BYD Atto 1 now Australia's cheapest new car at $19,990 driveaway
A national driveaway offer cuts up to $7070 off the entry-level Atto 1 Essential, putting Australia's cheapest EV level with the petrol MG 3 Vibe.
Rob Leigh
Key takeaways
- Atto 1 Essential now $19,990 driveaway nationally, down from $23,990 before on-roads
- Offer is currently scheduled to end on 15 December 2026
- Essential carries a 30kWh battery and 220km WLTP range
BYD has dropped the Atto 1 Essential to $19,990 driveaway across Australia, making the electric hatch the cheapest new car you can buy here. The special offer was announced on 15 September and is currently set to run until 15 December 2026 unless BYD extends it.
The Essential normally lists at $23,990 before on-road costs, which works out to roughly $25,762 to $27,060 driveaway depending on where you register it. That makes the saving somewhere between $5772 and $7070, or up to 26%.
At that money it matches the petrol-powered MG 3 Vibe also running at $19,990 driveaway, so the two share the title of Australia's cheapest new car. The smaller Kia Picanto Sport manual sits above both at $19,190 before on-roads, which lands north of $22,000 once on-road costs are added.
BYD Australia Chief Operating Officer Stephen Collins framed the move around household budgets.
"At a time when Australian families are carefully considering every household expense, we're committed to making vehicle ownership more attainable," Mr Collins said.
What the Atto 1 Essential gives you
The four-seat Essential uses a 30kWh lithium iron phosphate battery feeding a 65kW/175Nm front motor, with 220km of WLTP range, 65kW DC charging and 11kW AC charging. Metallic paint is a $500 option.
Standard kit includes:
- 15-inch steel wheels with covers on 175/65 R15 Hankook tyres
- Dusk-sensing halogen headlights, keyless entry and start, rear privacy glass
- 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 7.0-inch driver display, four-speaker audio, DAB+
- Leatherette upholstery and steering wheel, tilt-only column adjustment
- Adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, reversing camera and rear parking sensors
It holds a five-star ANCAP rating from 2025 testing.
BYD Atto 1 pricing
| Variant | Price excluding on-roads | Driveaway price |
| Atto 1 Essential | $23,990 | $19,990 (special offer) |
| Atto 1 Premium | $27,990 | No national offer |
View BYD Atto 1 driveaway pricing and specifications →
The longer-range Premium is not part of the deal, which is notable because it is the line-up's bigger seller. It brings a 43.2kWh battery, a 115kW/220Nm motor, 85kW DC charging and 310km of WLTP range.
BYD has delivered 3838 Atto 1s this year, third in the micro and light segments behind the MG 3 and Picanto. Cheap EV competition is building, with the Geely EX2 from $26,490 before on-roads, the MG 4 EV Urban currently at $29,990 driveaway, and Chery's Q hatch expected in 2027.
Buyers who want the offer should move before 15 December, and anyone holding out for a discounted Premium will need to wait for BYD to announce one.
Rob Leigh
Co-founder & Director
Rob Leigh is Co-founder and Director of The Beep based in Melbourne, Australia. He has 15+ years inside a major automotive OEM, specialising in product planning, pricing and vehicle strategy.
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