BYD has finally taken the wraps off its second electric car in India, the Atto 3. It’s planned to go on sale in December 2023 as a more premium alternative to the existing mass-market long-range EVs like Tata Nexon EV Max, MG ZS EV, and Hyundai Kona Electric. So should you wait for the Atto 3, or can you go with the existing electric SUVs available in the Indian market? Let’s try to find the answer through a detailed comparison.
Specifications Comparison
| BYD Atto 3 | Tata Nexon EV Max | MG ZS EV | Hyundai Kona Electric | |
| Battery capacity | 60.48kWh | 40.5kWh | 50.3kWh | 39.2kWh |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Max Power | 204PS | 143PS | 176PS | 136Nm |
| Max Torque | 310Nm | 250Nm | 280Nm | 395Nm |
| Claimed Range | 521km | 437km | 461km | 452km |
| 0-100kmph (claimed) | 7.3 sec | under 9 sec | 8.5 sec | 9.7 sec |
| 7.2 kW AC charging time (0-100%) | ≈ 10 hrs | ≈ 6.5 hrs | ≈ 9 hrs | ≈ 6 hrs 10 min |
| Fast Charging Time (0-80%) | 50 min (via 80kW charger) | 56 min (via 50kW charger) | 1 hr (via 50kW charger) | 57 min (via 50kW charger) |
- The BYD Atto 3 uses a 60.48kWh battery pack which is quite big when compared to other EVs of the lot, offering an impressive ARAI-tested range of 521km per charge.
- The ZS EV has the second-highest claimed range, followed by Kona and Nexon.
- Atto 3’s permanent magnet synchronous motor develops 204PS and 310Nm, making it the most potent and fastest EV among all. However, its torque output is less than the Hyundai Kona Electric.
- All EVs here come with fast charging capability. And thanks to the 80kW DC fast charging support, the Atto 3 can be charged up to 80 per cent in just 50 minutes.
Dimensions
| BYD Atto 3 | Tata Nexon EV MAX | MG ZS EV | Hyundai Kona Electric | |
| Length | 4,455mm | 3,993mm | 4,323mm | 4,180mm |
| Width | 1,875mm | 1,811mm | 1,809mm | 1,800mm |
| Height | 1,615mm | 1,616mm | 1,649mm | 1,570mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,720mm | 2,498mm | 2,585mm | 2,600mm |
| Unladen Ground Clearance | 175mm | 205mm | TBU | TBU |
| Boot Space | 440L | 350L | 470L | 332L |
In terms of dimensions, the BYD Atto 3 is again in an advantageous position. It is the widest and longest of its bunch. However, the ZS EV is the tallest car here and offers the largest boot space.
Also Read: Mahindra XUV400 vs Tata Nexon EV MAX vs MG ZS EV vs Hyundai Kona Electric: Detailed Comparison
Features
| Key Features | BYD Atto 3 | Tata Nexon EV Max | MG ZS EV | Hyundai Kona Electric |
| Headlamps | LED | Halogen Projector | LED Projector | LED Projector |
| Alloy Wheels | 18-inch | 16-inch | 17-inch | 17-inch |
| All Four Disc Brakes |  | | | |
| Sunroof | Panoramic | Single-pane | Panoramic | Single-pane |
| Touchscreen Infotainment | 12.8-inch (rotating display) | 7-inch | 10.11-inch | 7-inch |
| Apple Carplay & Android Auto | | | | |
| Connected Car Tech | | | |  |
| Auto AC | | | | |
| Rear AC vents | | | | |
| Cruise Control | (Adaptive) | | | |
| Ventilated Front Seats | – | | | |
| Wireless Smartphone Charger | | | | |
| Powered Driver’s Seat | (6-way) (Front passenger seat is also 4-way electrically adjustable) | (Manual) | (6-way) | (10-way) |
| Multi-regen Braking | | | | |
| Electronic Parking Brakes | | | | |
| Paddle Shifters | | | | (for regen braking) |
| Drive Modes | Eco, Normal, and Sport | Eco, City & Sport | Eco, Sport & Normal | ECO, ECO+, Comfort & Sport |
| Heated ORVM | | | | |
| Electric Tailgate | | | | |
| No of Airbags | 7 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 360° Camera | | (only rear camera) | | (only rear camera) |
| TPMS | | | | |
| Electronic Stability Control | | | | |
| Driver Assistance Tech | (Adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, high beam assist, front & rear collision warning, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear-cross traffic alert and rear-cross traffic brake) | | (Rear Drive Assist, Blind Spot Detection System, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist) | |
All models are well equipped but the BYD again has an edge with features like powered front seats, an electric tailgate, 7 airbags, and a level-2 ADAS suite.
Also Read: Tata Tiago EV: Which Variant You Should Buy?
Price
| BYD Atto 3 | Tata Nexon EV MAX | MG ZS EV | Hyundai Kona Electric | |
| Price (ex-showroom) | Around Rs 30 lakh (expected) | Rs 18.34 – 20.04 lakh | Rs 22.58 – 26.50 lakh | Rs 23.84 – 24.03 lakh |
Verdict
The BYD Atto 3 have some stand-out points such as a bigger battery pack, better range, unique interior styling, better-equipped cabin and even level-2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that make it a pretty attractive package. It is definitely worth waiting for if you’re interested in a long-range EV and have that amount of budget.
