Images
BYD's largest car yet is this Atto 8, a full-electric seven-seat crossover that aims to set fresh class standards in terms of value and DC charging speed. It's yet another car from this growing Chinese brand that might surprise you.
+ More
Detailed ratings
Luxury Full Electric Cars
Background
BYD addresses the all-electric seven-seat crossover sector this car, the Atto 8.
Apparently in Asian and Chinese nations, the number eight is supposed to be connected with luck. A commodity the Chinese maker BYD doesn't seem to need much of at present as its rise to sales success in the European market has been meteoric over the last five years. Continuing that means covering every sector - and segments like that for big three-row crossovers, a class until recently left mainly to the Korean makers.
Like Skoda (another new entrant to this class with their Peaq) and Lexus (who've joined it with their TZ), BYD wants to shake this sector up and the Atto 8 delivers plush luxury and some impressive stats when it comes to power, range and (particularly) charging speed. Let's take a closer look.
+ More
Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 48000 | 55000 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 124 | 149 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 8 | 4.6 |
| Electric WLTP-Rated Driving Range (miles) | 374 | 374 |
| Length (mm) | 5040 | 5040 |
| Min | Max |
| Width (mm) | 1996 | 1996 |
| Height (mm) | 1760 | 1760 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 270 | 1960 |
| Power (ps) | 456 | 764 |
| Torque (lb ft) | 365 | 775 |
Driving experience
You need a lot of power to propel a big seven seat crossover full-EV - but you might not expect the need for quite this much power. Even entry-level versions get 456bhp sent to their rear wheels, though the prodigious bulk this energy has to shift is revealed by a 0-62mph time pegged at about 8s. Range from the huge 115kWh battery pack is 405 miles. That's better than equivalent versions of obvious rivals (Skoda Peaq, Hyundai IONIQ 9, Kia EV9), but not quite class-leading (a 93kWh Peugeot E-5008 manages 413 miles).
The top Atto 8 'Excellence' variant gains a front motor for AWD, boosting total output to 764bhp. 0-62mph takes just 4.6s and range is rated at 374 miles. Braked towing capacity is 1,800kg with front-driven versions and 2,000kg with the AWD model.
On the move, expect acceleration to be brisk and near-silent; and ride quality tuned for comfort.But you can also expect a bit of body roll through at speed through corners that'll highlight the rather vague level of steering feel. There's a full suite of Level 2+ DiPilot 300 advanced ADAS driver aids, but you'll probably want to disable some of them to avoid all the bings and bongs. Other markets also offer a Plug-in Hybrid DM-i version, but there's no news yet on whether we'll get that here.
+ More
Design and build
Unlike some of its Chinese rivals, BYD's exterior design language is at least identifiable - and with this Atto 8 is lightly evolved. It's a substantial thing, 5,040mm in length which, to give you some class perspective, is 20mm less than a Hyundai IONIQ 9, but 30mm longer than a Kia EV9 and a substantial 66mm longer than the Skoda Peaq.
The front features ultra-slim integrated daytime running lights and matrix LED headlights, above a lower bumper that incorporates crisp angles to widen the appearance, giving the Atto 8 a confident look.
The flanks feature a sharp crease at the leading edge of the front doors, which leads into a strong shoulder line that runs along the profile towards a muscular curve above the rear wheel arch. The roof line hints at the spacious cabin, thanks to a darkened C-pillar and the chrome-embellished D-pillar that help to stretch the car's visual length.
At the rear, 'infinity knot' tail lights sit either side of an illuminated central BYD logo, and there's a neatly integrated roof spoiler, along with subtle edges on the rear quarter panels that help to clean up airflow, boosting aerodynamic efficiency to help maximise range.
Inside up-front, it's the usual Chinese minimalist screen-dominated cabin, with a big 15.6-inch central monitor and a 10.25-inch instrument screen paired with a head-up display. You're cosseted with ventilated, massaging and of course heated seats upholstered in genuine leather; and the top version gets a 21-speaker audio system and a front fridge that can cool to minus 6-degrees or warm to 50-degrees.
