The hurdle for getting started with electric drives is becoming ever smaller.
And as fuel prices rise, the affordable end of the electric spectrum could become even more attractive to Australian families looking to go easy on their wallets.
So let’s compare two of the most affordable battery-powered small SUVs – the Chery E5 and the Atto 3 WORLD – to see who comes out on top.
How much?
The Chery E5 (formerly known as the Chery Omoda E5) is available in two model grades – the entry-level Urban, which costs $36,990 plus on-road costs, and the flagship Ultimate, which commands a premium of $4,000.
| Model | Price before travel costs/fare |
|---|---|
|
BYD Atto 3 Premium |
$44,990 |
|
Chery E5 Ultimate |
$40,990 |
The data in this table is correct at the time of publication and is not dynamically updated.
Likewise, BYD only offers two versions of the Atto 3: the entry-level Essential, which costs $39,990 plus on-road, and the top-of-the-line Premium, which costs $44,990 plus ORCs. An updated version of the Atto 3 will be released later this year.
Until then, the Chery is the cheaper option here, no matter what level you’re aiming for today. And from now on we will compare both fully equipped model classes.
What do you get?
As new challenger brands to the established players, both Chery and BYD offer a lot for the relatively little effort required to get started with these two small electric SUVs.
The flagship variants of each model come with a variety of standard equipment including:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights and taillights
- Electric tailgate
- Panoramic sunroof
- Faux leather trim
- Electrically adjustable front seats
- Heated front seats
- Wireless phone charger
- Smartphone mirroring
- Bluetooth connectivity
- DAB+ digital radio
- Audio system with 8 speakers
However, the Chery E5 goes a step further than the BYD Atto 3 in some key areas. While the BYD only has normal single-zone air conditioning, the E5 has dual-zone automatic climate control as well as heated outer seats in the rear and a heated steering wheel.
When it comes to their digital ads, they each take a slightly different approach. The Chery E5 has two 12.3-inch screens connected across the dashboard, while the BYD Atto 3 has a smaller 5.0-inch instrument cluster but a larger 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen that can be rotated between portrait and landscape orientation.
Are you sure?
Both vehicles received a maximum ANCAP rating of five stars in their first test in 2022, but they achieve their highest safety standards in different ways.
| category | Atto 3 WORLD | Chery E5 |
|---|---|---|
| Protection for adults | 91.0 percent | 87.0 percent |
| Passenger protection for children | 84.0 percent | 88.0 percent |
| Protection of vulnerable road users | 69.0 percent | 68.0 percent |
| Security assistant | 80.0 percent | 83.0 percent |
The data in this table is continually updated by our backend systems to ensure accuracy and consistency. Last updated: March 29, 2026.
The Chery performs better in child occupant protection (88 versus 84 percent) and safety assistant (83 versus 80 percent), while the BYD performs better in adult occupant protection (91 versus 87 percent) and in protecting vulnerable road users (69 versus 68 percent).
Both are equipped with a comprehensive package of advanced active and passive safety systems and driver assistance systems, including:
- 7 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keeping assistant
- Rear cross traffic warning with automatic braking
- Blind spot monitoring
- Parking sensors front and rear
- 360 degree cameras
How are they inside?
This is where these cars differ the most, not in terms of space and practicality, but in terms of design and appearance.
Both the Chery E5 and the BYD Atto 3 are physically roughly the same size. The E5 is 4424 mm long, has a wheelbase of 2610 mm, is 1588 mm wide and 1830 mm high.
In comparison, the Atto 3 is slightly longer at 4455mm (and is officially classified as a mid-size SUV despite being much shorter than most of them), has slightly more space between the front and rear axles with a longer wheelbase of 2720mm, and is wider (1875mm) but sits lower (1615mm).
Both offer space for five people with good headroom and decent cargo capacity. Chery says the E5 has 300 liters of boot space (measured to the boot cover), while BYD says the Atto 3 has 440 liters – which is presumably measured to the roof.
However, since the Atto 3 is based on a dedicated EV platform while the E5 adopted the conventional architecture, rear passengers will find slightly more space, a flatter floor and easier access in the BYD than in the Chery.
Practicalities aside, however, the E5’s interior design is far more appealing and refined than the strange swoops, toothy grilles, awkward door handles and strange banjo-string door pockets of the Atto 3. It’s a polarizing interior that you’ll either love or loathe.
