BYD’s Atto 1 is a compact EV hatchback that aims to be an ideal city-driving companion

BYD has released a new EV, but it’s bucking trends a little bit. That’s because, instead of being a large SUV, BYD’s new Atto 1 is a compact five-seater hatchback.

To be clear, this is not the first hatchback BYD’s ever released – the Dolphin, for instance, is already a part of the company’s EV portfolio. It’s not the only EV hatchback around either, with the Dongfeng Box being another example.

However, it’s still quite uncommon compared to the SUVs and sedans that electric cars in Singapore tend to take the shape of. And it’s small, too, with a wheelbase of 2,500 mm and an overall length of 3,990 mm. The width of the Atto 1 measures just 1,720 mm, and it weighs 1,370kg. 

All this leads to to the Atto 1’s turning diameter of 9.9 metres. BYD stated that the small size of the Atto 1 is suited for city driving, especially narrow turns in situations like looking for parking. However, the most obvious trade-off is the storage, for which you’ll have to tamper expectations – it has a luggage capacity of just 308 litres.

As for what’s powering the Atto 1, it’s a permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 65kW (87hp) and 175 NM of torque. So its compactness leads to another trade-off then, as it’s not exactly the most powerful EV out there. It’s also front-wheel drive.

The battery isn’t the biggest either, but since the Atto 1 doesn’t have a particularly large power output, that’s perhaps less of a concern. It’s a 43.2kWh Blade Battery – if you’ve been following BYD for a while, then you’ll know that Blade Batteries are of an LFP chemistry.

The Atto 1 supports both AC and DC charging. While the battery might be small, at least it can top up fast if you use the right charger, as the Atto 1 supports DC charging of up to 85kW. All in all, the Atto 1’s capable of a WLTP driving range of 322km. 

As for the comfort features in the interior, the BYD Atto 1 has a 7.1-inch digital instrument panel, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen panel on the centre console that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with a suite of safety features, including a rear view camera, driver fatigue monitoring.

Availability and Pricing

The BYD Atto 1 is available now and prices start at S$169,888 with COE. You can book a test drive now at BYD’s website here.

Note: Prices are subject to change depending on the COE and are correct at the time of publishing.