The updated BYD Atto 3 Evo is here from $41,990. We compare the Dynamic and Premium on price, range, charging, boot space and towing, and show how it stacks up against the Geely EX5, MG S5 EV and Tesla Model Y.
By Varun Punyamurtula ·
The Atto 3 Evo Premium fixes almost everything that held the old Atto 3 back: range, charging speed, boot space and towing. At $46,990 plus on road costs it is one of the best value small electric SUVs in Australia. The Dynamic is a well equipped city car, but the $5,000 step up to the Premium is worth every dollar.
From $41,990 plus on road costs (Dynamic). Premium $46,990 plus on road costs.
About $46,300 drive away in NSW for the BYD Atto 3 Evo Dynamic. See VIC and QLD
The BYD Atto 3 was the car that made BYD a household name in Australia, and the new Atto 3 Evo is its biggest update yet. It went on sale in September 2026, which is why so many people are searching for it right now.
There are now two very different versions. The cheaper Dynamic is front wheel drive and keeps the old platform, while the Premium switches to rear wheel drive, a bigger battery, much faster charging and a front boot. So which one should you buy, and is it still the smart small electric SUV pick against the Geely EX5, MG S5 EV and Tesla Model Y?
Quick answer: The Atto 3 Evo Premium is the one to buy. For $5,000 more than the Dynamic you get 510km of range, charging twice as fast, 230kW, a bigger boot, a 101 litre front boot and double the towing capacity. The Dynamic only makes sense if your budget stops at about $46,000 drive away and you mostly drive around town.
The Atto 3 Evo comes in two grades. The old entry level Essential has gone, so the starting price is $2,000 higher than before. Prices are BYD's list prices plus on road costs:
Ski White is the free colour. Harbour Grey and Cosmos Black add $600, and Atlantis Grey ($600) is Premium only. Our NSW, VIC and QLD drive away estimates are in the table at the end of this review, or check what any car will cost you on the road with our car value and drive away tool.
Run out stock of the old Atto 3 is still around. If you only need city range, a discounted old model or a demo or near new car can be the best value of all.
This is the big question with the Evo, because the two grades are now much further apart than before.
Winner: Premium. The $5,000 gap buys you 90km more range, twice the charging speed, more space and a car that can tow a small camper. That is far more than you usually get for $5,000.
Both grades are well equipped for the money:
Winner on value: the Dynamic. It gets nearly all the comfort and tech of the Premium, so if you don't need the range or towing, you aren't missing out on gear.
The Evo gets a sharper new nose with a full width daytime running light, plus full width tail lights and a new rear bumper. The size is unchanged at 4,455mm long and 1,875mm wide, so it still fits easily in city car parks.
Exterior:
Rear:
Inside, the gear selector has moved off the centre console onto a slim stalk on the steering column. That frees up a lot of storage space between the front seats. The dashboard and door trims are new and the old two tone colours have made way for a more grown up grey.
Interior:
The Premium's 510km WLTP range means most people will charge at home once or twice a week. In real world driving, expect a bit less than the official figure, especially at freeway speeds.
Check what petrol is costing near you with our live fuel prices map.
Winner: Premium. Faster charging matters most on road trips, where 220kW turns a long coffee stop into a short one.
Want one? Tell us what you're after and we'll use our network to find the best deal anywhere in Australia, on a new, demo, near new or used Atto 3 Evo. Get the best deal.
The Atto 3 has always had a roomy back seat for a small SUV, and the flat floor makes the middle seat usable. The Premium's boot is 490 litres with the seats up, which is bigger than many medium SUVs, and it has a 101 litre front boot for charging cables or wet gear because there's no motor up front.
Winner: Premium, thanks to the front boot and the extra 56 litres in the back.
Both grades get seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert with braking, a driver monitoring camera and child presence detection. The Premium adds front cross traffic alert with braking.
The original Atto 3 earned five stars from ANCAP in 2022. The updated Evo had not been rated when we checked, so look for its ANCAP result before you sign if safety ratings matter to you.
BYD had not published capped price servicing for the Evo when we checked. Electric cars have far fewer parts to service, so expect running costs well below a petrol SUV.
