BYD Atto 2 vs Kia Seltos

The BYD Atto 2 starts from $31,990 before on-road costs, while the Kia Seltos opens at $31,250. That makes the Kia Seltos the more affordable entry point by $740.

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 $35,189 and $34,375 respectively.

The BYD Atto 2 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Kia Seltos, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the BYD Atto 2 and Kia Seltos hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 82% for the BYD Atto 2 and 85% for the Kia Seltos.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Kia Seltos packs more ADAS features with 4 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 2 in the BYD Atto 2.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the BYD Atto 2 and 6 in the Kia Seltos.

The BYD Atto 2 features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, while the Kia Seltos gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Atto 2 stands out with Apple CarPlay that you will not find on the Kia Seltos. The Kia Seltos counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BYD Atto 2 runs a pure electric powertrain producing 130kW and 290Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Kia Seltos lines up making 110kW and 180Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.2 seconds.

The BYD Atto 2 has the clear power advantage at 130kW vs 110kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Atto 2 is 0.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BYD Atto 2 measures 4,310mm long on a 2,620mm wheelbase, 75mm shorter than the Kia Seltos at 4,385mm (2,630mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Kia Seltos generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 400L in the BYD Atto 2 and 312L in the Kia Seltos, giving the BYD Atto 2 a 88L advantage.

For towing, the Kia Seltos leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 6 years / 150,000km (BYD Atto 2) vs 7 years (Kia Seltos). The Kia Seltos has longer coverage.