BYD ACT 3: first test for the electric SUV for less than 40,000 euros | Video

BYD has a very aggressive expansion project on the European market. After the debut on the Norwegian car market to “test” the response of European customers, the Chinese brand has decided to get serious and to debut in Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. Furthermore, by the end of 2022, its electric cars can also be ordered in France and the United Kingdom.

There is a lot of curiosity about the new generation electric models that the Chinese are bringing to their debut in the Old Continent. The days when Chinese-built cars were bad copies of European ones with questionable build qualities are a long way off. Today, Chinese automakers such as BYD offer modern, quality products that are in step with market demands in terms of technology, it being understood that a more in-depth test and customer response in terms of service and long distances will be needed to get an opinion. definitive.

So, how are BYD’s electric cars doing their first road test? We got to driving the ATTO 3 SUV, a model designed specifically for the tastes of European customers. But let’s go in order.

Let’s start with the name which is very particular. BYD explains that this is a reference to the attosecond that indicates infinitesimal fractions of a second. This new SUV for the European market measure 4,455 mm long, 1,875 mm wide and 1,615 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2.72 meters. The trunk can count on a capacity of 440 liters which can rise to 1,338 liters by folding down the rear seat backrests.

It is, therefore, a C-segment SUV which is based on the e-Platform 3.0 platform. You can, of course, count on in-house developed Blade batteries and that have cells of the LFP type (lithium-iron phosphate). Thanks to the platform dedicated to electric cars, the long wheelbase and the short overhangs both at the front and at the rear, the SUV is able to offer a lot of space compared to what other models of similar segment offer.

The design adopts the stylistic language already seen on other BYD models. The front, in particular, presents the “Dragon face“, a clear reference to Chinese mythology. Inside the cockpit we find some curious solutions starting from the door pockets where there are 3 guitar strings to” stop “the objects. Strings that can really be” played “.

There is also a lot of technology inside. Behind the steering wheel is the instrumentation screen, probably a bit small. The small size, in fact, penalizes the legibility. All the main functions of the car, including air conditioning, are managed from the infotainment system. Curiosity, the 12.8 inch touch display can rotate from horizontal to vertical. On the central tunnel, in addition to the gear selector, we find a series of buttons that allow you to manage some functions of the car without having to intervene on the infotainment (driving mode, volume, 4 arrows and more).

The infotainment system, based on Android, is characterized by being intuitive and extremely fluid during use. Not insignificant aspects that demonstrate BYD’s attention to the technology inside the car and a level of development that, to date, some traditional (and Western) manufacturers have not yet managed to equalize.

Speaking of specifications, the BYD ATTO 3 SUV can count on a 150 kW (204 hp) engine. From 0 to 100 it takes 7.3 seconds, while the top speed reaches 160 km / h (electronically limited). The promised range in the WLTP cycle is 420 km thanks to the 60.48 kWh nominal capacity battery. BYD declares 29 minutes for recharging in direct current from 30 to 80% (maximum power in direct current of 88 kW, in alternating current 11 kW).

So how does this SUV go on the road? I was able to do a few km inside a “closed circuit”. Despite the short route, I was still able to test some features of the car such as acceleration in Eco, Normal and Sport modes and braking. There are also two modes for braking, Comfort and Sport. The steering appears light, quite precise and easy to use. Duque, I would place it in the average of C-segment SUVs. There are two energy recovery modes: High and Low. The differences in use are minimal: not suitable for those looking for a “one pedal” guide.

The weight of 1,700 kg you do not feel at the wheel and the SUV appears much lighter at the wheel: unlike expectations, the behavior on the road is very composed both in the chicanes and on the bumpy, framing everything in the perspective of a city test and without putting the whip ‘car in more difficult scenarios such as a series of uphill and downhill hairpin bends. The SUV also performed well under braking. There is, in fact, that pitch seen on other models that leads to a slightly more decomposed braking. The power is there and the 204 HP can be heard. The torque has not been specified but should be around 300 Nm.

A car, therefore, that amazes both for the interior, with good quality materials and an attempt to do something different from the usual in terms of design, and for its driveability. Visibility is also good thanks to the large glass surfaces available. In short, a car that is easy to “measure” from the very first approach. It is also very easy and quick to find the right driving position, a sign that a good job has been done from the point of view of ergonomics.

A positive first contact, but the price? In Germany starts from 38 thousand euros. When it arrives in Italy it is possible that it may have a different price, even if we do not know if for better or for worse. In fact, Italy is in the “third wave” of the Chinese invasion, a sign that we will not see it before the end of 2023: will BYD be able to improve economies of scale and therefore introduce it at a lower figure? We’ll find out in the next announcements, but don’t expect it in pre-order in the next twelve months.

For consumption, we refer you to when we can carry out a more in-depth test. The journey was too short for a reliable and realistic estimate. Let us remember once again that BYD declares 420 km in the WLTP cycle which become 565 km in the city cycle.

From the first tests, however, it seems that it is possible to get close to these distances. In Northern Europe a test was also conducted with the BYD Tang which adopts the same technology as the ATTO 3 even if it offers more power. The test revealed a difference between the declared and actual mileage of 11%, one of the best in the segment and in line with Tesla.