BYD Atto 3 vs. Jeep Avenger – Double test

Jeep tells me something, but what is BYD?

A huge brand from China that, in addition to cars, also makes buses, for example. The brand comes with many models at once, including the Han, the Tang and the Dolphin. But also this Atto 3. A fully electric crossover that is being marketed very competitively against, among others, the electric B-segmenters from Stellantis. In this case they are represented by the Jeep Avenger. It has the same 50.8 kWh net battery capacity as other Stellantis models and also the same 156 hp electric motor. The BYD has a net capacity of 60.5 kWh and with 204 hp it also delivers foThe first generation e-2008 was in the fleet as an endurance tester and in practice we achieved between 230 and 260 kilometers. The updated version adds a useful amount of kilometers. Partly due to slightly more battery capacity, but also due to improved efficiency and the standard heat pump. The e-2008 is also available with the 136 hp engine and smaller battery. That saves €2,450, in which case a heat pump costs €450 extra. The Frenchman is the most economical of this trio and proves that the improvements are paying off. By pressing the ‘B’ (Brake) button, you brake more on the engine when lifting the accelerator pedal and you have to brake less often. The Avenger has exactly the same drivetrain and battery pack, but consumes slightly more. And it is too fast for the e-2008 in all sprints. You select the direction of travel using push buttons on the center console and press the ‘D’ twice to enter regeneration mode. It slows down to the same extent as in the Peugeot and also has no one pedal function. None of these three EVs are available with a tow bar, not even for a bicycle carrier. Quite a miss.

Is the electric powertrain of the BYD Atto 3 really better than that of the Jeep Avenger?

Even more than a car with a combustion engine, an EV is all about efficiency. The more economical, the better. With their body shape, these three certainly do not have an advantage, but they promise a range of around 400 kilometers. The BYD’s infotainment system provides little information regarding consumption. The on-board computer shows the consumption from the day it left the factory and there is a second one that shows the last fifty km. Regeneration can be done in two steps, one pedal driving is not possible. We drive the test cars in ideal temperature conditions, which benefits the range. The Chinese goes the furthest, thanks to the larger battery. In turn, it cannot be fully charged quickly and the promised 88 kW at the fast charger drops to around 60 kW at approximately 45%. A heat pump is standard on the Atto 3.

The Jeep Avenger has the new Stellantis EV powertrain with improved efficiency and a standard heat pump. By pressing the ‘B’ (Brake) button, you brake more on the engine when lifting the accelerator pedal and you have to brake less often. The Avenger has exactly the same drivetrain and battery pack as the Peugeot e-2008, but consumes slightly more. You select the direction of travel using push buttons on the center console and press the ‘D’ twice to enter regeneration mode. It slows down to the same extent as in the Peugeot and also has no one pedal function. None of these three EVs are available with a tow bar, not even for a bicycle carrier. Quite a miss.

Is the Atto 3 as good on the inside as the more European Jeep Avenger?

While the outside of the Atto 3 is quite mainstream, on the inside we see a colorful collection of styles and distinctive details. Whether it is the strings in the doors, the layers on the dashboard that overlap like the skin of a fat rhino or the circular vents of the ventilation system; Apparently it couldn’t have been crazy enough. And somehow it also forms a coherent and refreshing whole. You will notice that it is the largest and therefore the most spacious of these three when you get in, especially in the back. With a height of 1.90, you are still comfortably seated there. The seating position is too high for our taste, the chair itself is of good quality and offers sufficient support. Centrally located on the dashboard is the 15.6-inch screen of the infotainment system, which can also stand upright at the touch of a button, except in Apple Car Play mode. And if you want to turn on the rear window heating from that mode, you first have to go through two other menus. Behind the wheel is a small display with a lot of information in sometimes very small numbers or letters. The cruise control can only be adjusted in steps of 5 km/h and can be linked quite quickly to the active lane assistant, which works quite nervously. The volume dial to the right of the lever is useful. Easy to operate for both driver and passenger.

The Jeep is less spacious on the inside. You especially notice this in the back, where it is considerably tighter. Nothing to complain about in the front, although the legroom for the co-driver is not generous. The yellow bar across the full width of the dashboard gives the Jeep a cheerful and youthful appearance. The instrument panel is conventional and clear and the infotainment system is simple in design with a quick-to-understand menu structure.

The Jeep is certainly much better off-road?

Not too bad, or bad if you like. It is only available with front-wheel drive, so you can forget about any real off-roading. The steering initially feels a bit lifeless and only becomes firm when you choose the sportiest driving mode. This is at the expense of the range and you have to do your best to drive away normally. We experience the same degree of suspension comfort as in, for example, the e-2008 and the shock absorbers manage to keep the relatively high vehicle weight well under control. And here too, obesity creates a solid feeling.

Behind the wheel of the Atto3, what is particularly noticeable is the fairly high seating position, in combination with a seat that is too flat. If the front of the seat could be raised a little more, your legs would have more support. But we are especially curious about the driving characteristics. Let’s start with the steering, which feels woolly and provides no information about the relationship between tire and road surface. Driving pleasure is hard to find here and the chassis doesn’t help with that either. The suspension on the front axle feels a bit soft and the rebound stroke is moderately damped. This makes the nose too mobile under some circumstances and even restless in long bends with bumps. The BYD handles regular journeys on our generally well-paved roads in complete comfort. The fact that the 204 hp and 310 Nm go to the front wheels is clearly noticeable when you drive in sporty mode and stamp hard on the gas. Then the tires search for grip and you feel drive responses in the steering wheel. But here too the following applies: under normal circumstances the power can be dosed easily.