Should you buy the Volkswagen ID4 or the BYD Atto 3 Evo? We’ve been living with both to find out

We’ve currently got two electric SUVs on the Carwow long-term fleet. Global content director Iain Reid has been living with the Volkswagen ID4 for six months, and social content creator Cameron Kalare has been driving the BYD Atto 3 Evo for three months.

Both are around the same size and cost about the same, on paper at least, but which one should you buy? Well, let’s compare them to find out.

Volkswagen ID4 vs BYD Atto 3 Evo: prices and value

One of the main appeals of Chinese cars over European alternatives is the value for money, and it’s no different with these two cars.

Our Volkswagen ID4 is the Pro Match version, which starts from just over £47,000. This one also has upgraded alloy wheels, as well as a few option packs, bringing the price to almost £54,000.

As standard you get heated front seats, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera and LED headlights. We have the £2,625 Assistance Package Plus, which adds things like a surround-view camera, a more advanced adaptive cruise control system which steers to keep you in lane, parking assist and wireless phone charging.

We also have the £2,685 Infotainment Package Plus which gives you a head-up display and a Harman Kardon sound system.

As for our Atto 3, it’s the top-spec Excellence model. There are no options to pick, and it comes with electrically-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a panoramic glass roof and adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assist. All this comes to just under £43,000.

So our Atto 3 is £11,000 cheaper than the ID4, and it’s better equipped. The Volkswagen isn’t off to a great start.

Volkswagen ID4 vs BYD Atto 3 Evo: interior and technology

Quality inside the Volkswagen ID4 is generally very good. Everything in your direct eyeline is soft-touch and the switchgear feels solid, but the design is pretty dull for a car costing this much. It’s very dark and gloomy, and there aren’t many interesting features.

Interesting features is something the BYD has in spades. The door handles are these strange rockers integrated into the door speakers, and there are guitar strings over the door bins. It looks more distinctive, but the quality isn’t as good as the VW. Those door speakers have flimsy covers on them, and the switchgear isn’t as well-damped.

Both these cars rely on their touchscreens for most functions, including climate control, but the BYD has a few physical shortcut buttons on the centre console to make things easier. It also has a slightly more responsive touchscreen, and it has Google apps built-in, but there are a few too many confusing menus to flip through. The VW’s system is easier to use.

It’s a close race, but the BYD Atto 3 Evo just pips it. The interior has a better design, and the physical shortcut keys make it a bit easier to operate things on the move.

Volkswagen ID4 vs BYD Atto 3 Evo: space and practicality

This is the ID4’s time to shine, because it has a cavernous cabin with loads of storage space. You get a big centre console compartment, large door bins and a handy phone tray in the middle, plus the rear seats are really spacious.

I’m over six feet tall, and I can sit behind my driving position with room to spare. By comparison, the Atto 3 Evo feels a bit cramped in the back. It does have a bigger glovebox than the Volkswagen, but cabin storage elsewhere isn’t as good. Those guitar string door pockets are also a faff to use in practice.

The Volkswagen also has a bigger boot – 543 litres compared to 495 in the BYD – but the Atto 3 also has a 95-litre front boot. The ID4 offers no storage under the bonnet.

Both cars also have three-pin sockets so you can power appliances on the move, which is ideal for camping (or working on the go). Whereas the Volkswagen has one in the boot, you have to plug an adapter into the BYD’s charging port outside the car.

Volkswagen ID4 vs BYD Atto 3 Evo: range, performance and driving

If you’re after performance, the BYD wins hands-down. This Excellence model has a whopping 449hp, and it’ll do 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds. Our ID4 has 286hp and does 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds.

It’s an impressive stat for BYD to show off in a brochure, but to most people it’s completely pointless. What’s more important is range and efficiency, and in this regard the Volkswagen is much better.

The BYD has been averaging 3.1 miles per kWh during our time with it, which works out to a real-world range of 232 miles when multiplied by its 75kWh battery. The ID4 has averaged 3.7 miles per kWh with a 79kWh battery, which comes to 292 miles.

The ID4 is also a lot more comfortable than the BYD over bumps, and it feels more planted in the bends. The Atto 3 doesn’t inspire the confidence to use its 449hp thanks to the vague steering, rendering it pretty much pointless.

Volkswagen ID4 vs BYD Atto 3 Evo: our final verdict

The BYD Atto 3 Evo is undoubtedly great value for money, and if you just want to get as much tech and performance for your cash as possible, it’s a no-brainer compared to the ID4.

However, the Volkswagen is more practical, more comfortable, feels more premium and it’s more efficient, which will make it cheaper to run. It’s for that reason that the ID4 wins this test. It’s just a shame it’s so expensive, but you can save an average of over £4,000 at the time of writing through Carwow.

Also consider: Hyundai Ioniq 5

For around £45,000, you could get a nicely-specced Hyundai Ioniq 5. It looks more interesting than either of these cars, and inside it combines the quality of the VW with the visual appeal of the BYD.

It’s also comfortable to drive, has a big boot and lots of interior space, and you can save up to £8,700 on certain models through Carwow at the time of writing.

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