This isn’t the sort of PHEV that loses out on cargo or cabin space because the electrification gubbins have got in the way. Its 425-litre boot is a pretty respectable size by class standards and would take bulky pushchairs easily enough. Further forwards, the second row is roomy enough for two adult passengers to travel comfortably.
Outwardly the Atto 2 is less derivative-looking than the Sealion 5, and at once tougher and that bit more design-savvy (although if you can spot what differentiates it from an electric Atto 2, consider yourself very keen-eyed indeed).
From behind the wheel, its cabin fittings also look and feel notably less cheap in places than the Sealion 5’s, so, despite being smaller, it pulls off a £30k price relatively easily.
The front seats are broadly comfortable, if lacking in a few avenues to adjustment – and they’re a little bit shinily upholstered, due to the unconvincing ‘vegan leather’.
The car gets updated touchscreen infotainment software, which allows you easier access to key functions than other BYD models have thus far. The 12.8in central touchscreen doesn’t spin, BYD having abandoned that costly gimmick in response to cool customer feedback. There’s an 8.8in digital instrument display and a smattering of buttons across the steering wheel and centre console for your core functions – and they’re proper, solid, real, easy-to-push buttons, too.
It all works reasonably well, save for some questionable logic to the infotainment menu structures, and a bit of information overload on most interfaces. There’s a swipe-down menu for the deactivation of otherwise annoying ADAS, which now includes a shortcut to also switch off the slightly over-vigilent driver monitoring, too.
It’s a shame that significantly downsizing the battery hasn’t allowed for the PHEV to offer any increases in interior space or packaging compared with the EV, but the back seats remain decently capacious and comfortable – even if the floor is fairly high.