The Chery’s overall aesthetic is more conservative and pleasant.
| Dimensions | 2025 BYD Atto 3 Premium | 2025 Chery E5 Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| length | 4455mm | 4424mm |
| Width | 1875mm | 1830mm |
| Height | 1615mm | 1588mm |
| wheelbase | 2720mm | 2610mm |
| Loading capacity | 440 L | 300 L |
The data in this table is continually updated by our backend systems to ensure accuracy and consistency. Last updated: March 29, 2026.
What’s under the hood?
As far as their mechanical makeup goes, there isn’t much to differentiate between these two.
| Specifications |
2025 BYD Atto 3 Premium |
2025 Chery E5 Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 150 kW at 4620 rpm |
155kW |
| Torque | 310 Nm at 0 rpm |
288 Nm |
| Drive type | front | front |
| battery | 60.48 | 61.10 |
| Weight | 1750kg | 1776kg |
| 0-100 km/h (claimed) | 7.3 | 7.2 |
| Claimed area | 420 | 430 |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | 14.9 kWh/100 km | 13.0 kWh/100 km |
| Max. AC charging rate | 7.00kW | 6.60kW |
| Max. AC charging rate | 7.00kW | 6.60kW |
| Max. DC charging rate | 88.00kW | 80.00 kW |
| Motor | – | – |
| transmission | Automatically | Automatically |
| Fuel consumption (claimed) | – | – |
| Fuel tank capacity | – | – |
| Fuel tank capacity | – | – |
| CO2 emissions | 0g/km | 0g/km |
| Emissions standard | ZEV | ZEV |
| payload | – | – |
| Braked towing capacity | 750kg | – |
| Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) | 2160kg | 2246 kg |
The data in this table is correct at the time of publication and is not dynamically updated.
Manually updated: This data is correct at the time of publication and is not dynamically updated.
Both feature a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor under the hood that drives the front wheels via a single-speed reduction gear, and are powered by a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.
The Chery E5 produces 155 kW of power and 288 Nm of torque, and its battery has a usable capacity of 58.9 kWh. Maximum charging power is 6.6kW from a single-phase AC home socket, 9.9-10.3kW from three-phase power (both with the integrated 11kW/22kW AC charger) and 130kW from a DC fast charger.
Chery says the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes via the CCS2 port and that the E5 can offer a total range of up to 430 km.
The BYD Atto 3, on the other hand, produces slightly less power (150 kW) but more torque (310 Nm) and has a slightly larger battery at 60.5 kWh but lower charging rates of 7 kW on AC and 88 kW on DC.
According to BYD, the battery can be charged to 30-80 percent in about 30 minutes and offers a range of up to 420 km – 10 km less than the Chery.
Operating costs
BYD has pretty good after-sales arrangements, including a six-year, 150,000 km warranty on the vehicle and an eight-year, 160,000 km warranty on the battery, as well as free roadside assistance for the first 12 months.
| Maintenance and warranty | 2025 BYD Atto 3 Premium | 2025 Chery E5 Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| guarantee | 6 years / 150,000 km | 7 years / Unlimited km |
| Roadside assistance | 12 Months / Unlimited Miles | 12 Months / Unlimited Miles |
| Service intervals | 12 months / 20,000 km | 12 months / 20,000 km |
| Service at top prices |
Up to 11 years |
Up to 7 years |
| Total service costs at the maximum price |
$2291 – 7 years |
$1586 – 7 years |
The data in this table is continually updated by our backend systems to ensure accuracy and consistency. Last updated: March 29, 2026.
Manually updated: This data is correct at the time of publication and is not dynamically updated.
This can be extended each time the vehicle is serviced by a BYD dealer at recommended intervals of 12 months or 20,000 km (whichever comes first). Service prices vary from $165 for minor inspections to $635 for larger jobs, totaling $2,291 for the first seven years.
Chery offers greater peace of mind with a seven-year, unlimited mileage warranty on the vehicle and eight years, unlimited mileage on the battery. It also offers free roadside assistance for the first year of ownership, which can be extended up to seven years each time the vehicle is serviced through the Chery network. The maintenance intervals are the same as for the BYD – 12 months or 20,000 km.
Service costs vary from $149 for check-ups to $582 for major maintenance at 120,000 km and amount to $1,586 for the first seven years.
Daily Sparkz’s choice: Chery E5
From a physical perspective, there is very little that separates these two cars.
Both small electric SUVs represent affordable and practical entry points into the world of electric vehicles. They offer spacious cabins full of technology and amenities while offering decent performance and a usable range.
But the Chery offers all that for less money, and so it comes out on top here.
Click on the images to go to the full gallery
MORE: Discover the BYD Atto 3 showroom
MORE: Explore the Chery E5 showroom
