BYD Atto 1 vs Kia EV5
Two electric cars go head to head. Which EV is the better buy for Australian drivers in 2026?
Kia EV5 scores higher, 71 vs 67
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 9 Nov 2026, price 15 Nov 2026
BYD Atto 1
12 of 27 standard · no option data · 3 not offered · 12 no dataFrom
$23,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- Hatchback
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 65kW
- Energy use
- No data
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 308L
BYD Australia offer: $19,990 drive-away (state not stated), ends 15 Dec 2026. See the offer
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Reference imageKia EV5
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 6 not offered · 3 no dataFrom
$56,770
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 160kW
- Energy use
- 18.2 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 513L
Top CarSorted Score, 71 vs 67, but the BYD Atto 1 is $32,780 cheaper
Kia Australia offer: Cashback, ends 30 Nov 2026. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Reference imageEnds 30 Nov 2026
Manufacturer's terms: Offer available at participating Kia dealers on any in-stock new or demonstrator eligible vehicle purchased and delivered between 1 September and 30 November 2026.
Offer from Kia Australia, checked 15 Nov 2026
T&Cs apply, as the manufacturer prints them. Eligibility, stock and build limits vary, so confirm the offer with the dealer.
BYD Atto 1: we're still completing ground clearance, turning circle and braked towing.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$23,990RRP
- cannot be matched: LED Headlights not offered
$56,770RRP
- with the BYD Atto 1's standard kit: $56,770 (nothing to add)
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
BYD Atto 1 Essential
$23,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 14 Nov 2026
$19,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by BYD Australia
Kia EV5 Air Standard Range FWD
$56,770
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 15 Nov 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
No lowest cost is named: these totals leave out different parts (2026 BYD Atto 1 Essential excludes servicing and insurance; 2026 Kia EV5 Air Standard Range FWD excludes insurance).
Every column on the same basis: 15,000 km a year (fixed for every comparison) in VIC, repayment assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Each car's fuel or charging price is in its own breakdown. Estimate only, not a quote or an offer of credit.
No lowest cost is named: these totals leave out different parts (2026 BYD Atto 1 Essential excludes servicing and insurance; 2026 Kia EV5 Air Standard Range FWD excludes insurance).
Cash outlay over 5 years: the deposit, the repayments and the running costs. Excludes resale value. Every column on the same basis: 15,000 km a year in VIC, repayment assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Estimate only, not a quote or an offer of credit.
Standard features per $10,000: not ranked, too few features are known for both cars. On the rated figures, the BYD Atto 1 leads on price per km of range: $109 per km of range on RRP for the BYD Atto 1; $142 per km of range on RRP for the Kia EV5. Price per kW: level ($369 per kW on RRP for the BYD Atto 1; $355 per kW on RRP for the Kia EV5). On the rated figures, the BYD Atto 1 leads on price per litre of boot: $78 per litre of boot on RRP for the BYD Atto 1; $111 per litre of boot on RRP for the Kia EV5. These ratios are not part of the CarSorted Score.
The BYD Atto 1 starts $32,780 lower on RRP.
Both models currently qualify for the electric-vehicle Fringe Benefits Tax exemption (battery-electric and under the $91,661 threshold; battery-electric and under the $91,661 threshold), which applies to salary-sacrificed novated leases.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$69/wk(≈$300/mo)
Estimate on the BYD Atto 1 at $19,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BYD Atto 1Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP lists the BYD Atto 1 at 5 stars (2025) and the Kia EV5 at 5 stars (2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2025 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Adult occupant protection scored 82% for the BYD Atto 1 and 88% for the Kia EV5, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Kia EV5, against 4 on the BYD Atto 1.
Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BYD Atto 1 and 7 in the Kia EV5.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 4 of 10 key systems on the BYD Atto 1 and 7 on the Kia EV5.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BYD Atto 1
None open on our record
Kia EV5
- REC-006557 · published 6 Mar 2026Due to a software error, the Instrument Cluster may display a blank screen or may not operate as intended.Year range on the notice: 2025
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging and range
The rated figures side by side: electric range and fuel use with the battery depleted for a plug-in hybrid or range extender, the km each battery-electric car adds overnight on its own onboard charger, and the DC time in the window each document prints.
| 2026 BYD Atto 1 Essential | 2026 Kia EV5 Air Standard Range FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | Battery electric | Battery electric |
| Added overnight, 10A power point (2.4 kW) | 155 km in 10 h | 132 km in 10 h |
| Added overnight, 7.4 kW wallbox | 477 km in 10 h | 353 km in 10 hCapped: this car accepts 6.6 kW AC, a full battery |
| Added overnight, 11 kW three-phase | 710 km in 10 h | 353 km in 10 hCapped: this car accepts 6.6 kW AC, a full battery |
| DC fast charge, as printedNo data for the BYD Atto 1. | No data | 30 min, 0-80% |
| Charging connector | CCS2 | CCS2 |
| Portable charger supplied | Supplied | No data |
| Type 2 cable supplied | No data | No data |
| Front boot | No data | 67 L |
- Km added in 10 hours: the charger rate, capped by the car's own onboard charger, over its own rated energy use. A car without an onboard charger or energy figure is No data, never an assumed rate.