The second row is a bench for three, with outer positions also heated, cooled and massaged - and there's a second row climate screen. Plus the massive standard-fit panoramic glass roof makes it feel light and airy.
The two third row seats are mainly for kids but will suffice for adults on short journeys. With that third row in place, there's 270-litres of luggage space - enough for a couple of carry-on suitcases. Fold down the third row and you can increase that to 960-litres. Fold down the second row as well and you'll have up to 1,960-litres at your disposal. Plus there's a 136-litre under-bonnet frunk for the charging cables.
+ More
Market and model
Expect Atto 8 pricing to start from just under £50,000, which makes it competitively pitched for its segment. As usual with BYD, you get lots of kit included for that. Expect LED headlamps, rear privacy glass, power-folding mirrorsand all-round parking sensors. Drive stuff includes adaptive cruise control and Hill Descent Control.
Inside, there's power-adjustable front seats, a 360-degree camera system, a 10-speaker audio system and three-zone air conditioning with a high-efficiency PM 2.5 filter. Media features are taken care of by a 15.6-inch central screen with 'Apple CarPlay',,'Android Auto' and four-zone voice control. The top 'Excellence' version gets a 21-speaker DiSound audio system and a front refrigerator.
And of course there are loads of safety features. Including automatic emergency braking, lane departure assistance, Blind spot detection, emergency lane keeping assist, forward and rear collision warning, forward and rear cross-traffic alert and a forward and rear cross-traffic braking system. There's also traffic sign recognition with Intelligent Speed Warning and Door Opening Warning, plus Driver Fatigue and Eyesight Monitoring.
+ More
Cost of ownership
The Atto 8 is BYD's first European model to benefit from its second-generation 115kWh Blade battery, which allows for the company's ultra-rapid Flash charging system. This allows the car to DC charge from 10 to 70% in just five minutes when using one of the company's ultra-rapid 1,500kW DC chargers. Completing the charge from 10-97% would take another 4 minutes.
BYD hopes to install around 300 of these ultra-rapid DC chargers in the UK by the end of 2027 (part of a total of 3,000 installed across Europe by then). The planned result is for a BYD Flash charger to be available to an owner roughly every 30 miles of whatever journey they undertake. This is BYD's answer to the Tesla Supercharger network - but Flash chargers are far more powerul than Superchargers, their 1,500kW output a three-fold increase on those Tesla DC chargers.
Flash chargers take their power from on-site batteries, which are filled overnight via the grid at off-peak prices. The aim is to allow owners to charge at around 50p per kWh. BYD wants to install Flash chargers in supermarket car parks up and down the country too. AC charging at home will require about 9.5 hours with a single-phase 7.4kW wallbox; or about 6 hours 30 minutes with a three-phase 11kW AC supply.
What else? Well residual values should be reasonable for a Chinese brand. As usual with BYDs, there's a six year/90,000 mile warranty, while the battery gets an eight year/120,000 mile warranty. Because asking prices are over £40,000, owners will be paying the VED car tax 'expensive car' surcharge, which means payments of £620 annually from ownership years two to five.
+ More
Summary
It seems odd that this Atto 8 is the first Chinese arrival in the class for big seven seat full-electric crossovers. If it sells well, expect other Oriental brands to quickly follow. And there's no reason why it shouldn't. This BYD is arguably the best value choice in its segment, offers more metal for your money than its Kia or Skoda rivals and is more accessibly styled than a Hyundai IONIQ 9.
What might really sell you an Atto 8 though, is its super-fast flash charging speed. Though not much use with the state of our public charging network now, in future when you're out and about, this will allow you to replenish the battery of this BYD at a vastly faster speed than its rivals. Making the switch to a full-EV drivetrain in a family seven seater of this type a lot easier to justify. This Chinese maker is good at dealing with barriers to ownership; here's another model that demonstrates that.
+ More
Have you considered these alternative models...
Find a Review
We have over 500 new and used car reviews to help you find your next car.
Browse reviews and model guides for all makes
