BYD’s first crack at the all-electric Atto 2 left us mildly underwhelmed, a reminder that not every EV out of China is a category killer. But give the same package a battery, a petrol engine, and a smarter mission, and suddenly things get a lot more interesting. The new Atto 2 DM-i plug-in hybrid lands next spring with a clear objective: replace the internal-combustion car entirely for urban users who aren’t sold on full EV life just yet.
And unlike the slightly limp Active trim, the longer-range Boost model makes a seriously compelling case — especially if BYD hits its predicted starting price of £28,000, which would make it the cheapest plug-in hybrid in the UK.
Powertrain: A Clever Split Personality
Underneath its sensible sheetmetal lies the same playbook used in BYD’s larger models: a 1.5-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder paired with a dual-motor hybrid system. One motor generates electricity, the other drives the front wheels, which is why BYD calls this setup DM-i (Dual Mode–intelligent).
The brain of the system is the company’s trademark 18.3-kWh Blade battery, good for a claimed 55 miles of electric range — more than a BMW X3 plug-in hybrid, for those keeping score.
The Boost trim tested here delivers:
- 209 hp
- 0–62 mph in 7.5 seconds
- 110 mph top speed
- 300 Nm from the electric motor alone
The entry-level Active makes do with a smaller battery (25-mile EV range) and 164 hp, stretching the sprint to 9.1 seconds.
On the Road: Electric First, Engine Second
In typical DM-i fashion, the Atto 2 feels for all the world like an EV that occasionally borrows an engine. The electric motor does most of the heavy lifting, and during two hours of mixed driving we rarely woke the petrol engine unless deliberately provoking it.
Throttle dip into the carpet? The 1.5 petrol fires up — eventually — and when it does, it’s neither musical nor especially eager. But most owners may hardly notice; the electric torque pulls strongly well beyond motorway speeds, and real-world range estimates seemed to track closely with the car’s predictions. That alone puts it ahead of many legacy-brand plug-ins.
Regeneration comes in two flavors — Standard and High — but both feel timid compared with European or Korean rivals. BYD still doesn’t offer true one-pedal driving here.
Ride and Handling: Comfortable Enough, But…
Refinement largely mirrors the EV version: excellent electric hush, but noticeable wind and road noise at speed. Ride quality is where things unravel. Because of the battery packaging and energy-recovery hardware, the Atto 2 DM-i runs a torsion-beam rear axle — and it shows.
Despite riding on modest 17-inch wheels with generous sidewalls, the DM-i:
- Fidgets at higher speeds
- Thuds into potholes around town
- Never quite settles over broken surfaces
The all-electric Atto 2, with its multi-link setup, has a smoother stride. Handling is predictable but sluggish; vague steering and modest grip discourage any enthusiastic cornering. This is an appliance, not a backroad toy.
Interior & Tech: Sensible, Spacious, and Mostly Well Executed
BYD has toned down the quirkiness here — no Atto 3-style guitar-string door pockets. Instead, the cabin is clean, upright, and dominated by a fixed 12.8-inch touchscreen (no party-trick rotation this time) and an 8.8-inch driver’s display.
Highlights:
- Infotainment is quick, intuitive, and smartphone-like
- Swipe-down quick menu is genuinely useful
- Build quality is better than expected for the segment
Lowlights:
- No physical climate buttons, despite customers begging for them
- Odd mix of materials: soft-touch up front, scratchy plastics in the rear
- Slightly fake-looking moulded stitching
Space is a win. Two six-footers will happily sit in the back, and the 425-litre boot beats the electric version by 25 litres — though the seats don’t fold completely flat.
Features & Trims: Value Is the Real Story
Active (approx. £25,000)
- Rear-view camera
- Parking sensors
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Adaptive cruise
- LED headlights
- Metallic paint
Boost (approx. £28,000)
- 360° camera
- Heated seats + heated steering wheel
- Tinted glass
- Panoramic roof
- Wireless phone charging
- Vehicle-to-Load capability (run tools, appliances, camping gear off the battery)
If these prices hold, BYD will undercut the Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV by thousands, and nothing else in the UK market comes close on range-for-money.
A Hit — With Caveats
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i Boost isn’t perfect. The ride is unsettled, steering is vague, and refinement still trails the class leaders. But judged as a mass-market, long-range, ultra-affordable PHEV, BYD is onto something huge.
For buyers not yet ready to make the leap to a full EV, the Atto 2 DM-i hits a sweet spot: mostly electric commuting, petrol-powered freedom, and a price that could force every major rival back to the drawing board.
Right now, in this still-quiet corner of the market, BYD has the field to itself — and the Atto 2 DM-i Boost is the one to get.
Source: BYD
