BYD Atto 3 vs Mitsubishi ASX (petrol): 5-year cost to own (NZ)
Over 5 years in New Zealand (14,000 km/yr), as of July 9, 2026, the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) stays the cheaper car to own — about $48,309 vs $61,253 for the BYD Atto 3, a $12,944 difference over 5 years.
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 · NZMitsubishi ASX (petrol) · $48,309 total · $12,944 less than the BYD Atto 3
BYD Atto 3 vs Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) — where the money goes
| Cost component | Electric · BYD Atto 3 | Petrol · Mitsubishi ASX |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $30,734 (50%) | $15,355 (32%) |
| Charging / fuel | $5,625 (9%) | $15,800 (33%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$675) | — |
| Maintenance | $2,247 (4%) | $4,501 (9%) |
| Insurance | $7,000 (11%) | $6,335 (13%) |
| Financing interest | $9,402 (15%) | $5,452 (11%) |
| Registration & fees | $6,245 (10%) | $865 (2%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $61,253 | $48,309 |
When does the BYD Atto 3 win?
The Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) wins decisively here — $12,944 cheaper over 5 years; at typical assumptions this isn't a close call.
Only heavy drivers flip this one: the BYD Atto 3 needs more than about 28,500 km/yr to beat the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol).
What decides the BYD Atto 3 vs Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) verdict
One line outweighs everything else here: depreciation. It costs $30,734 on the BYD Atto 3 against $15,355 on the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) — a $15,379 swing to the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol), bigger than the $12,944 that separates the two 5-year totals. On the BYD Atto 3, depreciation alone is 50% of its $61,253 total; on the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) it is 32% of $48,309.
- Energy: $5,625 of charging for the BYD Atto 3 vs $15,800 of petrol for the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) — $10,175 the other way, to the BYD Atto 3.
- Registration & fees: BYD Atto 3 $6,245, Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) $865 — $5,380 more in the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol)'s favor.
- Financing interest: BYD Atto 3 $9,402, Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) $5,452 — $3,950 more in the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol)'s favor.
Energy is the BYD Atto 3's strong suit: $10,175 back, 79% of the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol)'s lead — just not enough to turn it. At the dealer the BYD Atto 3 starts $21,000 behind the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol); running costs claw back $8,056 of that, but the Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) still ends $12,944 ahead. The Mitsubishi ASX (petrol) is ahead by $5,785 after the first year and more than doubles that lead — $12,944 by year 5.
BYD Atto 3 vs Mitsubishi ASX (petrol), side by side
BYD Atto 3
- 5-yr total cost
- $61,253
- Cost / month
- $1,021
- Cost / km
- $0.88
- Starting price
- $52,990
- Powertrain
- Electric
- Efficiency
- 16 kWh/100km
Mitsubishi ASX (petrol)
- 5-yr total cost
- $48,309
- Cost / month
- $805
- Cost / km
- $0.69
- Starting price
- $31,990
- Powertrain
- Petrol
- Efficiency
- 7.6 L/100km
- NZ electricity
- 34.00c/kWh EA / MBIE
- Petrol (NZ)
- $2.97/L MBIE