BYD Atto 1

First Impressions

Walking up to the BYD Atto 1, I immediately noticed how sporty it looks compared to everything else in the small EV segment. This is basically the car we've seen overseas as the BYD Seagull, rebranded as the Atto 1 for our market. It slots in as BYD's smallest offering, sitting below the Atto 2 and Atto 3.

Two variants are available, differentiated mainly by battery size. The Dynamic gets a tiny 30 kWh pack while the Premium bumps up to 38.8 kWh. Both share the same 75 horsepower motor. It's not a powerhouse, but it's not trying to be one either.

Design and Exterior

This is where the Atto 1 genuinely shines. The rounded, chunky body has real character. The rear spoiler creates this tunnel-like shape with a light bar running across the back that looks far more premium than you'd expect. The alloy wheel design is surprisingly attractive too, fitted with 185/55 R16 tyres on both trims.

Side mirrors are body-colored, and you get NFC card access plus keyless entry, though the keyless function only works on the driver's door. No panoramic glass roof here, just a standard roof. The overall proportions feel tight and purposeful. Among city EVs, I'd argue this is the best-looking one available right now.

Interior and Tech

Step inside and reality checks in. Hard plastics are everywhere, and while the design language is pleasant enough, the material quality doesn't match the exterior's promise. The door panels have some soft-touch areas, but most surfaces are rigid plastic. It doesn't look cheap exactly, but it's not refined either.

The 10.1-inch center screen handles the basics and supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a genuine win. The driver's display is a modest 7-inch unit. There's a wireless phone charger, two cupholders, and USB-A plus USB-C ports. The gear selector sits on the center console in that familiar BYD style.

Here's what genuinely shocked me: the rear legroom. I'm 170 cm and had space to spare. Someone 180 cm tall could sit back there comfortably. The headroom is massive too. However, the rear bench is a single piece with no 60/40 split and no center armrest. No rear air vents either, and no rear cabin light. Cost-cutting is evident.

Driving Experience

I only managed to maneuver the car in a tight space, but even that brief encounter told me a few things. The steering has a nice weight to it, not too light and not artificially heavy. The turning circle is impressively tight. I did a U-turn in a narrow space with just two steering corrections, which is exactly what you want from a city car.

Three driving modes are available: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Regenerative braking has just two settings, Standard and High. Energy consumption showed 12.2 kWh per 100 km on the display, which is very efficient. The air conditioning cooled the small cabin quickly. I'll need proper road time to judge ride comfort and highway manners, but first impressions of the driving dynamics are positive.

What's Missing

The biggest omission is the lack of a 360-degree camera on any trim. In 2025, even budget city cars are offering surround-view systems, and BYD's decision to skip it here is frustrating. You get only a rear camera and parking sensors.

The base Dynamic trim is particularly stripped down. No adaptive cruise control, no lane departure warning, no auto high beam. The Premium adds these back along with forward collision warning, but even then, the power windows are only auto-down on the driver's side. The rear seat doesn't fold in a split configuration, and DC fast charging maxes out at just 40 kW.

Value for Money

The two-battery strategy is clever. If you mostly putter around the city and rarely venture far, the smaller battery Dynamic might suit you. But it comes at the cost of nearly every advanced feature. The Premium trim with its larger battery and proper safety suite feels like the one to get.

Compared to the GWM EX2, the Atto 1 trades some equipment for arguably better styling and that extraordinary rear legroom. It's a genuine tradeoff and your priorities will determine which suits you better.

Final Verdict

The BYD Atto 1 is a charming little city EV with a killer design and surprisingly spacious cabin. It drives neatly in tight spaces and sips energy efficiently. But the cost-cutting is real, the charging speed is slow, and the missing 360-degree camera is hard to forgive.

If you love the styling and prioritize interior space over tech features, the Atto 1 Premium deserves your attention. The base Dynamic is harder to recommend unless the stripped-down simplicity is genuinely what you're after. This segment is fiercely competitive right now, and BYD has delivered something distinctive if not quite complete.