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BYD ATTO 3 vs VW ID.5
Selected trimEVO Design RWDChange trim317 mi · 74.8 kWh · £38,990
At a glance
In this comparison, BYD ATTO 3 stays competitive across the board, 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
5.9
VW
7.4
Motorway RangeVW
BYD
5.1
VW
6.7
FamilyVW
BYD
5
VW
8.3
ChargingVW
BYD
5.1
VW
5.7
Cost Per MileVW
BYD
6.2
VW
7.5
City Driving
BYD
6.5
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
- £1,995 cheaper
- 35 miles more WLTP range
- 99 litres more boot space
- 250 kg more towing capacity
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | BYD ATTO 3EVO Design RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £38,990 | £36,995 (better) |
| Official range | 317 miles | 352 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 440 L | 539 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 35 min | 29 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 5.5 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
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 3EVO Design RWD | 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 3EVO Design RWD | 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 95% of SUVs we track.
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- 10.4 m turning circle, tighter than 90% of SUVs in our database.
VW ID.5
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  BYD ATTO 3 EVO Design RWD |  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 | 74.8kWh | 79kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 317 mi | 352 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 220kW (better) | 165kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £38,990 | £36,995 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £38,990 (not eligible) | £35,495 (-£1,500) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2026+ | 2026+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | BYD ATTO 3EVO Design RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 317 miles | 352 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 263 miles | 293 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 35 min | 29 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 220 kW (better) | 165 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Energy consumption | 147 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 74.8 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 3EVO Design RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 5.5 sec (better) | 6.7 sec |
| Power | 230 kW (better) | 210 kW |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 545 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | RWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
BYD ATTO 3
EVO Design RWD
VW ID.5
Pro Essential
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
BYD ATTO 3
All 3 videos
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 - 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 3EVO Design RWD | VW ID.5Pro Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 250,000 km (better) | 160,934 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
BYD ATTO 3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the BYD ATTO 3 worth the extra £1,995 over the VW ID.5?
The BYD ATTO 3 costs £1,995 more than the VW ID.5. For that premium it adds 55 kW faster peak rapid charging and a 1.2s quicker 0-62mph time. The VW ID.5 is not just cheaper - it also offers 35 miles more WLTP range and 99 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the VW ID.5 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the BYD ATTO 3 or the VW ID.5?
The VW ID.5 is £1,995 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 VW ID.5 comes out roughly £2,035 cheaper overall. 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 263 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 30 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 90% 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 long-range EVsWhere 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 EVs
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 .