BYD Atto 2 vs Kia Seltos (petrol): 5-year cost to own (NZ)
Over 5 years in New Zealand (14,000 km/yr), as of July 9, 2026, the BYD Atto 2 is cheaper from day one — about $51,444 over 5 years vs $55,061 for the Kia Seltos (petrol), a $3,617 difference.
No EV purchase rebate in NZ (the Clean Car Discount ended Dec 2023), and EVs now pay Road User Charges (~NZ$76/1,000 km). Both are reflected honestly — the RUC is included in the totals above. Source: NZTA.
Cheaper to own over 5 years · NZBYD Atto 2 · $51,444 total · $3,617 less than the Kia Seltos (petrol)
BYD Atto 2 vs Kia Seltos (petrol) — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · BYD Atto 2 | Petrol · Kia Seltos |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $23,194 (45%) | $20,506 (37%) |
| Charging / fuel | $5,801 (11%) | $15,384 (28%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$696) | — |
| Maintenance | $2,247 (4%) | $4,501 (8%) |
| Insurance | $7,000 (14%) | $6,335 (12%) |
| Financing interest | $6,957 (14%) | $7,470 (14%) |
| Registration & fees | $6,245 (12%) | $865 (2%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $51,444 | $55,061 |
When does the BYD Atto 2 win?
The BYD Atto 2 edges it — a real $3,617 saving over 5 years, though small enough that your own annual distance and home tariff decide it.
At 14,000 km/yr the BYD Atto 2 is already the cheaper car — drive more or keep it longer and its lead grows.
What decides the BYD Atto 2 vs Kia Seltos (petrol) verdict
One line outweighs everything else here: energy. It costs $5,801 of charging for the BYD Atto 2 against $15,384 of petrol for the Kia Seltos (petrol) — a $9,583 swing to the BYD Atto 2, bigger than the $3,617 that separates the two 5-year totals. On the BYD Atto 2, energy alone is 11% of its $51,444 total; on the Kia Seltos (petrol) it is 28% of $55,061.
- Registration & fees: BYD Atto 2 $6,245, Kia Seltos (petrol) $865 — $5,380 the other way, to the Kia Seltos (petrol).
- Depreciation: BYD Atto 2 $23,194, Kia Seltos (petrol) $20,506 — $2,688 the other way, to the Kia Seltos (petrol).
- Maintenance: BYD Atto 2 $2,247, Kia Seltos (petrol) $4,501 — $2,254 more in the BYD Atto 2's favor.
The Kia Seltos (petrol)'s best answer is registration & fees, $5,380 back the other way — more than the final $3,617 gap on its own, but the remaining rows pull the verdict back to the BYD Atto 2. The Kia Seltos (petrol) starts $2,731 behind the BYD Atto 2 at the dealer, and ownership widens it — the 5-year gap grows to $3,617. The BYD Atto 2 is ahead from the first year — $914 after year 1 — and finishes year 5 with the full $3,617 lead; the cumulative lines never cross.
BYD Atto 2 vs Kia Seltos (petrol), side by side
BYD Atto 2
- 5-yr total cost
- $51,444
- Cost / month
- $857
- Cost / km
- $0.74
- Starting price
- $39,990
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 16.5 kWh/100km
Kia Seltos (petrol)
- 5-yr total cost
- $55,061
- Cost / month
- $918
- Cost / km
- $0.79
- Starting price
- $42,721
- Powertrain
- Petrol
- Efficiency
- 7.4 L/100km
- NZ electricity
- 34.00c/kWh EA / MBIE
- Petrol (NZ)
- $2.97/L MBIE