BYD updates Atto 3 with AWD, 800V system, and more power

It’s only been a little over a year since images of the facelifted BYD Atto 3 surfaced on the internet. In fact, that version is yet to come in the Philippine market.

But BYD is back at it again with another update for the Atto 3 for international markets. This time, the major changes were done underneath. And yes, this one’s more substantial than the previous one.

While the updated Atto 3 looks the same from the outside, the electric crossover now has the latest e-Platform 3.0 which features a more advanced electrical architecture. From 400V, the 2026 model that’s referred to in Europe as Atto 3 Evo, comes with an 800V system. This improves the range, charging speeds, and the V2L capabilities of the crossover.

Inside, the BYD Atto 3 Evo comes with bigger screens – 15.6-inch in the infotainment and an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. The former no longer swivels, but comes with Google apps pre-installed. Likewise, the gear selector is now stalk-mounted, instead of being found in the center console.

In terms of the electric layout, BYD has integrated eight key components into a single unit: drive motor, transmission, onboard charger, DC-DC controller, Vehicle Control Unit, Battery Management System, Motor Control Unit, and Power Distribution Unit. This makes the Atto 3 the first vehicle to have the world's first mass-produced 8-in-1 electric powertrain.

That also means the Atto 3 has gone from front-wheel-drive to rear-wheel-drive in the entry-level, single motor version. Power has increased from 204 PS / 310 Nm to 313 PS and 380 Nm.

But wait, there’s more. The new Atto 3 also gets an all-wheel-drive, dual motor version with 449 PS and 580 Nm of torque. In this version, the Atto 3 will take off from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The RWD version, on the other hand, will take 5.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h.

In terms of range, the larger 74.8 kWh battery in the Atto 3 can reach up to 510 km on the RWD version, while the AWD version can reach up to 470 km. With the new high-voltage system in place, DC fast charging is supported for up to 220 kW, topping up the batteries from 10 to 80% in just 25 minutes.

Other changes for the Atto 3 include a multi-link rear suspension, plus a bigger frunk and an extra 50 liters of space at the back thanks to the new, more compact powertrain.

For now, the European, UK, and Australian market are getting first dibs of the Atto 3 Evo. BYD Cars Philippines is yet to hint about updating the Atto 3, so we’ll stay tuned in the next couple of weeks or months for developments about this model.