BYD Atto 2 DM-i

Chinese brand's small electric SUV is being joined by a keenly priced plug-in hybrid version On sale March 2026 Price from £25,000 (est)

- GEORGE HILL [e-mail]

WORKING FROM HOME, suburban living, surf-and-turf dinners... these are just a few examples of how you can enjoy the benefits of two different things at once. And for those looking for a small SUV, the BYD Atto 2 DM-i is designed to offer a similar experience.

You might already be aware of the fully electric version of the Atto 2, but the DM-i is a plugin hybrid (PHEV), aimed at buyers who want to dip a toe in the water of electrification but aren't yet ready to go the whole hog. Fundamentally, it operates like an electric car, with two electric motors that drive the front wheels. When the battery runs low on charge, a 1.5-litre petrol engine kicks in to generate electricity to top it up, or you can plug it in. This is a similar arrangement to that of the Mazda MX-30 REV - one of the DM-i's few rivals.