BYD Atto 2 Premium vs Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard: 5-year cost to own (Singapore)

By Ivan H., EVCostIQ · reviewed against our public methodology · every source dated on this page

Over 5 years in Singapore (17,500 km/yr), as of August 6, 2026, the BYD Atto 2 Premium is cheaper — about S$123,408 over 5 years vs S$126,258 for the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard, a S$2,850 difference. In Singapore the EV usually wins on running cost (cheap electricity vs S$3.42/L petrol) while COE dominates both cars — we say so plainly.

COE is set by a biweekly auction and swings thousands of dollars — every figure here uses the S$124,790 (Cat A) / S$126,236 (Cat B) COE assumption. Confirm the current COE before you commit; it is the single biggest line in the price. Source: LTA registration-cost sheet, 2026-08-06.

EV Early Adoption Incentive: the EEAI (45% off ARF, capped S$7,500) is baked into the EV figures for 2026 registrations — and it sunsets 31 Dec 2026. Register a BEV from 2027 and it costs more. Source: LTA.

Cheaper to own over 5 years · SingaporeBYD Atto 2 Premium · S$123,408 total · S$2,850 less than the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard

BYD Atto 2 Premium vs Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard — where the money goes

5-year total cost of ownership by component, by vehicle (SGD). Estimates; sources dated in the methodology.
Cost component	Electric · BYD Atto 2 Premium	Petrol · Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6
Depreciation (estimated)	S$84,000 (68%)	S$79,500 (63%)
Charging / fuel	S$5,715 (5%)	S$19,152 (15%)
↳ of which charging loss	10% (~S$572)	—
Maintenance	S$3,500 (3%)	S$5,250 (4%)
Insurance	S$10,000 (8%)	S$8,000 (6%)
Financing interest	S$12,686 (10%)	S$10,647 (8%)
Registration & fees	S$7,508 (6%)	S$3,709 (3%)
Total cost of ownership	S$123,408	S$126,258

Electricity vs petrol — and why COE still rules

On running cost the BYD Atto 2 Premium is far cheaper — about S$5,715 of electricity over 5 years vs S$19,152 of petrol for the Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard (S$3.42/L is dear). But COE + ARF dominate both cars — around S$124,790 on the EV and S$151,346 on the petrol car — so the 5-year winner is decided mostly by price with COE and how much you recover at de-registration.

Where the money really goes — COE + ARF dwarf the fuel

The registered price with COE for the BYD Atto 2 Premium is S$166,888. COE + ARF alone are S$124,790 of that — many multiples of the electricity or petrol you'll ever buy. That is the honest story of Singapore car cost.

COE (quota licence): S$124,790biweekly auction · dominates the price
ARF (net of VES / EEAI): S$0gross S$22,850 − VES rebate S$22,500 − EEAI S$7,500
OMV (open-market value): S$22,036declared import value
Excise (20%) + GST (9%): S$6,787on OMV
Registration fee: S$350LTA flat
Dealer margin: S$12,925backed out of the retail price
Registered price (with COE): S$166,888what you pay to put it on the road
Recovered at de-registration (yr 5): S$82,888unused COE S$62,395 + PARF S$0 + residual value S$20,493

How depreciation works here: it is the registered "price with COE" minus what you get back at de-registration — the unused COE (rebatable over the 10-year licence), the PARF rebate (a capped % of ARF paid), and the car's remaining market value. Where a published Singapore depreciation figure exists (PaperValue / sgCarMart), we use it — the straight-line S$/yr buyers actually quote. That is why the S$100k+ upfront, not electricity or petrol, dominates the 5-year total. What you'd get back at deregistration (official PARF + COE rebate) →

BYD Atto 2 Premium vs Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Standard, side by side

Electric Lower 5-yr cost