It feels pretty responsive in bends, too; the front end bites well when you turn in, which gives you confidence to push harder, although you notice the softness in the suspension in the form of a bit of body lean if you really throw it around. 

On mucky or damp roads you’ll also find it’s quite easy to overwhelm the grip of the front tyres, and there’s quite a bit of kickback through the steering when you do; planting the throttle uphill can cause the nose to skip and the wheel to yank itself to one side, which isn’t particularly edifying. 

Yet this sort of use is extreme; for the most part, while it might be a stretch to call the Atto 3 fun, it’ll certainly take being hustled along a back lane without too much complaint. 

And at cruising speeds the suspension settles into a comfortable lope, while the motor provides more than enough get-up-and-go to take advantage of gaps in a congested outside lane of a motorway, which makes the Atto 3 a capable cross-country cruiser. 

The Telegraph verdict

This is essentially a car built around its battery. And with good reason; it’s an ingenious solution, after all. But on its own it wouldn’t be enough to secure a place at the top table. 

Fortunately, the rest of the Atto 3 is pretty good, too. It drives well, it’s generously equipped (with a few notable exceptions), it’s pretty roomy and it seems well built. Granted, the mildly loopy interior will be a deal-breaker for some, but there is a certain appeal in its quirkiness, its sense of humour – in the fact that it isn’t the usual slab of grey plastic. 

While not exceptional, then, this is nevertheless a solid all-rounder and a rather impressive entry to the market. And on the strength of this evidence, while it might be new to the British market, BYD isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Best make sure we get its name right from the start, in other words. 

The facts

On test: BYD Atto 3 Design

Body style: five-door SUV

On sale: now

How much? £38,990 on the road (range from £36,490)

How fast? 99mph, 0-62mph in 7.3sec

How economical? 4.0mpkWh (WLTP Combined)

Electric powertrain: AC permanent magnet synchronous motor with 60.5kWh battery, 88kW on-board charger, Type 2/CCS charging socket

Electric range: 260 miles (WLTP Combined)

Maximum power/torque: 201bhp/228lb ft

CO2 emissions: 0g/km (in use), 28g/km (well-to-wheel)

VED: £0

Warranty: 4 years / unlimited miles

Spare wheel as standard: no (not available)

The rivals

Kia Niro EV 3 with Heat Pump

201bhp, 285 miles, £40,445 on the road