Affordable, stylish and comfortable – it’s easy to see why BYD’s ATTO 3 is the most talked about electric vehicle (EV) going around.

With the popularity of EVs growing rapidly across Australia, Chinese car maker BYD have quickly made a splash in the market by offering an attainable option for those looking to go electric.

The ATTO 3 Extended model comes in under the $50,000 mark, making it the perfect alternative for those turned off by the prices of most other EVs.

While a key attraction is affordability, the ATTO 3 also offers plenty in terms of safety, comfort and technology.

The key piece of technology in any EV is, of course, the battery, and the ATTO 3 uses BYD’s own Blade Battery that is the only EV battery to successfully pass the nail penetration test.

The ATTO 3’s 60kWh battery will take you around 400km (highway driving) before needing to be charged and has plenty of zip for those who enjoy getting up to the speed limit quickly and quietly.

Stepping into the car for the first time, it was impossible to miss the huge 12.8-inch touch screen that rotates between portrait and landscape orientations. The screen features an array of apps, including Maps for navigation and Spotify for music, while the BYD voice assistant can help in a number of ways. You can ask it to ‘open the sunroof’ or ‘turn on the radio’ and it will oblige, or simply let it know you are feeling ‘too hot’ and it will drop the temperature to your liking.

In terms of performance, driving the ATTO 3 around the suburbs of Canberra, up Mount Pleasant and through the city, the word that comes to mind is smooth. It handled nicely going up the hill, while the steering is light, the driver’s seat is comfortable, and there is ample room for passengers in the front and back.

While the exterior of this smooth operator is sleek and simple, the interior features a few interesting design elements such as the red strings across the bottom of the doors that can be played like a guitar and the stylish door handles on top of speakers.

Over 200,000 ATTO 3s were sold worldwide in September and are available to purchase online, with orders received now expected to arrive in Australia early 2023. BYD is in the process of setting up 11 experience centres across the country, with Canberra’s very own expected to be ready within the coming months.

Find out more about the ATTO 3 at www.bydautomotive.com.au

Price: Standard model from $44,381. Extended model from $47,381.

Vincent Samaras drove an ATTO 3 Extended model EV courtesy of BYD Canberra.

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