The BYD Atto 1 arrived in Australia in November 2025, marking another contender in the competitive small EV segment. Now, this entry-level, affordable EV has secured a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, applicable to all variants. This score is based on testing conducted on its European counterpart, the BYD Dolphin Surf, which shares an identical safety specification.
Here’s the full breakdown of its scores and performance in the ANCAP safety tests for the complete context of the BYD EV’s 5-star rating.
Breaking down the safety scores of BYD Atto 1
Adult Occupant Protection | Score: 82% (33.19 out of 40)
In a nutshell, the BYD Atto 1 has a very safe cabin for you and your front-seat passenger in an accident. In most crash types – frontal offset, side impact, and the oblique pole test – protection for critical body areas like the head, chest, and pelvis was rated GOOD. However, in a full-width frontal crash, protection for the chest of a rear passenger was only MARGINAL.
In the case of a rear impact, the BYD Atto 1 got a perfect score for whiplash protection. It also has multi-collision braking (stops you from rolling after a crash) and doors/windows that stay operational if you end up in water – a clever and important safety feature.
There’s, however, no centre airbag. In a side impact, there’s a risk that the driver and front passenger could knock heads. The testers rated the prevention of this “far side” movement as only MARGINAL to POOR.
Child Occupant Protection | Score: 86% (42.44 out of 49)
This compact BYD electric hatchback could still be your next family car, thanks to its overall safety package for child occupants, too. In both frontal and side crashes, protection for the child dummies (6 and 10-year-olds) was consistently GOOD.
It scored full marks for its rear-seat ISOFIX and top tether anchor points. All the standard child seats they tested fit without a problem. The Atto 1 lost most of its points here for lacking one bit of safety tech (it’s a budget-friendly offering after all). It lacks Child Presence Detection, a high-tech (and potentially life-saving) feature that alerts you if a child is accidentally left in the car.
Vulnerable Road User Protection | Score: 76% (48.39 out of 63)
This is perhaps the weakest safety aspect of the BYD Atto 1. Although it has a variety of active systems to avoid incidents with other road users, the car’s upright and boxy design isn’t impact-friendly to them. A pedestrian’s head would get a MARGINAL to WEAK or even POOR level of protection if it hit the stiff parts around the base of the windscreen.
The Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) performed effectively to detect and avoid collisions with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists in most forward-moving scenarios, including when you’re turning. The AEB system does not work in reverse to prevent “backover” incidents with pedestrians.
It has a cyclist “anti-dooring” system in our market to prevent you from opening your door into a bike rider’s path, but it is not part of the standard kit.
Safety Assist | Score: 79% (14.27 out of 18)
The standard safety package of the BYD Atto 1 is well equipped with advanced driver assist tech, with the AEB proving its effectiveness in the previous tests. It works at highway speeds, in junctions (turning across traffic), and can even prevent head-on collisions. Performance is rated GOOD across the board.
It also comes with a Speed Assistance System that not only reads speed signs but can automatically adjust your cruise control to match the limit. A direct Driver Monitoring System is standard, which can detect if the driver is drowsy or distracted and warn you.
The more critical Emergency Lane Keeping system, which actively steers you back if you’re about to drift into oncoming traffic, only scored an ADEQUATE. It works, but there are better systems on the market, and in the same segment, too.
More: BYD Atto 1 set to become Australia’s most affordable EV
Standard safety equipment of BYD Atto 1
The BYD Atto 1 comes with a feature-rich suite of standard active safety tech. The key trade-offs are the lack of a centre airbag and blind spot monitoring, which are becoming common in its rivals.
- Dual Frontal, Side & Head Airbags
- Seat Belt Pre-tensioners (Front & Rear Outboard)
- Intelligent Seat Belt Reminders (All Seats)
- AEB (Car-to-Car, Junction & Crossing, & Vulnerable Road Users)
- Lane Keep Assist (LKA) & Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)
- Intelligent Speed Assistance (IACC)
- Driver Monitoring System (Direct)
- Multi-Collision Braking
- Cyclist Anti-Dooring System
- Door & Window Submergence Function
Who should consider the BYD Atto 1?
- The tech-savvy city commuter & urban family who often battle a lot of traffic
- The budget-conscious driver wanting top-shelf active safety like speed assist & comprehensive AEB
- Young families who want excellent child safety
More: BYD Atto 1 and Atto 2 prices detailed
What does ANCAP say about BYD Atto 1?
The ANCAP report of BYD Atto 1 tells us that it is a solid, modern, 5-star safe car that excels in some key areas but makes a few noticeable compromises to get there.
ANCAP CEO Carla Hoowerg stated this about the BYD Atto 1’s performance, Among this interesting mix of vehicles, it is positive to see the diminutive BYD ATTO 1 arrive with a five-star rating. We know occupants of smaller cars are at greater risk due to their physical size, so this rating helps reinforce the benchmark for other manufacturers.”
Final word about BYD Atto 1
The BYD Atto 1 is an attractive and sensible choice for the urban commuter or young family who does most of their driving in the city and suburbs. It’s a safe, tech-loaded, and practical EV hatchback that makes a lot of sense for the average Aussie household.
Comments
New Comment