BYD Atto 1 vs Subaru Forester
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular cars compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 67
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 17 Sep 2026, price 14 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. Terms
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Subaru Forester
18 of 27 standard · no option data · 9 no dataFrom
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- Petrol
- Power
- 136kW
- Economy
- 7.9 L/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2024
- Boot (seats up)
- 496L
Top CarSorted Score, 76 vs 67, but the BYD Atto 1 is $22,000 cheaper
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Manufacturer offer
Ends 15 Dec 2026
ATTO 1 Essential $19,990 promotional drive-away
Offer from BYD Australia, checked 5 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: 360-Degree Camera and LED Headlights not offered
$45,990RRP
- no option data for this car
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
Subaru Forester AWD
$45,990
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 29 Oct 2026
$45,990 drive-away in NSW, as published by Subaru Australia
No lowest cost is named: these totals leave out different parts (2026 BYD Atto 1 Essential excludes servicing and insurance; 2026 Subaru Forester AWD 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 Subaru Forester AWD 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 Subaru Forester leads on price per kw: $369 per kW on RRP for the BYD Atto 1; $338 per kW on RRP for the Subaru Forester. 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; $93 per litre of boot on RRP for the Subaru Forester. These ratios are not part of the CarSorted Score.
The BYD Atto 1 starts $22,000 lower on RRP.
The BYD Atto 1 currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Subaru Forester does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
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 Subaru Forester 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 83% for the Subaru Forester, under different test years.
Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 7 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Subaru Forester, 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 9 in the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester adds a 360-degree camera that the BYD Atto 1 misses.
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 Subaru Forester.
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
Subaru Forester
- REC-006737 · published 7 Oct 2026Due to a manufacturing defect in the intermediate case of the transaxle, cracks may develop in the support section of the parking pawl.Year range on the notice: 2026
- REC-005831 · published 20 Nov 2023The front drive shaft may not meet manufacturing specifications and the outer race of the front driveshaft may crack.Year range on the notice: 2023
- REC-001604 · published 2 Jun 2021The rear stabiliser bracket bolts may not have been sufficiently tightened during production.Year range on the notice: 2017 - 2020
- 9 more on the model page.
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 Subaru Forester AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | Battery electric | Petrol or diesel |
| Added overnight, 10A power point (2.4 kW) | 155 km in 10 h | Not applicable |
| Added overnight, 7.4 kW wallbox | 477 km in 10 h | Not applicable |
| Added overnight, 11 kW three-phase | 710 km in 10 h | Not applicable |
| DC fast charge, as printed | No data | Not applicable |
| Charging connector | CCS2 | Not applicable |
| Portable charger supplied | Supplied | Not applicable |
| Type 2 cable supplied | No data | Not applicable |
| Front boot | No data | No data |
- 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.
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 Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BYD Atto 1 stands out with V2L: features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. The Subaru Forester counters with wireless charging and 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 Subaru Forester offers cloth.
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 Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.
The Subaru Forester has the clear power advantage at 136kW vs 65kW. 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, 665mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Subaru Forester generally means more rear legroom.
Boot space is 308L in the BYD Atto 1 and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Subaru Forester a 188L advantage. Fold the rears and you get 1037L vs 1174L. The Subaru Forester seats 5 vs 4.
The Subaru Forester turns in a 10.8 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
Subaru Forester
No data
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 5 years / unlimited km (Subaru Forester). Capped-price servicing: no data (BYD Atto 1), 5 years (Subaru Forester).
- 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 $45,990) and the longer warranty (6 years against 5).
The Subaru Forester: more power (136kW against 65kW) and the bigger boot with the seats up (496L against 308L).
The Verdict
Subaru Forester scores higher, 76 vs 67
The Subaru Forester scores 76 to the BYD Atto 1's 67 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 5 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: practicality (Subaru Forester ahead by 23 points), performance (Subaru Forester ahead by 22 points). Boot space with the seats up: 308L in the BYD Atto 1, 496L in the Subaru Forester. Warranty: 6 years on the BYD Atto 1, 5 on the Subaru Forester.
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 Subaru Forester?
The BYD Atto 1 is the cheapest at $23,990 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Subaru Forester by $22,000.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BYD Atto 1 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025) and Subaru Forester 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 Subaru Forester has the largest boot at 496L with the seats up (1,174L with the seats folded).
Which can tow the most?
The Subaru Forester has the highest braked towing capacity at 1,800kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The BYD Atto 1 has the longest warranty at 6 years / 150,000 km.
Which is the most powerful?
The Subaru Forester makes the most power at 136kW.
Track the BYD Atto 1 & Subaru Forester
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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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