BYD upgrades Atto 3 to more powerful and improved Evo status

Aside from a reworked interior and subtle revisions outside, the Evo also boasts more power and the first time option of all-wheel drive.


With sales in China still to kick-off, BYD has, instead, introduced an updated version of the Atto 3 in Europe ahead of its home market.

Known as the Yuan Plus in China where it forms part of the Dynasty range of products, the officially named Atto 3 Evo receives not only external revisions, but also inside and underneath its skin.

Unchanged

Still mounted on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0, the Evo retains the same dimensions as before – an overall length of 4 455 mm, wheelbase of 2 720 mm, height of 1 615 mm and width of 1 875 mm.

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Claimed boot is 490-litres or 1 360-litres with the rear seats folded, plus an additional 50-litres underneath the bonnet.

New outside

Visually, the Evo gets new bumpers and side skirts, newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels, a new roof spoiler and replacing of the Build Your Dreams script across the tailgate with BYD.

Inside

More prominent are the changes inside where the centre console is new and now accommodates a wireless smartphone charging pad at the expense of the gear lever, which moves to the steering column.

BYD reveals updated and renamed Atto 3 Evo
Interior has been redesigned with a new centre console and larger infotainment system which no longer rotates. Picture: BYD Europe

Also new is the steering wheel and the 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster display.

In addition to more premium materials, BYD has increased the size of the infotainment system from 12.8-inches to 15.6-inches, though the display no longer rotates as before.

More punch

Underneath, the e-Platform’s unchanged dimensions have, however, seen the introduction of a new rear suspension, 800-volt instead of 400-volt electrification and, for the first time, the option of all-wheel drive.

Powered by BYD’s latest Blade battery pack, which increases in size to 74.8-kWh, the single-motor Atto 3 Evo makes 230kW/380Nm, which translates to a top speed of 180 km/h.

The claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time is 5.5 seconds and the range 510 km.

BYD reveals updated and renamed Atto 3 Evo
Biggest change to the rear is the removal of the Build Your Dreams script across the tailgate. Picture: BYD Europe

While with the same battery pack, the inclusion of the second electric motor translates to 449kW/560Nm in the dual-motor Atto 3 Evo, a top speed of 200 km/h and 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.

The all-wheel drive Atto 3 Evo’s claimed range is 470 km.

As before, the Atto 3 Evo supports vehicle-to-load up to three kilowatts and DC charging up to 220 kW.

Using the latter will require a waiting time of 25 minutes. Standard on both models, though, is an 11 kW on-board charger.

Not yet approved

Still to be priced in Europe, the Atto 3 Evo has not yet been confirmed for South Africa where the original Atto 3 debuted back in 2023.

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