- DC times are printed only in the window the document gives (0-80% or 10-80%). Different windows are not one measure, so nobody leads across them.
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum 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 (11kW AC, 65kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
How long to charge
64.2kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 150kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (6.6kW AC, 150kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
What's in the boxBYD Atto 1
- Portable chargerSupplied
- Type 2 cableNo data
From the manufacturer's own equipment list for this car. A Type 2 cable is what an untethered public AC post needs; a portable charger plugs into a household socket.
Feature Showdown
The BYD Atto 1 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with a 7-inch digital dash, while the Kia EV5 gets a 12.3-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Kia EV5 counters with heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BYD Atto 1 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Kia EV5 offers cloth & artificial leather.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
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 Kia EV5 responds with a Electric making 160kW and 310Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.
The Kia EV5 has the clear power advantage at 160kW vs 65kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Kia EV5 is 2.6s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Battery: 30kWh (BYD Atto 1) vs 64.2kWh (Kia EV5), giving WLTP ranges of 220km and 400km. DC fast charging peaks at 65kW (BYD Atto 1) vs 150kW (Kia EV5).
Space & Comfort
The BYD Atto 1 measures 3,990mm long on a 2,500mm wheelbase, 625mm shorter than the Kia EV5 at 4,615mm (2,750mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia EV5 generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 308L in the BYD Atto 1 and 513L in the Kia EV5, giving the Kia EV5 a 205L advantage. Fold the rears and you get 1037L vs 1714L. The Kia EV5 seats 5 vs 4.
The Kia EV5 turns in a 11.7 m circle, kerb to kerb; the BYD Atto 1's turning circle is not on our record.
Front boot (frunk)
BYD Atto 1
No data
Kia EV5
67 L
Cost to own
We do not hold a like-for-like fuel or energy figure for both cars, so we do not cost them against each other.
The weekly and 5-year figures in the price section above add repayments, rego, servicing and tyres to this; use our Fuel Cost Calculator for your own driving.
Warranty: 6 years / 150,000 km (BYD Atto 1) and 7 years / unlimited km (Kia EV5).
- No break-even: the BYD Atto 1 costs less to buy and less in energy.
Energy only. Excludes servicing, rego, insurance, finance interest and resale. Prices are compared only on one basis.
Where each one leads
The BYD Atto 1: the lower starting price ($23,990 against $56,770).
The Kia EV5: more power (160kW against 65kW), the bigger boot with the seats up (513L against 308L) and the longer warranty (7 years against 6).
The Verdict
Kia EV5 scores higher, 71 vs 67
The Kia EV5 scores 71 to the BYD Atto 1's 67 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 7 of the 8 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: performance (Kia EV5 ahead by 26 points), technology (BYD Atto 1 ahead by 14 points). Boot space with the seats up: 308L in the BYD Atto 1, 513L in the Kia EV5. Warranty: 6 years on the BYD Atto 1, 7 on the Kia EV5.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$69/wk(≈$300/mo)
Estimate on the BYD Atto 1 at $19,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BYD Atto 1Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BYD Atto 1 and Kia EV5?
The BYD Atto 1 is the cheapest at $23,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Kia EV5 by $32,780.
Which has the longest driving range?
The Kia EV5 has the most range at 400km (WLTP).
Which charges fastest?
The Kia EV5 accepts the highest DC charging at up to 150kW.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BYD Atto 1 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025) and Kia EV5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2024). ANCAP tested these in different years (2025 vs 2024). Its criteria get stricter about every three years, so the stars are not like for like. Compare the active-safety features above to separate them.
Which has the most boot space?
The Kia EV5 has the largest boot at 513L with the seats up (1,714L with the seats folded).
Which has the best warranty?
The Kia EV5 has the longest warranty at 7 years / unlimited km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Kia EV5 makes the most power at 160kW. The Kia EV5 is quickest to 100km/h in 8.5s.
Track the BYD Atto 1 & Kia EV5
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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