BYD has reset the price of the cheapest electric car and SUV in the country, offering its Atto 1 city hatch from $23,990 – and the Atto 2 SUV for MG ZS hybrid money.
Electric Cars
The price of entry into a new electric car in Australia will be slashed to just $23,990 plus on-road costs – or about $27,000 drive-away – with the arrival of two new, budget-priced BYD models.
BYD will retain the title of the cheapest new electric car with the Atto 1, priced from $23,990, as well as the cheapest electric SUV label with the Atto 2, priced from $31,990 plus on-road costs.
They will reset the benchmarks from the former title holders, the BYD Dolphin Essential ($29,990) for all electric cars, and the Chery E5 Urban ($36,990) for electric SUVs.
The Atto 1 is a city hatchback similar in size to a Toyota Yaris or Suzuki Swift, with a bigger boot than these petrol-powered vehicles but only four seats, rather than five.
It does not compete for the title of Australia's cheapest new car outright – which remains the $19,190 plus on-roads Kia Picanto – but undercuts traditionally much cheaper petrol-powered equivalent models such as the least expensive Swift ($24,990), Mazda 2 ($26,990) and Yaris ($28,990).
The sharp entry price only buys customers 220km of rated driving range from a 30kWh battery, as well as steel wheels, halogen headlights, and performance akin to a petrol hatch, from a 65kW/175Nm electric motor.
Buyers can step up to the Atto 1 Premium at $27,990 plus on-road costs, which increases the range rating to 310km from a 43.2kWh battery, and adds alloy wheels, heated power-adjustable seats, LED headlights, and a surround-view camera.
It also adds a more powerful 115kW/220Nm electric motor, as well as faster 85kW DC charging for a 10 to 80 per cent top-up in the same 30 minutes needed for the base model at a 65kW charging peak.
Meanwhile, the Atto 2 is a small SUV comparable in size to a Hyundai Kona, Mitsubishi ASX or MG ZS, and on par with a top-of-the-range hybrid ZS despite electric power and the fitment of a large battery pack.
Its base price of $31,990 plus on-road costs for the Dynamic slots in below the larger, $39,990 BYD Atto 3 in Essential trim, while a better-equipped Atto 2 Premium will be offered for $35,990.
Both variants fit a 51.1kWh battery pack for 345km of WLTP-rated driving range, with a 130kW/290Nm front-mounted electric motor.
The entry-level Dynamic offers 16-inch alloy wheels, dual interior screens, keyless entry and leather-look seats, while the Premium gains 17-inch alloys, front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, a larger touchscreen, and wireless phone charging.
Pre-orders for both models are open now, ahead of first deliveries due in the coming weeks.
2026 BYD Atto 1 and Atto 2 price and specs
Electric Cars Guide
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
