BYD Atto 1: Australia's cheapest EV under $20,000, with a larger successor already looming in China

A record-low price for the country's cheapest EV

BYD's Atto 1 Essential is currently on special in Australia at $19,990 drive-away, a markdown that Chasing Cars reports has made the pint-sized electric hatch the country's cheapest EV. That price undercuts rivals including the new Geely EX2, which starts at $26,490 before on-road costs. According to the model's listing data on CarExpert, the Atto 1 sits below the Dolphin in BYD's local lineup as the brand's smallest and most affordable electric car, with just two variants on offer. ⁴¹

The pair sit at opposite ends of the range: the Essential is listed by CarExpert at $23,990 before on-road costs and the Premium at $27,990, with the flagship grade landing at roughly $30,800 drive-away in New South Wales. CarExpert notes the Essential is the cheapest new EV on sale in Australia, while the Premium tested is the third-cheapest — a position the publication says holds 'at least for now'. BYD itself has conceded the current pricing won't last once the drive-away discount expires, per CarExpert reporting. ³¹

Sales success since its December 2025 debut

The Atto 1 has been a strong performer since arriving in Australia in December 2025. CarExpert reports the compact hatch quickly became one of the nation's top-selling light cars and topped the light-car segment outright in May 2026 — the first time an EV had owned that segment in a single month. The MG 3 continues to lead the segment year-to-date. ³²

CarExpert's verdict on the Premium: strong value with quirks

CarExpert's week-long review of the Atto 1 Premium — syndicated by 7NEWS — awarded the car a 'Very Good' rating, citing excellent value for money, engaging and efficient driving, and practicality beyond its footprint. Reviewer Matt Campbell was particularly impressed by the ride quality, describing control and composure that reminded him of a Volkswagen Polo and, in some situations, better. He also praised the well-weighted steering and the unobtrusive safety systems, and recorded 16.1kWh per 100km across a mixed test. ³²

The downsides were mostly minor but notable: the 10.1-inch touchscreen and its small icons make on-the-move adjustments fiddly, the climate interface uses a 1-to-17 cool-to-hot scale with no temperature readout, there is no rear wiper, the sound system was called terrible, and the rear is strictly a two-seat layout with no air vents or rear lighting. At higher speeds on coarse surfaces the cabin can get noisy. ³²

Packaging remains a highlight. At 3990mm long, 1720mm wide and 1590mm tall on a 2500mm wheelbase, the Atto 1 still offers a 308-litre boot that CarExpert points out exceeds a Corolla hatch's capacity despite the car being significantly smaller overall, plus a 50:50-split folding rear seat and underfloor storage for charging cables and the tyre repair kit. ³²

Specifications: two very different grades

The Essential uses a 65kW/175Nm front-wheel-drive single-motor powertrain with a 30kWh LFP battery, 220km of claimed WLTP range and a kerb weight of 1294kg. The Premium steps up to a 115kW/220Nm motor, a 43.2kWh LFP battery, 310km claimed WLTP range and 1390kg, with claimed 0–100km/h times of 11.1 and 9.1 seconds respectively. Both support 11kW AC charging (three-phase required) and 3.3kW vehicle-to-load output; DC charging peaks at 65kW for the Essential and 85kW for the Premium, which CarExpert lists as taking 30 minutes from 10 to 80 per cent. ³²

Equipment differences justify the Premium's premium, per CarExpert: the flagship adds 16-inch alloys, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding mirrors, a wireless phone charger, power-adjustable and heated front seats and a surround-view camera — the latter described by the reviewer as excellent in tight spaces. The Essential carries 15-inch steel wheels, a 7.0-inch digital cluster, keyless entry and start, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a four-speaker sound system. ³

Ownership costs look modest: a six-year/150,000km vehicle warranty with eight years/160,000km on the high-voltage battery, 12-month or 20,000km service intervals, capped-price servicing over eight years totalling $2418, and an average annual service cost of $302 — lower than a Kia Picanto, as CarExpert notes. Safety credentials include a five-star ANCAP rating against 2025 criteria, with scores of 82 per cent for adult occupant protection, 86 per cent child occupant protection, 76 per cent vulnerable road user protection and 79 per cent safety assist, despite the absence of a centre airbag. ³

A second generation is already surfacing in China

While the current Atto 1 is still fresh in Australia — it launched locally in December 2025, according to CarExpert — its successor has already emerged in China, where the model is sold as the Seagull. Chasing Cars reports that Seagull gen-2 appeared in the Chinese press in late September 2026, a week after the Australian markdown to $19,990 drive-away. The new car switches to rear-wheel drive, gains a fifth seat and adds a front boot of undisclosed size, and grows to 4205mm long and 1810mm wide — up 210mm and 90mm respectively, though 20mm shorter in height. Chasing Cars notes it is likely to stay on a 400V electrical system rather than adopt the 800V architecture of the newer Atto 3 Evo. ⁴³

Specifications detailed in Chinese regulatory filings and reported by Car News China, as cited by Chasing Cars, show a 95kW motor powered by BYD's Blade battery in either 30kWh or 39.2kWh sizes, slotting between the two current Australian grades. A range of up to 420km is reported under the Chinese testing cycle, trimming to an estimated 340km under WLTP, which would still beat the current Premium's 310km. The switch to RWD and a multi-link rear suspension in place of a torsion beam is expected to make the new car a sharper drive, bringing it in line with the Geely EX2. ⁴

Whether the second-generation Atto 1 will come to Australia is not settled. Chasing Cars says it has contacted BYD Australia to ask if or when the new car will replace the current model, with no answer confirmed in its reporting. The growth spurt also raises the question of overlap with BYD's own Dolphin, which the publication notes is only 85mm longer than the new car, and points to precedent: MG sells the mechanically distinct MG4 and MG4 Urban side by side in overlapping niches. ⁴