BYD Atto 3 review: what the car critics say 

Although you might not have heard of BYD (Build Your Dreams), the Chinese firm has been making EVs for years, said The Daily Telegraph. This model is the compact electric SUV with which it is aiming to enter the UK market. The car has an “ingenious” lithium iron-phosphate battery that is more sustainable than other batteries as it doesn’t use cobalt. The downside is the range: officially 260 miles – 20 or 30 behind its best rivals.

While the exterior of the Atto is “neatly executed”, it’s unlikely to have anybody “swooning”, said Top Gear Magazine. It has tall proportions, roof rails and full-width rear lighting. Inside, though, “imaginations have run riot”. The dash is an “exaggerated” wave shape and elsewhere in the decently roomy cabin, “details lie between playful and cheesy”. It won’t be for everyone, but “your kids will love it”.

The Atto 3 is a huge seller in China, where it’s called the Yuan Plus, said Autocar. And you can see why. To drive, the car is “unassuming”. It rides well on bumpy UK roads, has various drive modes and “swift, but not exceptional” acceleration. There’s nothing pressing to tempt British buyers away from more familiar brands, but for the money, you do get a “thoroughly pleasant family car”, though the boot could be bigger. Price: from about £36,490.

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In pictures: BYD Atto 3