BYD is well known in Portugal for the wide range of electric cars it has brought to our market.
However, the Chinese brand’s line-up is not made up of EVs alone. Recently it has begun introducing DM-i hybrid vehicles aimed at those who want to make the most of electric driving without giving up the reassurance of a petrol engine.
Read about our experience with the BYD ATTO 2 DM-i and the efficiency we were able to get out of this hybrid car.
We drove the BYD ATTO 2 DM-i, a hybrid that promises 90 km of electric range
The plug-in hybrid compact SUV segment has been growing, but with one obvious gap.
Few models combine meaningful electric range with a price below €35,000 — which is precisely the space the BYD Atto 2 DM-i targets.
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i is a plug-in hybrid compact SUV whose system pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 98 hp with a 197 hp electric motor for a combined output of 212 hp.
It features an LFP battery of 18 kWh with 90 km of electric range on the WLTP cycle and a combined range of around 1,000 km. The petrol engine consumes 1.8 litres per 100 km on the combined cycle and emits 41 g/km of CO₂.
It measures 4,330 mm in length with a 2,620 mm wheelbase, has a boot capacity of 425 to 1,335 litres, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds.
Standard equipment includes an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.8-inch central display, a generative AI voice assistant, 50W wireless charging, heated vegan leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and 360-degree camera vision.
It comes with a 6-year or 150,000 km warranty and is available in Portugal for €33,990.
Exterior design
The BYD ATTO 2 DM-i is a compact SUV that opts for a sober, conservative design in order to appeal to a wide range of drivers.
It is a large car for the segment at 4.33 metres, with the high driving position typical of an SUV.
The front features a black grille connecting both headlights with the BYD logo at the centre. There are also two recesses on the lower sides of the bumper.
In the centre of the bumper sits a camera, and lower down a radar for detecting nearby obstacles.
On the left side, the fuel filler is at the rear, while on the right side you will find the charging port at the front.
At the rear, the taillights have an interlaced look that joins at the centre. The bumper sits high and is finished in plastic. At the top there is a small spoiler with a recess.
Interior and build quality
Inside, the sober, understated aesthetic continues. There is a traditional three-spoke steering wheel with controls for calls, cruise control, and interaction with the driver’s display.
On the right side of the steering column there is a dedicated stalk for selecting the direction of travel, and on the left the combined stalk for lights, indicators, and wipers.
The display setup consists of an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster — still with a relatively thick bezel — and a 12.8-inch central touchscreen.
On the A-pillar there is an infrared sensor to detect signs of driver fatigue.
Between the two front seats there is a generous centre console with plenty of storage space — something that is not always a given in this segment.
Below the central display there is a tray for two smartphones lying flat — very convenient for the driver’s and passenger’s phones — with one of the two spaces integrated with 50W wireless charging.
Between the cup holders and the smartphone tray there is a row of physical buttons for controlling driving mode, hazard lights, hill descent control, start-stop, demisting, switching between electric and hybrid mode, and volume.
The rear is spacious enough for five adults to sit comfortably, including with a child seat fitted behind a front seat.
The rear seats have an air vent and two USB-C ports.
The boot is also generous for the segment, with room for a full monthly shop, a pushchair, and luggage for five people.
In terms of materials, the BYD ATTO 2 offers good interior quality, with hard plastics covered in synthetic leather in several areas.
This version also features a panoramic roof that cannot be opened but has a mechanical blind activated from the overhead light panel.
Infotainment
The BYD ATTO 2’s infotainment system is clean and minimalist, with large, clear icons throughout.
A persistent bar at the bottom gives quick access to climate control, interior lights, and the glove box, while the top bar carries shortcuts for the voice assistant, the currently playing track, and quick-access functions.
The car runs Android Automotive as its operating system, which means access to the Play Store to install whatever compatible apps you choose.
You get Waze, a charging point locator, Google Chrome, and streaming services for watching films or series during waiting or charging stops.
Out of the box there is a Karaoke app with a large music library where you can search for songs and have a sing-along in the car, with lyrics displayed on screen just like a party karaoke machine. For more advanced features that synchronise the voice and lyrics, a compatible microphone is required.
It is worth noting that BYD cars come with 1 GB of monthly mobile data for multimedia and apps. Once that allowance is used up, you need to connect the car to your smartphone’s hotspot. The data allowance for vehicle updates is separate from this figure.
This means that if you use Spotify, Netflix, or any other data-heavy service, it is important to connect to a Wi-Fi network first to avoid burning through the data allowance.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also available at any time, making it easy to use your smartphone’s internet connection and apps.
Finally, the BYD ATTO 2 DM-i already integrates artificial intelligence through the Hi BYD assistant, which you can ask questions or instruct to carry out certain tasks while driving.
Turning to the driver’s display, this is slightly more cluttered. While it is clean with plenty of breathing room, there are too many icons crowded into the top section.
Several views are available, from a display showing surrounding vehicles to a map view with Google Maps, and it is also possible to change the information shown inside the gauge circles.
At the bottom there is information on petrol range, electric range, a trip odometer, and instantaneous consumption with a bar indicating whether the car is consuming or regenerating energy.
DM-i plug-in hybrid system
BYD’s DM-i plug-in hybrid system works a little differently from those of other brands.
I am used to plug-in hybrids that allow the battery to be depleted all the way down to empty. That is not possible with the BYD ATTO 2.
At first we were surprised to see only 90 km of range from an 18 kWh battery, and by the car switching to hybrid mode once the battery reaches 25%.
This appears to be a safety buffer the brand has built in to prevent the battery from ever reaching zero — although it also means 4.5 kWh are permanently held in reserve and can never be used.
