BYD Atto 2 DM-i arrives in Australia as the country's cheapest plug-in hybrid

Pricing and position in the range

BYD has officially priced the Atto 2 DM-i, the plug-in hybrid version of its small SUV, from $24,990 before on-road costs for the entry-level Essential grade, with the Premium at $29,990. As reported by GoAuto, that makes it the cheapest plug-in hybrid on sale in Australia, taking the title from the brand's own Sealion 5. The electric Atto 2 range remains unchanged, starting with the Dynamic at $31,990 and the electric Premium at $35,990. ¹²

CarExpert's coverage of the launch reports BYD has since sweetened the deal with a $25,990 drive-away offer for the Atto 2 DM-i, introduced less than two weeks after launch and potentially saving buyers roughly $3000. The NRMA's review lists the wider line-up with the electric Dynamic at $31,990 and electric Premium at $35,990 before on-road costs, meaning just $2000 separates the DM-i Premium from the cheapest fully electric Atto 2. ³⁴

GoAuto also notes the Atto 2 DM-i is the only plug-in hybrid currently offered in the sub-$45,000 small SUV segment apart from remaining stock of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV, and that BYD is targeting rivals including the Toyota Corolla Cross (from $37,440 plus on-road costs), the GWM Haval Jolion HEV and the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid. ⁵

Powertrain and claimed figures

Both grades pair a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a front-mounted electric motor. According to GoAuto, the Essential produces 122kW and 300Nm, runs 0-100km/h in 9.1 seconds and draws from a 7.85kWh battery offering a claimed 39km of WLTP electric range and 845km total range. The Premium lifts output to 156kW, cuts the sprint to 7.5 seconds and uses an 18.03kWh battery with a claimed 90km electric range and 895km total range. BYD claims 1.8L/100km combined fuel use for the Essential and 0.7L/100km for the Premium above a 25 per cent battery state of charge. ¹²

The system operates across three modes — EV Pure Electric, HEV Series (where the engine acts only as a generator) and HEV Parallel (where both drive the front wheels, mainly at highway speeds). The NRMA's review notes both grades are limited to 3.3kW AC charging with no DC fast-charging capability, with BYD quoting 15-100 per cent charge times of 2.7 hours for the Essential and 6.1 hours for the Premium. The review argues the DM-i makes most sense for buyers with reliable home charging, noting the $2000 step to the electric Atto 2 Dynamic adds DC fast charging. ¹⁴

CarExpert reports the Essential's 39km electric range is the lowest of any mainstream plug-in hybrid in Australia, though BYD Australia chief product officer Sajid Hasan told the publication the figure is still practical for daily commuting in cities, saying buyers "just need to plug it in and charge it overnight, and they can get very economical motoring". He added the range is unlikely to get smaller. ³

Equipment and safety

Per GoAuto, the Essential gets 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, rain-sensing wipers, heated exterior mirrors, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a polyurethane steering wheel, fabric seats and a four-speaker sound system. Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, a 360-degree camera, rear parking sensors, adaptive and intelligent cruise control, lane-keeping and lane-departure assistance, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert and braking, blind-spot detection, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed limit information and control. ¹²

The Premium adds 17-inch wheels, roof rails, front parking sensors, a panoramic sunroof with electric sunshade, a 12.8-inch touchscreen, synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging and vehicle-to-load functionality. The NRMA's review highlights the absence of a powered tailgate even on the Premium as a notable omission, and confirms support for wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Neither grade is offered with a spare wheel, with a tyre repair kit supplied instead, and premium paint is a $600 option across the Atto 2 line-up. ¹²⁴

The NRMA measured boot space at 425 litres with the rear seats upright and 1335 litres folded, and found the cabin roomy up front but tighter in the second row behind taller occupants. GoAuto's launch drive noted a firm ride by Chinese-car standards, quick and precise steering, well-calibrated and non-intrusive driver assistance systems, and trip computer readings of 3.8L/100km and 2.9kWh/100km over a 30km country-road stint. ⁴⁵

Ownership costs and warranty

GoAuto reports the Atto 2 DM-i is backed by a six-year/150,000km vehicle warranty, an eight-year/160,000km traction battery warranty and an eight-year/150,000km drive-unit warranty. Service intervals fall every 12 months or 20,000km, with each service priced between $270 and $930 and five years of servicing totalling $2230. ¹²

What BYD expects

BYD Australia chief operating officer Stephen Collins told CarExpert at the launch that the brand's low pricing involved no compromises, saying "there's no corners cut" and that the company negotiated hard with headquarters. He anticipated a roughly 60/40 sales split between the plug-in hybrid and electric Atto 2 variants, and said he was confident the Atto 2 would become one of the brand's core volume models alongside the Sealion 7 and Shark. GoAuto separately reports that local executives expect the DM-i to account for around 60 per cent of Atto 2 sales, and that BYD forecasts combined sales of more than 2000 units per month for the Atto 2 line-up and the Atto 3 EVO. ³⁵

Hasan told GoAuto at the Australian launch that the small SUV segment — which he said has become the second-largest segment in the Australian market, overtaking the pick-up sector — gives the brand an opportunity to claim significant market share and to continue its mission of making new energy vehicles accessible to Australians. ¹²