BYD ups price, performance for Atto 3

BYD has substantially overhauled its Atto 3 electric SUV for MY26, adding a more powerful rear-wheel drive flagship, larger battery, 800-volt electrical architecture, and faster charging – but increasing prices by $2000 across the range.

Now known as the Atto 3 EVO, the updated medium SUV will arrive in Australian showrooms from September priced from $41,990 plus on-road costs for the Dynamic and $46,990 + ORCs for the Premium.

The prices represent increases of $2000 over the outgoing MY25 Atto 3, which was most recently listed at $39,990 for the entry grade and $44,990 for the Premium.

BYD had also offered $2000 cashback on outgoing MY25 Atto 3 stock during July, effectively widening the changeover price gap as it clears remaining examples.

Despite the increase, the Atto 3 EVO remains sharply positioned against an increasingly crowded field of Chinese and South Korean electric SUVs.

The Geely EX5 Extended Range is priced from $41,990 + ORCs, while the smaller Leapmotor B10 starts at $38,900 + ORCs. The larger Leapmotor C10 BEV starts from $45,888 +ORCs, while Kia’s EV3 opens from $47,600 + ORCs.

The recently updated XPeng G6 sits further upstream, priced from $51,800 + ORCs.

Importantly for BYD, the Atto 3 EVO arrives as competition intensifies not only from rival brands but from within its own rapidly expanding model range.

The Atto 3 was instrumental in establishing BYD in Australia following its late-2022 introduction and reached a high of 11,042 sales in 2023.

However, its volume subsequently fell to 5751 units in 2024 and 3861 in 2025, a decline of 32.9 per cent last year, as newer electric SUVs entered the market.

The model has rebounded in 2026, recording 3052 sales to the end of June – up 64.6 per cent year on year – amid a broader surge for BYD, which delivered 52,335 vehicles nationally in the first half of the year.

The Atto 3 EVO retains two variants but introduces considerably greater differentiation between them.

The front-wheel drive Dynamic continues with a 60.48kWh BYD Blade lithium iron phosphate battery and produces 150kW/310Nm, providing a claimed WLTP driving range of 420km.

It retains a 400-volt electrical architecture and can accept DC charging at up to 110kW, with BYD quoting a zero-to-80 per cent charge time of 41 minutes.

The biggest changes are reserved for the Premium, which switches from front- to rear-wheel drive and adopts a larger 74.88kWh Blade battery.

Output increases to 230kW and 380Nm, dropping the claimed 0-100km/h time to 5.5 seconds, while WLTP driving range increases to 510km.

The Premium also moves to an 800-volt version of BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 architecture, lifting maximum DC charging capacity to 220kW. BYD says this reduces the zero-to-80 per cent charging time to 25 minutes.

AC charging capacity is also higher at 11kW, against 7kW for the Dynamic.

The performance increase gives the $46,990 Premium substantially more firepower than the outgoing model while maintaining a price advantage over several newer EV rivals.

Its 510km claimed range also places it close to the XPeng G6 Long Range, which offers 525km WLTP but costs $56,800 +ORCs, although the XPeng counters with substantially faster 451kW peak DC charging.

Both Atto 3 EVO variants provide 3.3kW vehicle-to-load capability.

Towing capacity rises to 1500kg braked on the Premium.

Although the basic body dimensions are unchanged – measuring 4455mm long, 1875mm wide and 1615mm high on a 2720mm wheelbase – BYD has extensively revised the Atto 3’s exterior.

Changes include redesigned bumpers, a full-width daytime running light treatment, revised side skirts, new 18-inch alloy wheel designs, and full-width Chinese-knot LED tail-lights.

The cabin interior has received an equally extensive overhaul.

The previous centre-console gear selector moves to the steering column, freeing additional storage space, while the small 5.0-inch driver display grows to 8.8 inches.

There are also redesigned door trims and seats, multi-colour ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers, and a new grey interior treatment.

Wireless smartphone charging capacity increases substantially from 15W to 50W.

Standard Dynamic equipment includes electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats and an eight-speaker audio system, while Premium adds dual-zone climate control and four-way powered driver lumbar adjustment.

The Premium’s switch to rear-wheel drive also creates additional luggage capacity.

Boot space increases from 434 to 490 litres with the rear seats upright and from 1340 to 1360 litres when folded, while removal of the front drive motor allows BYD to incorporate a 101-litre front storage compartment.

The infotainment system has also been updated with a revised interface and faster responses while retaining physical controls for commonly used functions. Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

Safety additions include child presence detection and an upgraded driver monitoring system, while the Premium further gains front cross-traffic alert and front cross-traffic braking.

The Atto 3 EVO is yet to receive a EuroNCAP safety rating, although its predecessor achieved five stars under the organisation’s 2022 test criteria.

Ski White is the standard exterior colour, with Harbour Grey and Cosmos Black available for $600. Premium buyers may additionally select Atlantis Grey.

BYD backs the Atto 3 EVO with a six-year/150,000km vehicle warranty, an eight-year/160,000km traction battery warranty, and an eight-year/150,000km drive-unit warranty.

Orders are open now ahead of first Australian deliveries in September.

2026 BYD Atto 3 EVO pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.