Rival brands can stop pretending this doesn’t concern them. The new BYD Yuan Plus — the same car most overseas markets know as the Atto 3, and which New Zealand and a handful of export countries will get as the Atto 5 — has just landed. Over 30,000 orders in its first week in China. And that’s only the start.
It’s now the cheapest BYD electric crossover to come with the second-generation Blade Battery and Flash Charging 2.0. Starting price in China is 119,800 yuan, roughly 15,204 euros. Ten to seventy percent in five minutes. Ten to ninety-seven in nine. That’s not a typo.
The crossover rides on the e-Platform 3.0 Evo. Two LFP battery options: 57.5 kWh good for 540 km on the CLTC cycle, and 68.5 kWh stretching that to 630 km. The body is 4,665 mm long with a 2,770 mm wheelbase. The frunk holds 180 litres; the main boot, 750. By the numbers alone, this is a different car from the first-generation Atto 3.
Every version is rear-wheel drive. Power ranges from 268 to 322 hp depending on trim. Standard kit includes LiDAR, the God’s Eye B driver-assist suite, DiSus-C active suspension, ventilated and heated front seats, a 50W wireless charging pad, and a head-up display. A couple of years ago, that spec sheet belonged to premium brands.
Europe won’t see the car before 2027. But when it arrives, the local players in the affordable electric SUV segment will have something fresh to lose sleep over. BYD has a habit of showing up at exactly the right moment with exactly the right price.
