BYD is making something of a habit of resetting price benchmarks, and the Atto 2 DM-i is the latest example.
At $24,990 plus on-road costs, the plug-in hybrid version of the Atto 2 small SUV is the most affordable plug-in hybrid in Australia.
It’s also $7000 cheaper than the entry-level Atto 2 EV, giving buyers who aren’t ready to go fully electric a cut-price way into the brand’s small SUV.
READ MORE: 2026 BYD Atto 2 Dynamic review: Cheap and surprisingly cheerful compact electric SUV makes ICE rivals redundant
READ MORE: What is a PHEV? Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles explained
READ MORE: BYD Atto 2 news and reviews
2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i price and equipment
There are two grades of the BYD Atto 2 DM-i, as it’s badged.
The Atto 2 DM-i Essential costs $24,990 plus on-road costs, and the Atto 2 DM-i Premium is $29,990. White is the only standard colour, with others another $600.
The Essential gets a 7.85kWh battery good for 39km of electric driving (WLTP), a combined output of 122kW, 16-inch alloys, a 10.1-inch central touchscreen and an 8.8-inch digital instrument display.
Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as are adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, lane departure assist, a 360-degree camera, as well as the ability to use your phone as a key and access remote functions through the BYD app.
The Premium steps up to an 18.03kWh battery with 90km of claimed electric range, and combined output rises to 156kW.
It also adds 17-inch alloys, a 12.8-inch central touchscreen, panoramic sunroof, roof rails, synthetic leather trim, a six-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, ambient lighting, six speakers, a 50W cooled wireless phone charger and 3kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability.
That’s a lot of kit for not a lot of money, but there’s also the occasional omission.
The climate control, for example, is single-zone, despite there being temperature controls for both sides within the infotainment screen.
Rear passengers get just one air vent between them, which could spark some territorial disputes on hot days.
And like the Atto 2 EV, there’s no driver monitoring system, something that would make it unlikely to earn a five-star ANCAP rating; we’re not worried about that one, given it’ll mean no false alerts. And given the generous safety kit elsewhere, there’s plenty of protection.
The warranty is BYD’s standard six years/150,000km for the vehicle and eight years/160,000km for the battery.
The first service at 3500km is free, then the next five years or 100,000km – with 12 month/20,000km intervals – cost $2230. That’s about $770 more than the Atto 2 EV.
2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i: What we think
For most of your driving, the BYD Atto 2 DM-i feels like an EV.
At lower speeds it runs on its electric motor alone, and the 1.5-litre petrol engine typically joins in only at higher speeds or when you floor the throttle.
The result is the smooth, instant response of an electric car around town, with the petrol engine staying in the background.
With 90km of claimed electric range in the Premium, many owners who can charge at home should do most of their weekday driving without using petrol.
The onboard charger is a modest 3.3kW, though, so filling the Premium’s battery from 15 per cent takes about six hours, making it an overnight job. DC fast charging is not supported.
The steering and general handling are decent, and the Atto 2 feels composed enough through corners. Sending 300Nm through the front wheels has its moments, though.
Accelerating out of an intersection can briefly spin the inside front wheel, and there’s a little torque steer too. It’s not bad, but it’s there.
The ride is more of an issue, albeit not a game changer. It’s a fraction firm and occasionally crashy over bumps and sharper hits, with less polish than you might hope for. BYD’s new Atto 3 Evo, which we’ve also driven recently, is noticeably more comfortable.
The Atto 2 DM-i is a sensible size, at 4330mm long with a 2620mm wheelbase. The boot holds 425 litres with the rear seats up and 1335 litres with them folded.
The DM-i also has no ANCAP safety rating, and BYD doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to get one. The lack of that driver monitoring system as well as no front-centre airbag will likely prevent any five-star rating.
2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i: Verdict
The BYD Atto 2 DM-i does a very good job of making electrified motoring cheap.
It drives like an EV most of the time, comes with plenty of equipment and, in Premium form, has enough electric range to cover most commutes without petrol.
The occasionally firm ride is the main grumble for a car that otherwise ticks plenty of boxes.
For buyers who can charge at home and want an electric-first small SUV without committing fully to an EV, it’s difficult to argue with the price.
Score: 4/5
2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i Premium specifications
Price: $29,990 plus on-road costs
Basics: PHEV, 5 seats, 5 doors, small SUV, FWD
EV range: 90km (WLTP)
Combined range: 895km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 18.03kWh BYD Blade LFP
Battery warranty: Eight years/160,000km
Energy consumption: 15.0kWh/100km (WLTP)
Fuel consumption: 0.7L/100km with sufficient battery SoC (WLTP)
Powertrain: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder with 145kW/300Nm electric motor
Combined output: 156kW/300Nm
Transmission: e-CVT
AC charging: 3.3kW
DC charging: NA
V2L: Yes, 3kW
The post 2026 BYD Atto 2 DM-i Review: Australia’s cheapest plug-in hybrid drives like an EV, but it’s not as smooth as some appeared first on EV Central.
