Atto 3 proves suave, smooth and stealthy
The vehicle is fully electric, which will appeal to those aiming to get as far off the grid as possible.
Suave, smooth and stealthy. You could use those three words to describe the BYD Atto 3.
There are others, of course, but those were the ones that came to mind.
The Atto 3 is a pure electric C-SUV with a sporty, aerodynamic design featuring a 15.6-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
It comes with safety features like an ultra-safe blade battery and a high-strength body.
The vehicle is fully electric, which will appeal to those aiming to get as far off the grid as possible.
The nett result between petrol/diesel purchase and using electricity to charge the battery over the long term is also a plus.
It’s quite good-looking in its own BYD way, possessing a certain elegance and classiness.
Inside there are bells and whistles aplenty, and it took me a little while to find where everything was, but not too long!
Touch screen, lights, knobs – it’s all there at your fingertips.
On the road, it’s incredibly smooth with super road handling. The advanced driving warning system gave me a slight fright at first (feels like a tug), but after some time, it was actually reassuring to know it’s there.
Acceleration was more than decent, especially when needing to pull away a touch from someone sitting on your tail – and you’re already going 120-odd on the highway.
However, it’s the silence of the electric vehicle that sets it apart from what most are used to.
It is just so quiet, stealthy. At times I wasn’t 100 percent sure the vehicle was ‘on’ if you know what I mean!
Pedestrians walking in the way, or too far into the road, got the surprise of their lives when the car suddenly emerged behind them.
So, you couldn’t assume they would know you were coming and duly move out of the way.
It’s available at the BYD dealership in Margate. Chat to Dean Gomes for more info.
* How long does it take to charge?
The BYD Atto 3 can be fast-charged via a DC port at a rate of up to 88kW, meaning you’ll be plugged in for around 40-45 minutes to refill up enough for your next drive.
A regular wall-box/home AC charging port will charge the BYD Atto 3 at a rate of about 7.4kW, meaning it’ll take roughly nine hours to completely recharge.
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