This is a comprehensive comparison of the specs and features of Australia's best-selling electric SUVs, the BYD Atto small SUV and the Tesla Model Y medium SUV.
This comparison focuses on the comparable variants of each model:
Price and Incentives
As of the date of this comparison, the Tesla Model Y costs $14,389 more than the BYD Atto 3 before on-road costs and government incentives. Both will be eligible for the various state government incentives and the FBT exemption.
For an estimated driveaway price and total cost of ownership - use the zecar cost of ownership calculator.
Size and Dimensions
Both EVs are considered to be practical cars and offer best in class passenger and storage space, attributable to being built on dedicated EV platforms. The Model Y (medium SUV) is the bigger car than the Atto 3 (small SUV) with more interior passenger space and substantially more storage space. The Model Y has over 500 litres of additional storage compared to the Atto 3, including a 117 litres frunk.
Range and Performance
The Model Y offers slightly more claimed WLTP range. This likely due to its lower drag co-efficient and Tesla's leading drivetrain efficiency. It should be noted in zecar's independent range testing and modelling we found the rear-world range between the two to be almost the same.
The Model Y offers faster acceleration, hitting the 100 km/hr in 6.9 seconds. This is due its more powerful motor and its rear-wheel drive setup.
Battery and Charging
The Model Y offers substantially faster charging than the Atto 3 across both home AC charging and public DC charging. For example the Model Y should reach a 10-80% charge in as little as 25 minutes, compared to 45 minutes for the BYD Atto 3.
The Atto 3 does offer the advantage of V2L which allows you to use the car's battery as a mobile power bank. This could be useful for camping, roadtrips and potentially in the event of a blackout.
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Driver Technology
The Model Y and Atto 3 offer similar levels of driver assist technology features on paper, however in reality the Tesla Autopilot system offers a much better experience for highway driving. At this stage Tesla's Autopilot appears to be one of the best driver assistance systems in the market particularly for highway driving. The Atto 3 however features an exceptional 360 degree camera which the Model Y lacks.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Model Y has a superior infotainment and connectivity offering highlighted by its best in-class 15 inch centre screen, user-friendly interface and high quality premium sound system.
The Atto 3 provides a strong multimedia experience however has a smaller 12 inch screen and less speakers than the Model Y. The Atto 3 however features wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, something Tesla has yet to offer in any of its vehicle models.
Both models features mobile apps which allow fucntionalities such as remote lock, pre-heating/cooling and charge monitoring. At this stage, the Tesla mobile app offers more features.
Other Features
Warranty and Servicing
The BYD Atto 3 has the superior vehicle warranty. The battery warranties are comaprable, with the Model Y offering an additional 10,000 km.
The Model Y does not have scheduled servicing or maintenance, resulting in less scheduled servicing costs.
About the author
Danny is a consultant and entrepreneur working at the cutting edge of the electric vehicle and energy transition. He is passionate about educating and helping consumers make better decisions through data. He is the founder of zecar and is currently the EV Innovation Manager at Endeavour Energy.
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