BYD launches ATTO 2 Comfort

Executive Vice President of BYD Stella Li said, “The Atto 2 is already a terrific all-rounder – compact enough for the city, but big enough for everyday family life. The new Atto 2 Comfort builds on those abilities, with well over 400 km of range and faster charging that makes it much easier to tackle longer journeys beyond the city limits. We're confident that this combination will give the Atto 2 even wider appeal with European customers."

20 kWh JUMP IN BATTERY CAPACITY DELIVERS 430KM OF RANGE

The Atto 2 Comfort harnesses the potential of the e-Platform 3.0 that sits at the heart of all the company’s EVs. The car features a Blade Battery with a usable capacity of 64.8kWh, almost 20 kWh more than other electric versions of the Atto 2. This delivers impressive WLTP combined range of 430 km, and over 600 km of city range. 

The larger battery adds around 150 kg to the kerb weight of the Atto 2 – but a more powerful motor, with 150 kW and 310 Nm of torque. Its top speed is 160km/h and it can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 7.9 seconds. 

The Atto 2 Comfort also makes a leap in charging speeds, with an increased DC recharging power of 155 kW, up from 65 kW. This means that despite its substantially larger battery capacity, the Atto 2 Comfort is the fastest version of the model to recharge. It can replenish the battery from 10-80% in 25 minutes, while getting from 30-80% requires just 19 minutes – making the Atto 2 Comfort even better suited to long journeys.

The new arrival also features a three-phase 11kW onboard AC charger as standard; using this, a full charge from 0-100% takes just over seven hours.

The Atto 2 Comfort features Cell-to-Body construction, which integrates the battery completely into the vehicle chassis, with the top cover of the pack acting as the floor for the passenger compartment. The CTB layout, which is unique to BYD and unmatched in the compact-SUV segment, brings improved packaging and exceptional levels of body rigidity. To accommodate the larger battery pack, the Comfort version has multi-link rear suspension.

The Blade Battery itself is designed to deliver class-leading safety, durability and performance. The technology is also incredibly space efficient, with cells installed directly instead of being fitted in multiple modules. This allows more cells to be squeezed into the same area than with a conventional battery construction. In addition, the Blade Battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) as a cathode material. LFP has higher levels of safety and durability compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries, while also being 100% free of cobalt.

LFP batteries are more resistant to extreme temperatures, less sensitive to fluctuations in temperature and can withstand more charge and discharge cycles with hardly any loss of capacity, making them particularly durable. The Blade Battery construction also has an exceptional safety level, since it exceeds the requirements of the punishing Nail Penetration Test – a rigorous method of evaluating battery thermal runaway and simulating the consequences of a serious road accident.

SHARP SUV DESIGN AND COMPACT-YET-PRACTICAL DIMENSIONS

The front of the vehicle features neatly integrated full-LED headlights and slim daytime-running lights, giving the Atto 2 a strong visual presence. The front bumper has sharp angles for a dynamic look, along with a bright highlight lower down and efficiency-boosting vertical air curtains at the outer edges.

The sides of the Atto 2 have lower cladding, broken up by highlights, to help accentuate the height of the car while maintaining a look of agility, and a ‘floating’ roofline that’s punctuated by a distinctive body-coloured element that meets glass at the C-pillar. The surfacing incorporates strong curves that, when combined with the dynamic alloy-wheel design, give the car a sense of energy.

At the rear, a distinctive roof spoiler sits above a full-width light bar that joins ‘Chinese knot’ tail-lights that look like the number 8 and a Mobius Infinity Ring, signifying endless good luck. A convex rear bumper and further bright highlights on the lower cladding complete a sporty look.

SPACIOUS CABIN WITH EVEN MORE USEFUL TECHNOLOGY

The Atto 2 Comfort features a lightly revised interior layout compared with other versions, and the cabin mixes sharp styling and high-quality materials with generous space and cleverly integrated technology. 

The front design builds on the exterior treatment, with the fascia based on simple, clean lines. Padded surfaces feature in all key areas, bringing a sophisticated feel to the B-segment, while integrated handles in the front and rear doors, as well as in the lower centre console, further reinforce the SUV image and create a sense of consistency.

The Atto 2 Comfort features six-way electric adjustment on both front seats - an unusual feature in the class - along with heating on these seats and the steering wheel. 

The centre console contains a pair of cup-holders and an integrated arm rest, which opens to reveal one of several storage areas, and towards the fascia there's a 'control hub' with hard keys for vehicle functions such as the demister, the audio volume and the driving modes. Called Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow, these focus on efficiency, everyday driving, throttle response and low-grip security respectively.

The cabin ambiance is enhanced by a panoramic glass roof, which allows generous amounts of natural light for all occupants. And BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 has a completely flat floor, so the rear cabin remains practical enough for family use, with generous legroom and headroom. The Atto 2 Comfort features an additional third headrest in the back, making the rear cabin more comfortable for three passengers.

The Atto 2 Comfort features an 8.8-inch digital instrument panel, along with a 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen. Its software brings support for apps such as Spotify, YouTube, Zoom and Amazon Music, and it’s also capable of receiving Over The Air (OTA) upgrades. Users can keep their digital devices topped up with multiple USB sockets – two Type-C ports in the front (60W and 18W) and two in the rear (18W), plus a 50W wireless smartphone charging pad in the centre console.

As with other BYDs, the Atto 2 Comfort features a sophisticated voice control system. Accessed via the phrase “Hi BYD”, it allows the user to activate many key functions, such as interaction with the heating and ventilation, or even opening and closing the electric windows. BYD’s software expertise also brings multi-touch features that improve the usability of the infotainment display; even when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, swiping up and down with three fingers adjusts the cabin temperature, while swiping from side to side changes the ventilation fan speed.

Beyond the passenger compartment, the Atto 2 Comfort features a large boot. Its capacity is 450 litres, enough for several suitcases or a family's weekly grocery shopping. And it can be increased to 1370 litres when the split folding rear seat is lowered, with a resulting flat floor that makes it easy to slide bulky items into place.

GENEROUS STANDARD-KIT LIST, INCLUDING SAFETY & DRIVER AIDS

The Atto 2 Comfort extends even the generous standard-equipment. It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, as well as metallic paint, LED headlights and tail-lights, electrically adjustable side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers and rear privacy glass. The cabin features the more powerful USB sockets and a more powerful wireless charging pad, along with an extra ISOFIX mount on the front passenger seat to match those on the outer rear seats.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) is also standard, allowing external devices to be powered at up to 3.3kW. This feature, rare for the class, means owners can plug in everything from a laptop to a portable fridge or grill, for work or play on the move.

Safety equipment has been enhanced too, with the addition of a front centre airbag; it joins the driver's, front passenger's, front side and side curtain airbags in a comprehensive line-up of protection features. And the driver aids include a Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Adaptive and Intelligent Cruise Control (ACC/ICC), Intelligent Speed Limit Information and Control, Lane Keep Assistant, Lane Change Assist (LCA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Door Opening Warning (DOW), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Traction Control System, Hill Descent Control, Forward and Rear Collision Warning (FCW, RCW) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with Rear Cross Traffic Brake (RTCB).