Winner on space: Geely EX5. Winner on price: MG S5 EV. Winner on range and charging for the money: Atto 3 Evo Premium.
Buy it if: you want a small electric SUV with real road trip range, quick charging and the backing of a brand that was Australia's second biggest seller in September 2026, at under $50,000 before on road costs.
Skip it if: you need a bigger family car (look at the Sealion 7 or Model Y), or you want the confidence of a current ANCAP rating before you buy.
Our pick: the Atto 3 Evo Premium at $46,990 plus on road costs. It is the version that fixes the old Atto 3's weak spots: range, charging speed, boot space and towing. If your budget is tight, the Dynamic is still a well equipped city car, but a run out old model may be even better value.
Not sure an EV suits you? Our guide to electric cars in Australia covers prices, incentives and the best buys right now.
The Dynamic is $41,990 and the Premium is $46,990, both plus on road costs. That works out to roughly $46,000 and $51,000 drive away, depending on your state.
420km WLTP for the Dynamic and 510km WLTP for the Premium.
The Dynamic is front wheel drive. The Premium is rear wheel drive. There is no all wheel drive version in Australia.
The Dynamic charges at up to 110kW (about 41 minutes to reach 80 per cent). The Premium charges at up to 220kW, taking roughly half an hour.
Yes. The Premium can tow 1,500kg braked and the Dynamic 750kg braked.
The Premium has a 101 litre front boot. The Dynamic doesn't, because its motor sits up front.
The Evo has a new front and rear design, a bigger driver display, a column gear selector, 50W phone charging and more range. The Premium also gets rear wheel drive, 800 volt charging at 220kW, a front boot and double the towing capacity.
Want one? Tell us what you're after and we'll use our network to find the best deal anywhere in Australia, on a new, demo, near new or used Atto 3 Evo. Get the best deal. Upgrading from an older Atto 3 or anything else? We can help you sell your car too, and you can see what it's worth with our car value tool.
Prices and specifications checked on 12 October 2026 from BYD Australia. Rival prices and drive away offers change often, so confirm with a dealer before you buy. Images: BYD Australia; rivals image: Geely Australia, MG Motor Australia, Tesla Australia.
An estimate for a private buyer. Pick your state.
| BYD Atto 3 Evo Dynamic | BYD Atto 3 Evo Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $41,990 | $46,990 |
| Stamp duty (NSW) | $1,320 | $1,550 |
| Rego and CTP, 12 months | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Dealer delivery (typical) | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Drive away, about | $46,300 | $51,500 |
Why a new car loses value so fast: about $4,320 of the drive away price is stamp duty, rego, CTP and dealer delivery. You never get that back when you sell, because the next owner pays their own. GST and any Luxury Car Tax are built into the list price, so they fade with the car's value over the years rather than vanishing on day one. The rest of the drop comes from age, kilometres and demand.
Estimates only, using 2026-27 rates. Rego and CTP depend on the car's weight, your insurer and postcode, and dealer delivery varies (some brands sell at one national drive away price). Ask the dealer for a written drive away quote.
Tell us what you're after and we'll use our network to help you find the best deal anywhere in Australia.
List it on Drivers Insider in a few minutes and reach buyers right across Australia.
Sell your carTags: Electric, Family, Budget
Sources
BYD has sold almost twice as many cars as Tesla in Australia this year, but the Model Y is still the top selling EV. Here's the sales scoreboard, and how the Model Y and Sealion 7 compare on price, range, charging and more.
8.6/10BMW's new Neue Klasse iX3 starts at $89,900 for the rear drive iX3 40, under the Luxury Car Tax threshold. We compare the 40 and 50 xDrive on price, range, charging and equipment, and show how it stacks up against the Audi Q6 e-tron, Mercedes GLC electric and Tesla Model Y.
7.7/10The first all new CX-5 since 2017 is bigger, safer and AWD across the range, from $39,990. But there's still no hybrid. Here's the price, what each grade gets, and how it stacks up against the RAV4 and Tucson.
7.8/10The Geely EX5 just cracked Australia's top 10 sellers at $41,990 plus on road costs. Here is what you get for the money, and where the real risks hide.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Sign in to comment or create a free account