2027 BYD Atto 2 DM-i Price and Specs: Australia’s Cheapest PHEV More Details

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Sep 29, 2026

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Starting from $24,990 before on-road costs for the entry-level Essential grade, it undercuts the battery-electric Atto 2 range and traditional "plugless" small hybrids like the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid and GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid.

BYD has launched the 2027 Atto 2 DM-i in Australia, resetting the market benchmark as the country's most affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV). Starting from $24,990 before on-road costs for the entry-level Essential grade, it undercuts the battery-electric Atto 2 range and traditional "plugless" small hybrids like the Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid and GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid.

How the Dual Mode 4.0 Super Hybrid Powertrain Works The front-wheel-drive Atto 2 DM-i is powered by a 72kW 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor. BYD's Dual Mode 4.0 Super Hybrid platform meets Euro6d emission standards and uses three intelligent, seamlessly switching operating modes to maximise efficiency:

EV Pure Electric Mode: The petrol engine is switched off, and the vehicle is driven purely by the electric motor using stored battery power.
HEV Series Mode: The petrol engine acts as a portable power station, generating power for the electric motor to drive the wheels while also recharging the battery.
HEV Parallel Mode: Both the motor and petrol engine work together to drive the wheels during highway cruising, while software management allows the engine to continue charging the battery simultaneously.

According to BYD, this architecture ensures the vehicle will not run out of battery before it runs out of petrol because the engine continually acts as a generator. Energy is stored in BYD’s thermally stable Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Blade battery, which is highly resistant to thermal runaway.

The Essential grade uses a 7.85kWh battery for a 122kW/300Nm combined output and a 39km WLTP electric range. The Premium grade features an 18.03kWh battery, boosting output to 156kW/300Nm with a 90km WLTP electric range.

Dragon Face Design and Cabin Technology

The Atto 2 DM-i retains BYD's 'Dragon Face' design language, featuring crisp body lines, a sculpted roofline, and signature Chinese Knot tail-lights. The PHEV variants are distinguished by a subtly refashioned front bumper and integrated grille for cooling requirements. The Essential grade rides on 16-inch alloy wheels, while the Premium upgrades to 17-inch wheels, roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, and an exclusive Turquoise Blue hero colour.

Inside, the cabin features a clean dashboard layout, geometric door trim details, and 60:40 split-fold rear seats offering 425 litres of boot space, expanding to 1,335 litres when folded. Technology includes Bluetooth and NFC key access, an 8.8-inch LCD instrument display, and a central infotainment interface measuring 10.1 inches in the Essential or 12.8 inches in the Premium. Both setups support wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Safety and Structural Integrity The Atto 2’s monocoque body is constructed using 58.6 per cent ultra-high-strength and hot-formed steel. Crash energy is dispersed through front and rear longitudinal beams, reinforced seat crossmembers, and a reinforced door-ring structure surrounding the A and B pillars and door impact beams.

Cabin protection includes front and side airbags for the front row, front and rear curtain airbags, and top tether child restraint anchors across all three rear seats. Braking is managed by an Intelligent Power Braking System (IPB) that delivers faster pressure build-up, requiring just 36.72 metres to completely stop from 100km/h. Standard active driving aids include Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Lane Departure Assist (LDA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), forward and rear collision warning, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Adaptive Front Lighting, and a 360-degree camera.

Warranty and Service Costs The Atto 2 DM-i is backed by a 6-year/150,000km vehicle warranty, an 8-year/160,000km traction battery warranty, and an 8-year/150,000km drive unit warranty.

Capped-price servicing is scheduled as follows: