It costs less than $24,000 and it actually works.
In a market long defined by the assumption that electric vehicles demand a premium, a compact Chinese hatchback has quietly redrawn the boundary of what affordability can mean. The BYD Atto 1, awarded Australia's best affordable EV at the 2026 CarExpert Choice Awards, enters at under $24,000 — a price point that transforms the electric transition from aspiration into arithmetic. It is a reminder that progress rarely announces itself grandly; sometimes it arrives as a sensible car for a sensible commute.
- A $6,000 gap between the Atto 1 and its nearest rival has effectively made it the only electric vehicle in Australia below the $24,000 threshold — a lone option in a price bracket that millions of buyers actually occupy.
- The win over the MG 4 and GAC Aion V signals that judges were not simply rewarding cheapness, but recognising a vehicle that refuses to feel like a concession.
- Wireless Apple CarPlay, surround-view cameras, and a 10.1-inch touchscreen on the base trim challenge the industry habit of reserving meaningful features for higher-priced variants.
- With DC fast-charging and up to 310km of range on the top-spec model, the Atto 1 is actively dismantling the argument that urban EV ownership requires a six-figure budget.
- The car's smooth torque, quiet cabin, and well-calibrated controls suggest BYD has prioritised the daily experience over headline specifications — a bet that appears to be landing.
The BYD Atto 1 has taken out Australia's best affordable electric vehicle award at the second annual CarExpert Choice Awards, and the case for it rests on a number that is difficult to argue with: $23,990 before on-road costs. Its nearest EV rival, the BYD Dolphin, sits $6,000 higher — a gap that, for buyers without thirty thousand dollars to spend, makes the Atto 1 the only electric option worth considering.
Price alone, however, does not explain the win over the MG 4 and the GAC Aion V. Inside, the Atto 1 presents a cabin that feels considered rather than cost-cut. A 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and surround-view cameras come standard even on the base Essential trim. Visibility is strong, the interior is comfortable, and the only meaningful concession is a four-seat layout — a limitation that matters less in practice than it sounds on paper.
The Essential variant pairs a 65-kilowatt motor with a 30-kilowatt-hour battery for 220 kilometres of WLTP range. The Premium steps up to 115 kilowatts and 310 kilometres. Neither figure is remarkable in isolation, but for a car built around school runs and office commutes, both are sufficient. DC fast-charging between 65 and 85 kilowatts keeps downtime manageable.
What drivers notice most is the quality of the ordinary: smooth torque delivery, a quiet cabin, steering and brakes that behave as expected. These are not glamorous attributes, but they are the ones that define whether a car feels cheap or simply affordable. With the top-spec Premium still under $28,000, the Atto 1 makes a quiet but persuasive argument that the electric transition no longer has to wait for a pay rise.
The BYD Atto 1 has won Australia's best affordable electric vehicle award at the second annual CarExpert Choice Awards, and the win comes down to a simple proposition: it costs less than $24,000 and it actually works.
The tiny Chinese hatchback undercuts its nearest competitor by six thousand dollars. The base Essential model starts at $23,990 before on-road costs, while the next cheapest EV on the market—the BYD Dolphin—sits at $29,990. That gap matters. For buyers who want to go electric but don't have thirty grand to spend, the Atto 1 suddenly becomes the only conversation worth having.
But price alone doesn't win awards. The Atto 1 beat the MG 4 hatchback and the GAC Aion V mid-size SUV because it delivers more than just affordability. Step inside and you find a cabin that feels thoughtfully arranged despite the car's compact footprint. There's a 10.1-inch touchscreen standard across the range, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity even on the base Essential trim. The visibility is excellent. The interior is comfortable. The only real compromise is the four-seat configuration—though as the judges noted, finding a city car where you'd actually want to put someone in the centre rear seat is a challenge regardless of price.
The Essential variant comes with a 65-kilowatt electric motor, 175 newton-metres of torque, and a 30-kilowatt-hour battery good for 220 kilometres of range on the WLTP cycle. Step up to the Premium and you get a 115-kilowatt motor, 220 newton-metres, and a larger battery that stretches to 310 kilometres. Neither figure is enormous, but for a car designed primarily for urban commuting—the school run, the office, the shops—the range is sufficient. DC fast-charging runs between 65 and 85 kilowatts depending on which model you choose.
What strikes drivers most is the execution of the fundamentals. The torque delivery is smooth. The cabin stays quiet. The steering and brakes are well-calibrated. These aren't flashy attributes, but they're the ones you notice every single day. They're the difference between a car that feels cheap and a car that feels like a bargain.
With the top-spec Premium model still coming in under $28,000 before on-road costs, the Atto 1 represents a genuine shift in what affordable electric motoring looks like in Australia. It's not a compromise vehicle for people who can't afford better. It's a sensible choice for people who understand that a daily commute doesn't require a six-figure car. For that audience, the Atto 1 is exactly what they've been waiting for.
Notable Quotes
The Atto 1 is sensational value for money and ideal for buyers after an EV for the daily commute.— CarExpert Choice Awards judges
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does a $24,000 EV matter more than, say, a $30,000 one?
Because that six-thousand-dollar gap is the difference between "maybe someday" and "I can actually do this next month." It opens the door to people who want to go electric but thought it was out of reach.
But doesn't cutting the price mean cutting corners?
Not necessarily. The Atto 1 cuts size, not quality. It's a city car, so it doesn't need 400 kilometres of range. It has a proper touchscreen, wireless phone integration, good visibility. The corners it cuts are the ones that don't matter for urban driving.
What about reliability? BYD is still relatively new to Australia.
That's a fair question the award doesn't fully answer. But the car itself is well-engineered. Whether BYD's service network and warranty support hold up over time—that's the real test ahead.
Who actually buys this car?
Someone doing a daily commute under 200 kilometres. Someone in a city or suburb who charges at home or work. Someone who's been priced out of the EV market until now. Not everyone, but a real audience that's been waiting.
Is this the beginning of affordable EVs becoming normal?
It might be. If BYD can keep the price there and the quality up, and if other manufacturers respond, then yes—this is the moment the market shifts. The Atto 1 proves you don't need to spend thirty grand to go electric.