Setting that aside, the petrol engine has plenty of punch and delivers good acceleration, while the 1.5-litre unit with 98 hp on its own also provides respectable performance for everyday use, without pushing any limits.
The system also uses a somewhat unusual consumption calculation that combines kWh/100 km with L/100 km and converts everything into a single combined reference figure in L/100 km.
Safety and driver assistance systems
In terms of safety, the BYD ATTO 2 DM-i is packed with options and sensors monitoring everything you do.
Starting with the 360-degree parking sensors, these are complemented by a 360-degree camera system that lets you see everything around the car during manoeuvres and even while driving. Usually this kind of feature disables itself above a certain speed, but on this car you can keep it active at any time — on the motorway, for example.
The parking sensors also show a real-time distance reading so the driver always knows exactly how far away the car behind is.
There is also traffic sign recognition and lane keeping assistance to ensure the car always stays within its lane.
A camera is always pointed at the driver to detect signs of distraction or drowsiness. In the case of distraction it simply prompts the driver to resume control; if drowsiness is detected it recommends taking a break.
These attention alerts can become particularly annoying because spending just a few seconds glancing at the central screen is enough to trigger a warning beep.
The car also features adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, autonomous emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring.
Performance and driving
In terms of driving, the BYD ATTO 2 DM-i responds well, thanks to the combined 212 hp that is always available since the battery is kept at a minimum of 25%.
Although the 0–100 km/h time of 7.5 seconds is not class-leading, it is more than adequate for everyday driving.
While the acceleration is satisfying for this segment, the aerodynamics are typical of an SUV and the car does not handle corners as neatly as a lower vehicle — though that is entirely expected for this type of car.
Electric driving is, as expected, whisper quiet, while the combustion engine barely makes itself known thanks to good sound insulation.
The BYD ATTO 2 DM-i does a good job of isolating external noise and engine sound, making for a calm and quiet journey.
However, the seats included in this model are not the most comfortable for long journeys.
Range and consumption
On the consumption side, BYD promises around 90 km of range from the battery limited to 25%.
In our experience, when using the petrol engine we recorded figures ranging from around 1.9 L/100 km when combined with the battery to peaks of 7.9 L/100 km when running on petrol alone.
In electric mode, we recorded consumption of around 18.9 kWh/100 km — a figure that puts total electric range at roughly 100 km if the full battery capacity were used, dropping to around 78 km due to the 25% reserve limit. At times consumption rose to 21 kWh/100 km, pushing the range even lower.
With a more careful driving style and progressive acceleration it is possible to reach the promised 90 km. It is a shame, however, that the 25% reserve is always held back, as it represents a meaningful amount of energy that could cover extra kilometres at a lower cost.
For charging, the car can be charged at home from a standard domestic socket, taking just over 8 hours. This can be reduced with an installation capable of delivering the full 6.6 kW, bringing charge time down to around 3 hours. Fast DC charging is not supported.
The BYD ATTO 2 DM-i also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, allowing it to power household appliances either at home or on the move. The adapter from the car’s connector to a standard socket must be purchased separately.
The petrol tank holds 45 litres. Combined with the electric motor, the hybrid system can exceed 1,000 km of total range with careful, measured driving.
Who is the BYD Atto 2 DM-i for?
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i is for those who want a compact SUV capable of covering daily commutes in electric mode without the range anxiety that fully electric cars still cause in many drivers. It is especially well suited to families that need space, want to cut fuel costs on daily journeys, and do not want to rely entirely on charging infrastructure.
It is also a good option for those who make long trips regularly, since the combined range of around 1,000 km removes the need to plan motorway charging stops as you would with a pure EV.
At €33,990 it is a competitive proposition against segment alternatives, particularly given the generous standard equipment and the 6-year warranty. However, those who benefit from tax incentives for fully electric vehicles should carefully compare it with the all-electric BYD Atto 2, which may be more advantageous in a business context.
It is not the best choice for those who enjoy dynamic driving or place great importance on visual appeal, given the deliberately conservative design. The 25% battery limit that prevents using the full electric capacity is also worth considering for anyone who wants to maximise electric-only driving.
Our verdict on the BYD Atto 2 DM-i
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i is a car that impresses with the value it offers for the money. The interior space is genuinely surprising given the external dimensions, material quality is above the segment average, and the standard equipment is hard to match at €33,990.
The DM-i hybrid system works well day to day but has some quirks that will surprise anyone coming from other PHEVs. The 25% battery limit means you never use the full electric capacity available, which in practice reduces real-world electric range to around 78 km rather than the advertised 90 km. It is an engineering decision that protects the battery but can frustrate those who want to squeeze every electric kilometre out of the car.
The Android Automotive infotainment system is a genuine strength that puts the Atto 2 DM-i ahead of many rivals, with native access to the Play Store and Google Maps. The 1 GB monthly data cap requires some management but is easily worked around with the smartphone hotspot.
The attention and fatigue alert system is effective but overly sensitive, becoming irritating in normal use. The conservative design achieves its goal of appealing to a broad audience but does not turn heads at first glance.
Overall this is a mature, well-equipped car with a technical proposition that makes real-world sense for most drivers.
Techbit thanks BYD for providing the BYD ATTO 2 DM-i for review.
- Combined range of around 1,000 km
- Two smartphone slots, one with 50W wireless charging
- Silent driving with good overall sound insulation
- 360° cameras and parking sensors with real-time distance display
- Attention alert system is overly sensitive
- 1 GB of monthly data requires connectivity management if not using the smartphone
- 1GB de dados mensais obriga a gerir conectividade se não usar o smartphone
- No DC fast charging
- Seats are not the most comfortable for long journeys
BYD ATTO 2 DM-i FAQ
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