BYD Atto 8 seven-seater takes aim at the Skoda Peaq with 764bhp and a 405-mile range

News

BYD's flagship SUV looks likely to follow the Chinese giant's "in Europe, for Europe" strategy

GE

George East

12 October 2026 · 4 min read

BYD has taken the wraps off its Atto 8 SUV at this year’s Paris Motor Show, promising a 405-mile range and up to 764bhp in Excellence trim.

Measuring 5040mm long, 1996mm wide, and 1760mm tall, the BYD Atto 8 has space for seven passengers and falls firmly into the full-sized SUV category alongside the new Skoda Peaq, the Peugeot E-5008, and the Kia EV9.

BYD Atto 8 design

The Atto 8’s design is an evolution of the Atto family’s design language. The front-end boasts ultra-slim integrated daytime-running lights (DRLs) and matrix-LED headlights, while a sharp front bumper adds a sense of angularity unseen on any of the Chinese automotive giant’s previous offerings.

Towards the rear of the car, a darkened C-pillar and a chrome-finished D-pillar help accentuate the Atto 8’s length, while Atto-exclusive ‘infinity knot’ tail-lights sit either side of a light-up BYD logo on the tailgate. A neatly integrated roof spoiler and subtle edges on the rear quarter panels assist with boosting aerodynamic efficiency to help maximise range.

BYD Atto 8 interior and practicality

Like the majority of BYD’s line-up, the Atto 8’s interior is a minimalist, high-quality affair. The 2.39m2 allows floods of natural light into the cabin, while a 15.6-inch central infotainment screen runs on the highly acclaimed Google built-in system also favoured by the likes of Renault, Polestar, Volvo, and Nissan.

This suggests that the Att0 8 will follow the brand’s ‘in Europe, for Europe’ strategy, and could be built at the BYD gigafactory in Hungary alongside the Dolphin G DM-i supermini.

A row of physical buttons on the centre console is used for a limited number of car functions, while the new three-spoke steering wheel and heavily-contoured dashboard hint at a more contemporary, ergonomically-friendly design language than older cars in the BYD line-up.

On both entry-level Design trim cars and range-topping Excellence models, the BYD Atto 8 gets a 26-inch widescreen head-up display, plus heated, ventilated, and massaging seats in the first and second rows. The two seats that make up the third row get adjustable headrests and a pair of cupholders in the armrest. Across the board, tri-zone climate control and leather upholstery are standard.

Additional equipment includes a 10-speaker sound system on Design models, and a 21-speaker DiSound system on Excellence models. A front refrigerator can cool to -6°C and warm to 50°C. Each row of passengers benefits from a pair of USB-C ports. Given its dimensions, it’s no surprise that the Atto 8 offers plenty of practicality. With all three rows of seats in position, it offers up to 270 litres of boot space. With the middle and rear rows folded, this expands to 1960 litres. Meanwhile, the frunk amounts to 136 litres.

BYD Atto 8 battery, range and pricing

Both versions of the BYD Atto 8 come with a 115kWh battery fitted with BYD’s second-generation ‘Blade’ battery technology.

This proprietary piece of BYD tech means that the battery can be charged from 10-70% in just five minutes, and from 10-97% in only nine minutes. In sub-zero temperatures as low as -30°C, it takes just 12 minutes to top up from 20-97%. BYD promises that there will be over 3,000 Flash charging stations across Europe by the end of 2027, with charging speeds reaching up to 1.5MW.

The Atto 8 comes with two choices of powertrain: Design models are rear-wheel-drive (RWD) with 455bhp and 269 pound-feet of torque on tap. These are the longest-range models capable of travelling up to 405 miles on a single charge. Meanwhile, the AWD Excellence packs a Lamborghini Urus-rivalling 764bhp, and an equally-punchy 572 lb-ft. Its twin-motor setup slashes the Design’s 0-62mph time from 8 seconds to 4.6 seconds, and still offers a respectable range of 374 miles.

BYD has yet to announce Atto 8 pricing, but we do know that order books in Europe will open during the first quarter of 2027. Other BYD models at the Paris Motor Show include an updated version of the Dolphin Surf and the Shark plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pick-up truck.