2026 BYD Atto 1 review: Quick drive

You’re looking at what’s likely to be Australia’s cheapest new electric vehicle (EV), but its name doesn’t match its cutesy design.

Enter pint-size the BYD Atto 1 – also known as the Seagull in China and the Dolphin Surf in Europe – a light-class electric hatchback that could really shake things up at the attainable end of the market.

Measuring just 3990mm long and 1720mm wide, is about the same size as the hybrid-powered Toyota Yaris but with a battery electric drivetrain and a very attainable price tag – which BYD promises will start around the $25,000 mark.

With up to 310km of range on the WLTP test cycle and a full suite of active safety systems across the range, the Atto 1 hopes to capture the attention of buyers that may be swayed by a city-sized EV for urban commuting and/or for use as a second or third car.

Should you consider this over the Yaris, Mazda 2, MG 3, or Suzuki Swift? We scored a quick drive at the Lang Lang proving ground to get an early taste ahead of the Atto 1’s release in November to help you decide.

How much does the BYD Atto 1 cost?

The Atto 1 will be offered in two versions – the Essential and the Premium.

BYD Australia has indicated the Essential should start around the $25,000 mark, which would easily make it Australia’s cheapest EV – taking over from BYD’s own Dolphin Essential small hatch, which starts from $29,990.

Expect the higher-spec Premium to be priced from around $30,000.

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What is the BYD Atto 1 like on the inside?

A brief stint in the cockpit of the Atto 1 reveals a tidy and purposeful interior that offers minimum frills and maximum functionality.

It gets the same wavy lines as the larger Dolphin, albeit with smaller screens, fewer soft-touch materials, and a less inspiring colour scheme – but given the projected price point, we’re not really complaining.

There’s a simplified 7.0-inch digital instrument display and a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen. The former is very basic and not as glossy as the larger units in other BYD models, while the central touchscreen looks like a shrunken version of the existing user interface in models like the Dolphin and Atto 3.

I didn’t have time to play around with it too much but it seems fine for this class of vehicle, and the ait-conditioning controls remain physical toggles on a bank of switches just below the screen.

The design of the dashboard gives the impression of space via recessed sections ahead of the driver and passenger, and the open-plan layout further adds to the airiness. The leatherette upholstery adds a layer of luxe, too.

Big cupholders and decent door pockets offer spots to stow your coffees and drink bottles, and there’s a tray under the floating centre console to store larger items – but it’s lined with hard plastic, so stuff rattles around a bit.

Another thing I noticed is the limited grip of the wireless phone charger, because when I took one of the corners on the ride and handling track at decent clip, my iPhone 17 Pro Max flung itself into the passenger footwell as if it was trying to escape – better luck next time, Agent Apple.

Other than that, there’s good space for adults even at my height (6’1″), thanks to plentiful legroom and kneeroom for its size, as well as generous headroom courtesy of the tall roofline.

Further back, BYD quotes 308 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in place, expanding to a healthy 1037L with them folded – though there’s a pretty significant step up from the boot floor to the rear seat backs.

What’s under the bonnet?

Each model variant runs a different electric motor and battery setup, with the Premium gaining significantly more pep and range.

How does the BYD Atto 1 drive?

Our time with the Atto 1 was limited to about 45 minutes behind the wheel, driving around the skid pan as well as the ride and handling course in between capturing photo and video content.

Driving an early local-spec Atto 1 Premium for this stint, we had the chance to subject it to some standing starts, a motorkhana-style handling course, and some more dynamic driving on the handling course that simulates high-speed country roads – far from the sort of natural habitat the Atto 1 will generally be driven in.

First impressions are pretty good, given the projected price range and the kind of vehicles the Atto 1 will be competing against. Instant torque from the electric motor helps make this feel peppier than naturally aspirated petrol alternatives, and BYD has tuned the front e-motor to progressively lay on the power to prevent the front wheels spinning up aimlessly.

It gets going with gusto and still has a bit of spunk when you throw it into corners, with the EV battery creating a low centre of gravity and a relatively light front-end producing keen dynamics befitting of an acid yellow city car.

Steering feel is on the lighter side but nicely quick, making the Atto 1 a fun little jigger to throw around some cones or, inevitably, fling through city streets and alleyways.

I was more impressed by the Atto 1’s performance around Lang Lang’s ride/handling course – one you’d be familiar with if you regularly watch Paul Maric’s videos on the CarExpert YouTube channel.

Signed speed limits of up to 120km/h, plenty of surface changes, and numerous bends and undulations provided a good idea of how the Atto 1 would fare once you leave city limits – and it surprised me how well it handled it.

Stability at freeway speeds is solid, as is the car’s composure through high-speed bends and over road imperfections like simulated train tracks. It didn’t do quite as well over sine waves at 120km/h, but given its price tag and city-slicker pitch, I ain’t mad at it.

You will notice a fair bit of wind and road noise as you hit coarse-chip bitumen at high speeds, however. It’s an area in which the Atto 1 trials some of its similarly sized rivals – namely Euro alternatives like the Volkswagen Polo.

Other things to note include the selectable drive modes – including Eco, Normal and Sport – which tailor the steering and throttle response to each profile. The Atto 1 is noticeably peppier in Sport.

Having an available 360-degree parking camera in the high-spec model is also welcome. Even if you don’t think you need surround cameras and sensors in such a small car, it’s a great safety net for new and older drivers who might need a guiding hand, or for that one time you really need it to avoid dinging it.

What do you get?

The Atto 1’s two trim levels haven’t been fully detailed yet, but we know what some the top-spec variant’s highlights will be.

2026 BYD Atto 1 Premium equipment highlights:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• 185/55 R16 Hankook tyres
• 7.0-inch digital instrument panel
• 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Wireless Android Auto
• OTA software updates
• 4G cloud services
• Synthetic leather trim
• Power-adjustable front seats
• 50W wireless phone charger
• V2L capability

Is the BYD Atto 1 safe?

The Atto 1 hasn’t been rated by ANCAP as yet, though the European-market Dolphin Surf recently achieved a 2025 five-star rating from Euro NCAP.

*Euro NCAP test scores – may differ from local ANCAP testing

Atto 1 Premium safety features include:

• 6 airbags
• 360-degree cameras
• ‘Advanced Driving Assistance System’

How much does the BYD Atto 1 cost to run?

The Atto 1 will be covered by BYD Australia’s six-year, 150,000km warranty, while the traction battery will be backed by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty.

CarExpert’s Take on the BYD Atto 1

To be frank, I didn’t get enough wheel time to really determine whether the Atto 1 is a proper game-changer.

My early impressions of the high-spec Premium version is that it’ll likely be the pick for most people. It has enough power to feel zippy, and it offers a pure, basic driving experience that harks refreshingly back to simpler times.

Despite its diminutive dimensions, it’s a lot of car for the money, and no doubt will worry a lot of other brands when it comes to the pricing of their smaller models with electrified drivetrains – you could have almost two of these for the price of a similarly equipped Hyundai Inster, for example.

The Atto 1 will also be a good test of the Australian public. Now that we have price parity with equivalent combustion-powered models, do we really want affordable EVs?

Regardless, the BYD Atto 1 is a great-value little electric car that could make for a perfect second vehicle, or even a great primary vehicle if you only drive around town. For the final verdict though, we need a full week with it.

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