Advantages
- Atto 3: Excellent value, interesting interior, pure electric platform
- ZS EV: Brand advantage, large holding volume, short pick-up time
Disadvantages
- Atto 3: Unproven brand, long waiting time, warranty uncertainty
- ZS EV: Boring control, mediocre interior, and less rich functions
New energy vehicle revolution is becoming easier and cheaper. The entry price for the Australian electric car is now AUD 45,000, and competition in the Australian electric car market is intensifying due to the addition of the interesting and very cheap byd Atto 3 electric SUV ( BYD dollar plus).
BYD (abbreviation of Build Your Dreams) - is one of many upcoming Chinese auto brands, and it has just arrived in Australia. Atto 3 is a small SUV based on a dedicated electric vehicle architecture and is the first BYD model to be fully sold in Australia.
BYD Atto 3 attempts to steal market share from the MG ZS EV, which is also made in China, which has been sold in Australia since the end of 2020. But MG recently updated its offer, and it remains Australia's cheapest electric car - but this is after a $2,000 cut, down from A$44,381 (excluding road costs) for its new rival BYD atto3. The prices of these two high-tech small SUVs are not far apart, but they are far different. MGZS ev and BYD atto3
Pricing and Features
BYD Atto 3 Extended Range Extended on-road charge is 47,381 AUD . It uses a 60.4kWh battery pack to power the front motor with front-wheel drive.
Standard range Atto 3 comes with a 49.9kWh battery, which is $44,381 before the on-road fee is excluded.
MG ZS EV Excite also uses a front motor to power the front wheels and is equipped with a 50.3kWh battery. It costs $44,990.
BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV: Basic parameters
BYD Atto 3 ER | MG ZS EV Excite | |||
battery: | 60.48 kWh | 50.3 kWh | ||
motor: | permanent magnet synchronization | |||
permanent magnet synchronization | ||||
150kW | 130kW | |||
Torque: | 310Nm | 280Nm | ||
Length/width/height: | ||||
Length/width/height: 2 | 4455/1875/1615mm | 4323/1809/1625mm | ||
Wheelbase: | 2720mm | 2585mm | ||
Weight: | 1750 kg | 1570 kg | ||
Range: | 420 km (WLTP, claim) | 320 km (WLTP, claim) | ||
Maximum AC charging rate: | 7kW (from 0-100% charging for about 8.5 hours) | 11kW (about 5 hours 0-100% charging) | ||
Maximum DC charging rate: | 80kW (about 45 minutes to 100% charging) | 50kW (10-80% charging 54 min) |
Although our Atto 3 tests lack Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, they both provide a long list of standard devices with no obvious omissions. BYD said smartphone mirroring will be launched later this year. Of course the MG ZS EV offers both.
But beyond that, BYD Atto 3 offers more standard equipment in price, which is also more cost-effective on paper.
BYD provides equipment that other MG does not have, including artificial leather interiors (MG's fabric); electric adjustment of the front seat; electric opening/closing tailgate; large sunroof; blind spot monitoring and semi-automatic cruise control. BYD has 18-inch wheels, while MG has 17-inch wheels.
Both cars are equipped with four parking cameras, but BYD has a much higher display resolution on the central screen.
They are also stuffed with safety equipment, but BYD has 7 airbags and MG has 6. MG received an ANCAP five-star rating in 2019, but BYD has not yet conducted a crash test.
BYD takes it a step further and launches a built-in dash recorder. Both cars support V2L, which means using the included adapter , you can use 240V appliances, which is very cool.
Atto 3 is available in four colors: red, blue, gray and white. White is standard, but blue, red or gray costs $700. You can only get red on high-end models. And there is only one interior available, which is a slightly bold/vulgar blue-gray (may not suit everyone's taste).
MG ZS standard color is white or black. For $700, you can buy blue, red or silver metallic colors.
BYD is equipped with 8 speakers, while MG has only 4, and it has a better sound system both on paper and in terms of performance. Both cars provide ample space, but when you enter the car, BYD feels more spacious, thanks to the larger size and 135mm wheelbase. The interior of the
Atto 3 is more ventilated and has more light, partly due to its large (standard) sunroof.
Although its exterior styling is somewhat traditional, its quirky interior is different from any other car on the market and is a veritable concept sofa.
What is impressive is the 12.8-inch infotainment display in the center that can be switched electrically between portrait and landscape modes.
