Western News: May 04, 2023

12
Thursday May 4 2023
Incorporating
best motorbuys
www.drivesouth.co.nz
Start dreaming of driving electric
BUILD YOUR Dreams –
abbreviated to BYD, that’s the
name for one of the newest
entrants into New Zealand’s
electric vehicle market.
More specifically, the BYD
Atto3 is the key model here
for the all-electric Chinese car
building company, and it’s a
tidy, stylish sport utility vehicle
that already I’m seeing in good
numbers on our roads. If you are
wondering where Atto comes
from, it is inspired by the Attosecond
– the smallest time scale
unit in physics – and according
to BYD it represents speed, energy
and dynamics.
The Atto3 lands here in two
model variants distinguished by
their battery size. The extended
range vehicle incorporates the
larger of the lithium-ion battery
capacities – a 60kWh unit –
giving a 420km range and the
standard battery unit – 50kWh
– providing a range of 345km.
Both models are driven by a
single motor powering the front
wheels, there is 150kW of power
on tap with 310Nm of torque
in both, offering a standstill to
100km/h time of 7.3sec.
Prices start at $55,490 for the
standard model, the extended
range variant adds $4500. Those
prices both easily qualify for the
full New Zealand Government
Clean Car Programme rebate of
$8625.
Specification items are numerous,
I can report that for
its price there’s a good level of
fitment. The evaluation car was
the range-topper, but most of
what is in that is also included
in the entry-level model, it’s
just the battery capacity that is
different and the colour choices
vary from level to level. For
those of you who like to see the
stars when you’re travelling at
night, the Atto3 gets a full length
panoramic roof, along with
heated and electric seats, keyless
entry and ignition, and electric
tailgate, just to mention a few of
the major items. When you take
into account the value you get for
the money, it’s no wonder BYD
is showing much appeal in this
country.
The interior is very space age.
The design and trim elements are
styled with ideas that I’ve never
seen before in any car. I particularly
like the guitar strings that
are fitted to the front doors, you
can play music to the beat of the
radio while sitting at the everincreasing
traffic light queues.
I travelled 200km in the evaluation
vehicle, when I picked it
up there was 86 per cent charge
on the battery capacity display
offering a distance to empty of
400km. It panned out so that
plugging in for several hours
each night meant I could keep
the batteries well within a range
that minimised anxiety, although
at a short 4m, the domestic
cable is only just long enough
to reach my garage plug.
Of course, fast charging at a
designated port will boost the
batteries from 20 to 80 per cent
in around 30min.
A good friend of mine who
lives in Australia has had a
hefty deposit on an Atto3 for six
months and there’s still no sign
of his car arriving, but every
market is different and I’d like to
think that any prospective buyer
here will be satisfied with their
buying experience.
• Price – BYD Atto3,
$59,990
• Dimensions – Length,
4455mm; width,
1875mm; height,
1615mm
• Configuration – Electrosynchronous
motor,
front-wheel-drive,
150kW, 310Nm, onespeed
automatic
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 7.3sec
Finance
available
(conditions apply)
CARS WANTED
– CASH PAID
We buy small
Japanese vehicles
- Must be tidy
2012 nissan tiida 5/HatcH
$6,995
1.5L, auto, 154,000kms, drives fine.
2015 toyota corolla GX 5/HatcH
$9,495
1.8L, auto, NZ new, 202,000kms, drives fine.
2016 toyota corolla GlX 5/HatcH
$11,995
1.8L, auto, alloys, back camera, 194,000kms.
loW kms
5-sPeed
2010 suzuki sX-4 4 door
$8,995
2.0L, auto, alloys, 125,000kms, nice unit.
2011 Honda jazz ‘s’ nz neW 5/HatcH
$8,995
1300cc, auto, 127,000kms, multi airbags.
2004 mitsubisHi lancer 4 door nz neW
$4,495
1800cc, auto, low 106,000kms.
2010 suzuki sX-4 5/HatcH
$7,995
131,000kms, NZ new, 5 speed.
loW kms
2Wd
loW kms
2013 toyota aqua Hybrid
$13,995 1.5L auto, low 87,000kms, high grade leather,
alloys, body kit, reverse camera.
2008 daiHatsu beGo 5/suV 2Wd
$7,995
1500cc, auto, 141,000kms.
1998 toyota raV 4 “2 WHeel driVe”
$6,995
2.0L, auto, only 109,000kms, 3 door.
2000 Honda stream s/W 7 seater
Was $3,995 noW $2,995
1700cc, auto, 152,000kms.
- 281 Ferry Road - 03 389 1121 - dougdrake@xtra.co.nz www.dougdrake.co.nz