BYD Atto 2 DM-i

FIRST DRIVE Chinese brand extends appeal of its compact SUV by adding plug-in hybrid to EV we tried earlier this year

- Alastair Crooks

PLUG-in hybrids have usually been the preserve of executive-car buyers, but now BYD is looking to make the technology more accessible. From spring next year, this plugin hybrid option will be lining up alongside the electric Atto 2, which has already landed in the UK.

The numbers look very promising. There's a 1.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle petrol engine (like the Honda Civic's) and it works with a dual-motor layout; one generates power and the other sends drive straight to the front wheels. With an 18.3kWh battery, the Atto 2 DM-i can cover 55 miles on a charge - more than a plugin hybrid BMW X3.

The car we're testing is the Boost edition, which gets a combined 209bhp output for a 7.5-second 0-62mph sprint. An entry-level Active version with a less powerful motor, smaller battery and shorter 25-mile EV range is also available.

The Boost is slightly quicker to 62mph than the electric Atto 2, although they feel pretty similar in everyday use. That's because the Atto 2 DM-i prioritises its electric motor over the four-cylinder petrol engine in a bid to provide a smoother drive. The electric motor produces 300Nm on its own and during our two hours at the wheel we never felt we needed the extra punch of the engine.