There is a small 5.0-inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel, which reminds us of a motorcycle; there are also very unusual internal department handles, and to help keep items in the lower door box, the tightened elastic band can be played like a guitar. They are on the back door, too, but there is good news for car owners with small children: With some basic tools, they seem to be easily removed.
Although BYD's interior is full of novelty, everything is normal. BYD's cockpit is well made of leather-like materials, and overall it is a comfortable place to sit.
In comparison, MG has a smaller interior, feels more traditional and easier to get familiar with quickly. This car also gives people a narrower and taller feeling than BYD.
Many people will like to have a beautiful and clear large screen popped up on the 10.1-inch center touch screen just by plugging into the phone. MG also gets extra points for its wide door box, which can easily accommodate 1.5-liter bottles.
MG ZS EV rear seats
MG interiors in other places are very good - it feels like it imitates the interior of Volkswagen Golf (Volkswagen Golf) - but not as good as BYD. In addition, compared with BYD, this car lacks steering wheel straightening adjustment function, making it more difficult to get a comfortable driving experience.
In addition, in the crowded traffic, there is a big blind spot in the rear of the passenger seat, which will affect people's confidence when changing lanes - and, unlike BYD, our MG test car has no blind spot monitoring.
Both touch screen infotainment systems are sensitive and easy to use. Both cars put some air conditioning controls in the menu on the touch screen, which is a bit annoying.
BYD Atto 3 Rear Seats
BYD is much more friendly to rear seat passengers. MG provides plenty of knee and foot space for adult backseat passengers, but BYD goes a step further in this regard. Passengers in the MG rear seats have two central AC vents as well as USB-A and USB-C sockets, but unlike BYD, the MG does not have a central handrail with a cup holder and a rear reading light.
also has a map pocket behind the front seat of BYD (MG does not). The BYD's rear seat feels more spacious thanks to the huge sunroof and completely flat floors, with a tiny transmission tunnel on the floor of the MG. Overall, BYD's rear seats are better. .
Among these two electric cars, MG's trunk is better. BYD is bigger at 440 liters in data, while MG is 359 liters.
Actually, MG's trunk floor is slightly lower, allowing for easier accommodation of more gear.
Neither of these cars provide a front suitcase under the hood. Both have a "slime tank" puncture repair package instead of space saving or full-size spare tires.
MG and BYD both have ISOFIX child seat anchors installed on the rear outer seats.
on the road
In almost all cases, the driving performance of BYD Atto 3 is much better than that of MG ZS EV.
ride quality is more comfortable, quieter, and feels more stable at higher speeds.
Press the “Open” button installed on the dashboard and both cars start quietly, or leave smoothly and quietly after selecting “D”, just like we like electric cars.
Both cars are very easy to drive and have a light steering – but the MG has a narrower turn ring, allowing for three-point turns, and hang out in the parking lot is easier.
Both cars are pleasant to control, but BYD feels better, has a better design and is more modern.
During acceleration and regeneration, MG's electric motor makes a little more mechanical noise, and you can hear more suspension sounds than BYD.
At 25 km/h, it uses an external speaker to warn pedestrians with a huge buzz, which the testers found was a bit strange, like pressing all the keys on the piano at the same time. You'll get used to it, but it can't be closed.
These two cars provide near silent rapid acceleration due to the instantaneous torque of the electric motor .
With a motor of 150kW/310Nm and a curb weight of 1750kg, BYD's power-to-weight ratio is 86kW/ton, while MG is 83kW/ton. The ZS's 130kW/280Nm motor only needs to be moved 1570kg - quite light for electric cars.
BYD Atto 3 can complete 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, and MG is 8.6 seconds.
MG ZS uses better standard Michelin Primacy 3ST tire , in the 215/55 R17 format, but it is farther away from any sporty look thanks to its simpler torque beam rear suspension setup than BYD’s more modern standalone arrangement. The MG's suspension also feels less advanced, with some bumpy tendencies.
Surprisingly, neither car offers the “single pedal” driving feeling that many electric car owners are pursuing (brake recovery can be so powerful that you can slow down by simply releasing the throttle).
Although MG has radar cruise control, BYD offers the next generation of semi-automatic cruise system that can drive on the highway for a short time without your hands on the steering wheel.
BYD has a range advantage over MG ZS, but it has a longer charging time. Both cars use the universal Type 2/CCS2 charging port.
