BYD Atto 3 vs Renault Arkana

The BYD Atto 3 starts from $39,990 before on-road costs, while the Renault Arkana 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 Renault Arkana, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

Both the BYD Atto 3 and Renault Arkana hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 82% for the BYD Atto 3 and 96% for the Renault Arkana.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 6 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

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 Renault Arkana.

The BYD Atto 3 features a 12.8-inch touchscreen, while the Renault Arkana gets a 9.3-inch display and 7-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BYD Atto 3 stands out with Apple CarPlay and Dirac audio that you will not find on the Renault Arkana. The Renault Arkana counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging and power tailgate. 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 Renault Arkana lines up making 105kW and 205Nm, paired to a automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 9.4 seconds.

The BYD Atto 3 has the clear power advantage at 150kW vs 105kW. In the real-world sprint, the BYD Atto 3 is 2.1s 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, 113mm shorter than the Renault Arkana at 4,568mm (2,720mm wheelbase).

Boot space is 440L in the BYD Atto 3 and 430L in the Renault Arkana, giving the BYD Atto 3 a 10L advantage.

For towing, the BYD Atto 3 leads with a 1,500kg braked capacity vs 1,200kg. That 300kg 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 (Renault Arkana). The BYD Atto 3 has longer coverage.