MG MG3 vs BYD Atto 1: Petrol Hatchback or Electric Hatchback
The MG3 has the lower RRP, an extra seat and the longer warranty, while the Atto 1 brings electric running, a slightly bigger boot and the higher ANCAP rating.
By Uzzi · 1 November 2026 · Every figure comes from each car's own page on CarSorted.
$20,990
RRP excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$20,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the manufacturer's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the manufacturer.
$19,990 drive-away
RRP $23,990 excl. on-roads
Price tracker
Standing price
$23,990 RRP before on-road costs
We check the manufacturer's published price regularly and record every change here.
RRP before on-road costs, as published by the manufacturer.
Who the MG MG3 suits
The MG3 suits a buyer who wants a petrol hatchback with room for 5 seats and a long warranty. It has the lower RRP of the two at $20,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), and it is rated to tow up to 500kg braked. It makes sense if you can't charge at home or regularly drive long distances.
Who the BYD Atto 1 suits
The Atto 1 suits a buyer ready to go electric, who mostly drives around town and can charge regularly. It has 4 seats, a 308L boot and a WLTP range of 220km. It also has a VIC drive-away figure of $19,990 (drive-away, VIC), which is worth checking against local quotes.
What decides it
1. Price
On RRP, the MG3 is $20,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Atto 1 is $23,990 (RRP excl. on-roads), so the MG3 is about $3,000 less before on-roads. The Atto 1 also has a VIC drive-away figure of $19,990 (drive-away, VIC). We have no drive-away figure for the MG3, so get a full quote on both before deciding.
2. Petrol or electric
The MG3 is a petrol car using 6.0L/100km with a 45L tank. The Atto 1 is electric, with a 30.0kWh battery, a WLTP range of 220km and DC charging up to 65kW. If you do long trips often or can't charge at home, that range figure matters a lot.
3. Seats
The MG3 has 5 seats and the Atto 1 has 4 seats. If you sometimes carry a full back row, the MG3 is the one that fits. If it's usually just one or two people, the difference won't matter much.
Running costs
The MG3 uses 6.0L/100km of petrol, while the Atto 1 uses 15.5 kWh/100km of electricity. Both have a 12 months service interval, and we have no capped servicing figure for either car. The MG3 comes with a 10-year, 250,000km warranty, against a 6-year, 150,000km warranty on the Atto 1. Check the running-cost chart below to compare them over time.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$5,453
per year to run
$48,256
total 5yr cost
$0.62
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $5,453/year to run, or $27,265 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
True Cost of Ownership (5 Years)
$4,298
per year to run
$45,481
total 5yr cost
$0.58
per kilometre
Where the 5-year total goes
About $4,298/year to run, or $21,490 over 5 years including fuel, insurance, servicing, tyres and registration.
* Estimates based on your parameters. Servicing uses each manufacturer's capped-price schedule where we have it, and tyres scale with your weekly km. A guide only, not a quote.
Practicality
The MG3 has 5 seats and a 293L boot that grows to 938L with the seats folded. The Atto 1 has 4 seats and a 308L boot, about 15L more, growing to 1,037L. The MG3 is 4,113mm long and the Atto 1 is 3,990mm. The MG3 is rated to tow 500kg braked, and we have no towing figure for the Atto 1.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (57% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
MG doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 293 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
Will it fit in the boot?
May fitExample sizes only - measure your item before relying on this.
Volume check only (seats up)
Item box about 166L (54% of the volume). Litres don't describe shape, so this can't confirm a fit.
BYD doesn't publish boot dimensions for this car, only 308 litres. Litres can prove something won't fit, but never that a rigid item will - so the best this car can score is "May fit".
Based on the manufacturer's published boot volume.
How quick is it?
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
How quick is it?
0-100 times as published and held in our records. Counts cover on-sale cars with a figure and refresh daily.
Safety
The MG3 carries a 4-star ANCAP rating from 2025. The Atto 1 carries a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2025.
The figures side by side
| MG MG3 | BYD Atto 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $20,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) | $23,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) |
| Drive-away price (VIC) | No data | $19,990 (drive-away, VIC) |
| Powertrain | ICE | BEV |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Drive | FWD | FWD |
| Transmission | CVT | Auto |
| Power | 81kW | 65kW |
| Torque | 142Nm | 175Nm |
| 0-100km/h | 10.8 seconds | 11.1 seconds |
| Fuel use (combined) | 6.0L/100km | No data |
| Fuel tank | 45L | No data |
| Energy use | No data | 15.5 kWh/100km |
| Battery | No data | 30.0kWh |
| Electric range (WLTP) | No data | 220km |
| Max DC charging | No data | 65kW |
| Body | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Boot (seats up) | 293L | 308L |
| Boot (seats folded) | 938L | 1,037L |
| Length | 4,113mm | 3,990mm |
| Width | 1,797mm | 1,720mm |
| Height | 1,502mm | 1,590mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,570mm | 2,500mm |
| Ground clearance | 149mm | No data |
| Turning circle | 10.2m | No data |
| Kerb weight | 1,199kg | 1,294kg |
| Towing (braked) | 500kg | No data |
| Towing (unbraked) | 500kg | No data |
| Payload | 458kg | No data |
| ANCAP rating | 4-star (2025) | 5-star (2025) |
| Warranty | 10-year | 6-year |
| Warranty distance | 250,000km | 150,000km |
| Service interval | 12 months | 12 months |
The verdict
It comes down to whether you can live with electric range and fewer seats in exchange for the Atto 1's higher ANCAP rating and bigger boot.
Pick the MG MG3 if
you need 5 seats, want the longer warranty, need light towing or can't charge at home.
Pick the BYD Atto 1 if
you can charge regularly, mostly drive shorter distances, and want the 5-star ANCAP rating and slightly larger boot.
Put them side by side yourself
Every figure, feature and running cost for both, in our live comparison table.
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Ask about these two cars
- MG3 Vibe
- BYD Atto 1 Essential
Tap a question or ask your own.Tap a question or ask your own. The answer starts from the cars in this comparison, with links to the rows behind them.
Questions buyers ask
Is the MG3 cheaper than the BYD Atto 1?
On RRP, yes. The MG3 is $20,990 (RRP excl. on-roads) and the Atto 1 is $23,990 (RRP excl. on-roads). The Atto 1 also has a VIC drive-away figure of $19,990 (drive-away, VIC), and we have no drive-away figure for the MG3, so compare full quotes.
How far can the BYD Atto 1 go on a charge?
The Atto 1 has a WLTP range of 220km from a 30.0kWh battery. Real-world range can vary with how and where you drive.
How many seats do the MG3 and Atto 1 have?
The MG3 has 5 seats and the Atto 1 has 4 seats.
What ANCAP ratings do the MG3 and Atto 1 have?
The MG3 has a 4-star ANCAP rating from 2025. The Atto 1 has a 5-star ANCAP rating from 2025.
Which has the longer warranty, the MG3 or the Atto 1?
The MG3 has a 10-year, 250,000km warranty. The Atto 1 has a 6-year, 150,000km warranty.
More on these cars
- 2026 MG MG3 Vibe: full specs and priceEvery MG MG3 gradeAll MG models
- 2026 BYD Atto 1 Essential: full specs and priceEvery BYD Atto 1 gradeAll BYD models
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