ECO MOTORS NEWS got behind the wheel of the BYD ATTO 2 Boost, the Chinese manufacturer’s compact 100% electric SUV, designed for unrestricted urban and suburban use. For three days, we put it through its paces on all kinds of roads: Inner Paris, the ring road, motorways, towns and country roads. The aim was to check whether this small, accessible electric SUV lived up to its promises in terms of comfort, driveability and everyday versatility.
A small SUV that embraces its size
At first glance, the BYD ATTO 2 presents the driver with a slight dilemma. The vehicle isn’t exactly bulky, but it doesn’t try to pass itself off as a simple city car either. At 4.31 m long, 1.83 m wide, 1.67 m high and with a wheelbase of 2.62 m, the ATTO 2 is positioned right between the two worlds: compact enough for the city, but with a real urban SUV stance.
This impression is reinforced by the design of the front end. BYD has applied its ‘Dragon Face’ styling language here, with slim, tapering LED headlights that give the vehicle an aggressive facial expression. The overall effect is dynamic, modern and rather successful. It really stands out from what a Chinese electric vehicle represents in the collective imagination.
In profile, the ATTO 2 confirms its identity as a boosted city car. The proportions are well-balanced, and certain details add a real personality, notably the small white contrasting element in the lower part of the doors, which breaks the general sobriety and avoids any visual monotony.
At the rear, BYD has also taken the decision to create a unique vehicle. There is a real lighting signature, with an LED strip running the full width of the tailgate, which visually structures the whole. The upper section of the rear is more elaborate and stylised than on many of its rivals, avoiding the overly classic ‘trunk-plate’ effect. It’s modern, identifiable and consistent with the rest of the vehicle.
Our test version came in Hiking Green. An original colour on paper, but one that we found a little bland and lacking in pizzazz. It has the merit of being discreet, without really enhancing the lines. A choice that will appeal to some, less so to others.
On board: BYD quality, controlled ergonomics
Now that the exterior has been analysed, let’s take a closer look at the interior. Once you’ve settled in, you’ll immediately see what BYD is good at. The cabin is clean, uncluttered and reassuring, with very good perceived quality for the price. The detail that always makes the difference is that the vehicle is equipped with a panoramic roof that floods the cabin with light and is accompanied by an electrically adjustable sun visor. All in all, the materials are well put together, the controls fall naturally to hand, and the whole package inspires confidence.
Special mention must go to the Drive Selector, which is both pleasant to use and, above all, beautifully designed. Visually, the knob looks a bit like a large diamond, a detail we liked.
The central screen is clearly one of the ATTO 2’s strong points, featuring a 12.8-inch touchscreen (which can be rotated), well positioned in the field of vision and offering excellent legibility. It’s also very responsive, with fast response times and smooth menu navigation. While some vehicles equipped with this type of screen sometimes require you to scroll around the interface to find the various settings, BYD has incorporated a permanent shortcut strip at the bottom of the screen. This gives one-click access to essential functions such as air conditioning, vehicle settings and driving aids, making for a real improvement in everyday ergonomics. Of course, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also compatible, making daily use even more enjoyable.
One of the most important details when it comes to choosing a vehicle is the seating: here too, it’s not bad at all. The seats are covered in vegan leather (eco-friendly imitation leather), an elegant, supple and environmentally-friendly material that BYD uses throughout the cabin. They are heated and electrically adjustable, which is an appreciable feature in this segment.
Rear: decent, but clearly child-oriented
Unsurprisingly, the rear is not the ATTO 2’s strong point. The space is adequate but not immense, especially for adults on long journeys. The seats are still comfortable, including the middle one, which doesn’t have a real seat but is surprisingly soft.
There are, however, two USB sockets (USB-C and conventional USB), as well as the blue outline reminders on the doors, which add a little pizzazz. The front seat backs, with their bucket-type design and headrest opening, are visually pleasing and well finished. Overall, the rear is designed more for children than adults, which is in keeping with the vehicle’s light family vocation.
Trunk: functional, no surprises
The boot offers around 400 litres in standard configuration, and up to 1,340 litres with the rear seats folded down. These figures are consistent with its size, but confirm that the ATTO 2 is not a champion of volume; in any case, that’s not what the manufacturer is selling!
There is one surprising detail, however: for a vehicle due to go on sale in France in 2025, the boot can be opened and closed entirely manually. That’s not a problem, but it is a little surprising for such a modern, technologically-equipped model.
On the road: fluidity first and foremost
Once behind the wheel of this compact SUV, you’ll feel it from the very first kilometres: it’s a very fluid car that’s a pleasure to drive. The ATTO 2’s compact size is a clear advantage. In Paris, where traffic and lack of space can quickly turn a journey into an ordeal, BYD’s electric SUV copes very well.
So, of course, and we at ECO MOTORS NEWS know all about it, the electrics obviously play their part in this smoothness. What’s more, the turning circle of around 10.7 m, combined with the numerous cameras and sensors, makes manoeuvring and parking much easier.
On fast roads and country lanes, the ATTO 2 remains firmly planted on the road, with reassuring handling and effective responsiveness. It’s obviously not a ‘pleasure’ car that will give you thrills at the wheel, but it’s a healthy compact SUV that’s comfortable and enjoyable, even on longer journeys.
It’s not all fun and games, but this little car’s got the pedal to the metal, and that’s decided by the different driving modes (Snow, Eco, Normal, Sport). Acceleration is highly dependent on the mode selected: in Eco mode, for example, power is clearly smoothed out to preserve range. In Sport mode, on the other hand, acceleration becomes crisp and responsive, making it easier to overtake, insert or even have a bit of fun, but without ever becoming too brutal.
The regenerative braking, which can be adjusted in two stages via the centre console, lacks a little bite, even in the most pronounced mode. That’s a shame when you’re used to hardly touching the brake pedal at all.
Power, range and recharging
Under the floor, the BYD ATTO 2 Boost features a 130 kW electric motor, giving it 177 bhp. The SUV accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in around 7.9 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 160 km/h.
As for the battery, the engine is paired with a 45.1 kWh Blade LFP battery. The claimed WLTP range is around 312 km, not an extremely high figure, but consistent with its urban and suburban positioning. Recharging is possible at up to 11 kW AC, and up to 65 kW DC, enabling the battery to recover between 10% and 80% of its charge in around forty minutes under the right conditions.
Driving aids: well balanced, except for one detail
BYD is starting to get us used to an extensive range of driving aids. For this model and this version, it’s the same thing: adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, blind spot detection, sign recognition, emergency braking, attention and fatigue detection, pedestrian monitoring, etc.
The whole system is effective and not very intrusive, which deserves to be emphasised. But during our test drive, only one detail really disrupted the experience: the noise of the indicator, which was very robotic and overly present. A detail, to be sure, but significant enough to be worth noting.
Verdict: accessible, coherent and reassuring
Priced at just over €30,000 in France, the BYD ATTO 2 Boost ticks a lot of boxes. It’s not trying to impress with exaggerated figures, but to put people at ease, simplify electric power and offer a credible alternative for everyday use. Once again, this shows that BYD now knows how to talk to European motorists without compromising on the essentials.
