coast, and on one ambitious road trip to northern NSW. It’s time for an honest review.

The purchase decision

I paid $47,381 drive-away for the Extended Range model in Ski White. That’s the 60.5kWh battery version with a WLTP range of 420km. The standard range (49.9kWh, 345km) was about $5,000 cheaper, but I wanted the extra range buffer for road trips.

At the time, the main competitors were the MG4 (cheaper but smaller), the Tesla Model 3 (more expensive, but Tesla), and the Hyundai Kona Electric (comparable price, better range). I chose the Atto 3 because it felt like the best balance of space, features, and value.

Real-world range

The claimed 420km WLTP range is optimistic. In real-world driving around Brisbane — mix of suburban and highway, air conditioning running six months of the year — I consistently get 340-370km. On highway road trips at 110km/h, that drops to about 290-310km.

Is that enough? For daily driving, absolutely. My commute is 35km round trip, and I charge once or twice a week. For road trips, it requires planning — you need to know where the chargers are and be comfortable with 30-40 minute DC charging stops.

Charging experience

At home, I charge with my Zappi 7kW charger. A full charge from 20% to 80% takes about 4-5 hours, which fits comfortably in a solar charging window or overnight off-peak period.

DC fast charging is where the experience is mixed. The Atto 3 accepts up to 80kW DC, which is decent but not class-leading. Tesla Model 3 can do 170kW+, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 does 220kW. In practice, I’ve rarely seen my Atto 3 pull more than 65kW at a charger, and it tapers significantly above 60% state of charge.

A typical DC charge from 15% to 80% takes about 45 minutes. That’s fine for a lunch stop on a road trip, but it’s noticeably slower than the faster-charging competition.

The charging network itself is improving rapidly. Chargefox and NRMA have been installing 350kW chargers along major highways. I haven’t been stranded yet, but I always plan my route with PlugShare and keep a mental backup plan.

Running costs: the good stuff

This is where the Atto 3 shines. My energy cost per kilometre:

• Home solar charging: ~2 cents/km
• Home off-peak charging: ~4 cents/km
• Public DC charging: ~8-12 cents/km (depending on network and pricing)

My blended average over 18,000km is about 3.5 cents/km, because 80% of my charging is at home on solar. That’s roughly $630 total for the year.

Compare that to a comparable petrol SUV doing 8L/100km at $2/litre: that’s 16 cents/km, or $2,880 over the same distance. I’m saving about $2,250 per year in fuel alone.

Add in no oil changes, no transmission service, and reduced brake wear (regenerative braking does most of the work), and the ongoing cost advantage is massive. I’ve spent exactly $0 on maintenance in 12 months. The first scheduled service isn’t until 24 months or 30,000km.

What I like

The interior is genuinely nice for the price. The rotating centre screen is a gimmick, but the sound system is excellent, the seats are comfortable for long drives, and the boot space is practical. The rear seat space is particularly good — better than a Model 3 and comparable to much more expensive SUVs.

The ride is composed and quiet. EV refinement is a real advantage — no engine vibration, no gear changes, just smooth acceleration and a peaceful cabin. Highway driving at 100km/h is genuinely relaxing.

The safety tech is solid. AEB, lane keeping, adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring — all included. The ANCAP 5-star rating is well-earned.

What I don’t like

The infotainment system is sometimes laggy. Not unusable, but noticeably slower than my partner’s car (a Mazda CX-5 with a simpler system). Over-the-air updates have improved things slightly, but it’s still behind Tesla and Hyundai in software polish.

The BYD app is mediocre. It shows state of charge and lets you precondition the cabin, but the interface is clunky and it occasionally loses connection to the car. Tesla’s app sets the standard here and BYD isn’t close.

DC charging speed, as mentioned. If BYD could bump this to 120kW+ in future models, it’d remove my biggest road trip complaint.

The paint quality is merely okay. I’ve noticed a few stone chips that seem to have penetrated more easily than I’d expect. Not a structural issue, but a quality observation.

Would I buy it again?

Yes, but I’d also now seriously consider the Model 3 Highland (if budget allowed) or the Hyundai Kona Electric. The Atto 3 remains excellent value for money, but the competition has sharpened.

If you’re considering your first EV and you want something practical, well-equipped, and affordable, the Atto 3 is a very solid choice. Just don’t expect Tesla-level software or Porsche-level charging speed.

And if you’ve got solar at home? The running costs are genuinely absurd. My car effectively runs on sunshine, and I never want to go back to a petrol station.