BYD Atto 1 vs Citroen C3
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Specifications and pricing correct at time of publishing. Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Track the BYD Atto 1 & Citroen C3
Get price-drop alerts on these models plus our free weekly new-car rundown. Unsubscribe anytime.
Price Breakdown
The BYD Atto 1 starts from $23,990 before on-road costs, while the Citroen C3 opens at $32,267. That makes the BYD Atto 1 the more affordable entry point by $8,277.
Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $26,389 and $35,494 respectively.
The BYD Atto 1 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Citroen C3, as a petrol model, does not qualify.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.
Charging Times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.
How long to charge
30kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 65kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (7kW AC, 65kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The BYD Atto 1 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Citroen C3 gets a 7-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
Interior trim differs: the BYD Atto 1 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Citroen C3 offers cloth.
Drivetrain
The BYD Atto 1 uses a Electric producing 65kW and 175Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 11.1 seconds.
The Citroen C3 responds with a Petrol making 81kW and 205Nm, paired to a 6-speed automatic (eat) driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.
The Citroen C3 has the clear power advantage at 81kW vs 65kW. In the real-world sprint, the Citroen C3 is 0.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BYD Atto 1 measures 3,990mm long on a 2,500mm wheelbase, 6mm shorter than the Citroen C3 at 3,996mm (2,539mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Citroen C3 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 308L in the BYD Atto 1 and 300L in the Citroen C3, giving the BYD Atto 1 a 8L advantage. The Citroen C3 seats 5 vs 4.
0Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
10.4m diameter
Good
Based on 10.4m turning circle:
- U-turn on standard street (7m+ wide)
- Standard parking bay
- Tight carparks
- Narrow laneways
Turning circle ratings
Interactive simulator: U-turns, parking & towing
Turning Circle
Kerb-to-kerb diameter. Smaller turns are easier in tight carparks and U-turns.
Good
Needs a 3-point turn (one reverse)
Needs about 9.3 m to swing round without stopping. Road is 9.0 m.
U-turn on a wide street
≥ 10 m: clears in one
U-turn on a standard street
7 m: 3-point turn
Standard parking bay
1.7 m wide: fits with room
Tight carpark aisle
6 m: swings in
Narrow laneway
3.5 m: no room to turn
Turning circle ratings
Standard widths: AU local streets carry ~5.5–7 m of carriageway; main roads ~9–12 m. AS 2890.1 carpark aisles are ~5.8–6.6 m for 90° bays (2.6 m wide × 5.4 m deep).
Road, aisle, swing and off-tracking figures are indicative estimates from the published turning circle. Verify in person before relying on them.
True Cost to Own
Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.
Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Atto 1) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Citroen C3). The BYD Atto 1 has longer coverage.
Who Should Buy Which?
Buy the BYD Atto 1 if: You want the lower entry price, need more boot space, value a longer warranty, or prefer BYD's approach to design and ownership experience.
Buy the Citroen C3 if: You prioritise performance, or prefer Citroen's approach to design and ownership experience.
The Verdict
This is genuinely close. The BYD Atto 1 and Citroen C3 trade blows across the spec sheet, and neither runs away with an outright win. The BYD Atto 1 adds peace of mind with a longer 6-year warranty. The best pick depends on what you value most. Explore the full specs for each model below.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BYD Atto 1 and Citroen C3?
The BYD Atto 1 is the cheapest at $23,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Citroen C3 by $8,277.
Which is the most fuel-efficient?
The Citroen C3 uses the least fuel at 5.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
Which is safest?
They are evenly matched — BYD Atto 1 all hold a 5-star ANCAP rating. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which has the most boot space?
The BYD Atto 1 has the largest boot at 308L.
Which has the best warranty?
The BYD Atto 1 has the longest warranty at 6 years / 150k km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Citroen C3 makes the most power at 81kW. The Citroen C3 is quickest to 100km/h in 10.9s.
Track the cars you're comparing
Get price-drop and spec-change alerts on the models in this comparison, plus our weekly new-car rundown of launches, deals and reviews.
- Price-drop alerts on these models
- Spec-change alerts
- Weekly new-car rundown
No spam, unsubscribe anytime. By subscribing you agree to receive marketing emails.
Disclaimer: All information in this comparison was believed to be correct at the time of publishing (20 April 2026). Prices are manufacturer recommended retail prices (RRP) and may vary by state, dealer, and options. Driveaway costs include estimated on-road costs for Victoria. Fuel economy figures are WLTP/ADR combined cycle. Specifications can change without notice. Always verify with the manufacturer before making a purchase decision. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
Auto-generated from CarSorted's specification data · 20 April 2026
Comments (0)
Sign in to join the conversation
No comments yet. Be the first!
