BYD Atto 3 vs Mazda CX-5

The BYD Atto 3 starts from $39,990 before on-road costs, while the Mazda CX-5 opens at $39,990. Both land at the same RRP, so on-road costs and dealer deals become the real differentiator.

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 $43,989 and $43,989 respectively.

The BYD Atto 3 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Mazda CX-5, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the BYD Atto 3 and Mazda CX-5 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The BYD Atto 3 packs more ADAS features with 6 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 5 in the Mazda CX-5.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BYD Atto 3 and 6 in the Mazda CX-5.

The BYD Atto 3 features a 12.8-inch touchscreen, while the Mazda CX-5 gets a 12.9-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Atto 3 stands out with Dirac audio that you will not find on the Mazda CX-5. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BYD Atto 3 runs a pure electric powertrain producing 150kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a FWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.3 seconds.

The Mazda CX-5 lines up making 132kW and 242Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds.

The BYD Atto 3 has the clear power advantage at 150kW vs 132kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Atto 3 is 1.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BYD Atto 3 measures 4,455mm long on a 2,720mm wheelbase, 120mm shorter than the Mazda CX-5 at 4,575mm (2,700mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the BYD Atto 3 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 440L in the BYD Atto 3 and 522L in the Mazda CX-5, giving the Mazda CX-5 a 82L advantage.

For towing, the Mazda CX-5 leads with a 2,000kg braked capacity vs 1,500kg. That 500kg 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 3) vs 5 years (Mazda CX-5). The BYD Atto 3 has longer coverage.