BYD 50kWh Basic Atto 3 has a range of 345 kilometers, and the extended version of 60kWh has a range of 420 kilometers, which is $3,000 more. BYD's maximum home AC charging rate is 7kW, and it is fully charged in 8.5 hours.
For ZS EVs with smaller batteries, MG claims to have a range of 320 km, and due to higher home AC charging rates of up to 11kW, it can charge from zero to 100% in just five hours when connected to the correct device. The MG and BYD look good in manufacturing quality, although check it out and you'll find something that looks like "handmade", such as the uneven row of HVAC buttons in the central stack of MG; or how some of the decor on the BYD split rear seat cushions are not arranged neatly.
MG's battery and vehicle are equipped with a better warranty of 7 years and unlimited kilometers.
BYD's warranty is currently a subject of controversy. Originally announced as 7 years and unlimited km, it was modified to be 6 years or 150,000 km for the car and 8 years or 160,000 km for the battery.
situations get worse: In the details, BYD controversially guarantees that certain projects have shorter durations—for example, the charging cable is only one year warranty, and the infotainment system is three years or 60,000 kilometers. Some prospective owners canceled their orders due to changes in warranty policies.
MG also surpasses BYD in terms of maintenance costs. costs $268 per service in the first six years with a two-year interval of 24,000 km.
For the first five years of ownership, BYD provides an annual service cap price of AUD 189 per time, provided that the vehicle travels no more than 60,000 kilometers during this period.
Otherwise, the service interval is every 12 months or 20,000 km, and the service fee for Atto 3 is $2,390, and the service time is over 8 years. During the same period, repairing the ZS EV at today’s price would cost $1,611.
Conclusion
In terms of driving and standard equipment, BYD Atto 3 is better than MG ZS EV. It feels like a newer generation, better to drive, and it is obviously designed as an electric vehicle from scratch (pure electric platform).
MG has a flattering simplicity of , but compared to BYD, it feels like a classic car with a refurbished battery and motor and comes with some internal digital displays ( oil-to-electric ) .
For some people, BYD's unusual interior may discourage them because they prefer MG's traditional and familiar interior. But most people will at least get used to Byd's weirdness and find themselves driving an electric car with amazing performance.
Another deal-breaking factor may be waiting. As of September 2022, waiting for a BYD Atto 3 is 5 to 6 months, and if you have a flexible choice of colors and are happy to call dealers to find stock vehicles, you can own a MG ZS EV in a few weeks, if not days, — becoming part of the electric vehicle revolution.
BYD Atto 3 vs MG ZS EV Specifications
BYD Atto 3 Extended range version | MJ ZS EV Excite | ||
body: | 5 door 5 seats small SUV | 5 door 5 seats small SUV | |
Driving: | Front wheel | Front wheel | |
Battery: | 60.48 kWh | 50.3 kWh | |
Motor: | permanent magnet synchronization | Permanent magnet synchronization | |
Power: | 150kW | 130kW | |
Torque: | 310 Nm | 280 Nm | |
Length/width/height: | 4455/1875/1615mm | 4323/1809/1625mm | |
2720mm | 2585mm | ||
Weight: | 1750 kg | 1570 kg | |
0-100 km/h: | 7.3 Seconds | 8.2 seconds | |
Battery: | 420 kilometers (WLTP) | 320 kilometers (WLTP) | |
Maximum AC charging rate: | 7kW (from 0-100% charging about 8.5 Hours) | 11kW (about 5 hours 0-100% charging) | |
Maximum DC charging rate: | 80kW (about 45 minutes to 100% charging) | 50kW (10-80% charging 54 Minutes) | |
plug type: | type 2 / CCS 2 | type 2 / CCS 2 | |
Tire size: | 440L | 359L | |
Chassis: | McPherson type pillar (f), multi-link (r) | McPherson type pillar (f), torque beam (r) | |
Brakes: | ventilated disk (f), solid disk (r) | ventilated disk (f), solid disk (r) | |
ventilated disk (f), solid disk (r) | |||
Tires: | 215/55 Atlas Batman A51 | 215/55 Michelin Primacy 3ST | |
Tires: | 18 inch alloy (alternative puncture repair package) | 17 inch alloy (alternative puncture repair package) | |
47,381 Australian dollar (excluding on-road charges) | 44,990 Australian dollar on-road |
