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BYD ATTO 3 (2023-2026) vs VW ID.5
Selected trimComfort · 2023-26Change trim261 mi · 60.48 kWh · £36,990
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD ATTO 3 counters with the lowest price, while the VW ID.5 leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the VW ID.5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.9p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.5 wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueVW
BYD
5.6
VW
7.4
Motorway RangeVW
BYD
4.1
VW
6.7
FamilyVW
BYD
6.9
VW
8.3
ChargingVW
BYD
2.1
VW
5.7
Cost Per MileVW
BYD
6.2
VW
7.5
City Driving
BYD
6.6
VW
6.3
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
VW ID.5
Pro Essential
- 91 miles more WLTP range
- 99 litres more boot space
- 77 kW faster rapid charging
- 60 kW more power
- 250 kg more towing capacity
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD ATTO 3Comfort (2023-26) | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £36,990 (better) | £36,995 |
| Official range | 261 miles | 352 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 440 L | 539 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 35 min | 29 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 7.3 sec | 6.7 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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BYD ATTO 3
VW ID.5
Length
BYD ATTO 34,455mm-144mm
VW ID.54,599mm
Width
BYD ATTO 31,875mm
VW ID.51,852mm-23mm
Height
BYD ATTO 31,615mm-3mm
VW ID.51,618mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | BYD ATTO 3Comfort (2023-26) | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,455 mm | 4,599 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,875 mm | 1,852 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,075 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,615 mm | 1,618 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.4 m | 10.2 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 525 mm spare | 548 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | BYD ATTO 3Comfort (2023-26) | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | 3 | Not available |
| Boot space (seats up) | 440 L | 539 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1338 L | Not available |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | 1,000 kg (better) |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
BYD ATTO 3
- Uses 147 Wh/km on the WLTP cycle, more efficient than 90% of SUVs we track.
- One of 34 of 233 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- 10.4 m turning circle, tighter than 85% of SUVs in our database.
VW ID.5
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD ATTO 3 Comfort (2023-26) |  VW ID.5 Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.46m | 4.60m+144mm |
| Width | 1.88m | 1.85m-23mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.08m | Not available |
| Height | 1.61m | 1.62m+3mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.72m | 2.77m+51mm |
| Ground Clearance | 180mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 440L | 539L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1338L | Not available |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.4m | 10.2m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 1,750kg (better) | 2,128kg |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | 1,000kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 60.48kWh | 79kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 261 mi | 352 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 88kW | 165kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £36,990 (better) | £36,995 |
| Price after EV grant | £36,990 (not eligible) | £35,495 (-£1,500) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2023–2026 | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD ATTO 3Comfort (2023-26) | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 261 miles | 352 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 213 miles | 293 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 35 min | 29 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 88 kW | 165 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 147 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 60.5 kWh | 79 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Standard | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | BYD ATTO 3Comfort (2023-26) | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7.3 sec | 6.7 sec (better) |
| Power | 150 kW | 210 kW (better) |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 545 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
BYD ATTO 3
Comfort (2023-26)
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
VW ID.5
Pro Essential
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - BYD ATTO 3 Comfort (2023-26)
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant91%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users69%
Safety Assist74%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - VW ID.5 Pro Essential
Tested 2021
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist85%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | BYD ATTO 3Comfort (2023-26) | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 250,000 km (better) | 160,934 km |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
BYD ATTO 3
Comfort (2023-26)
Owners love
- Owners and testers praise the generous standard equipment, including a panoramic roof, heat pump and extensive safety kit.
- The interior design is distinctive and the cabin roomy, so it works well as a family car.
- The ride is comfortable and soaks up bumpy roads.
Watch out for
- Real-world range is closer to 200 miles than the official 260.
- Rapid charging peaks at under 90 kW, slower than many rivals.
- The driving experience is soft, with body roll, light steering and weak regenerative braking.
Owner tips
- Expect about 200 miles in mixed driving and plan longer trips around rapid chargers.
- Get insurance quotes from several providers before you buy.
VW ID.5
Pro Essential
Owners love
- Owners praise the design, interior quality and the roomy rear with no centre tunnel.
- It is easy to live with as a first EV, with a comfortable ride and low servicing costs.
- The adjustable regenerative braking works well for everyday driving.
Watch out for
- Touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel and dashboard are easy to press by accident.
- Some owners report app problems, such as wrong charge or range readings when used with smart chargers.
- One owner reports key fob batteries draining within about a month.
Owner tips
- Test the touch controls carefully on the test drive.
- Set charging schedules in the car rather than through several apps at once.
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD ATTO 3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
BYD ATTO 3
- £20,1992024Car360View
- £19,9812024Car360View
- £19,3642024Car360View
VW ID.5
No active listings.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BYD ATTO 3 or the VW ID.5?
The BYD ATTO 3 is £5 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £152 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the two land within £35 of each other - effectively the same to own. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the BYD ATTO 3 and VW ID.5 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 213 miles for the BYD ATTO 3 and 293 miles for the VW ID.5 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.5 goes roughly 80 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 29-35 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the BYD ATTO 3 or the VW ID.5?
The two are within 23 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.5 and about 525 mm of total clearance for the BYD ATTO 3.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the BYD ATTO 3 or the VW ID.5?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 92% battery health for the BYD ATTO 3 and 84% for the VW ID.5. That gives the BYD ATTO 3 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The BYD ATTO 3's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the VW ID.5's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More BYD ATTO 3 comparisons
More VW ID.5 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the BYD ATTO 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the best family EVsWhere the BYD ATTO 3 and VW ID.5 rank among EVs under £40,000Where the BYD ATTO 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the BYD ATTO 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the BYD ATTO 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the best city EVsWhere the BYD ATTO 3 and VW ID.5 rank among the cheapest EVs to run
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used BYD Atto 3 (2023 on): Warranty, Charging & What to Pay
A used BYD Atto 3 buyer’s guide: the original 60 kWh car vs the 2026 Atto 3 EVO, BYD’s long warranty, slow rapid charging, insurance, what owners report, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used VW ID.5 (2022 on): Pro, Pro Performance or GTX, Software, Range & What to Check
A used VW ID.5 buyer’s guide: Pro 174 PS, Pro Performance and GTX vs the 2024-on 286 PS Pro, the software issues and updates, the heat pump, warranty left, the door-handle recall, real-world range, what to pay vs new with the grant, and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .