Every day we move further away from the iconic two-seat ForTwos that Smart built its name on.
This is the Smart #5, the brand’s biggest model yet. It’s a midsize electric SUV that will go up against the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Peugeot e-3008 and Audi Q4.
When it goes on sale in late 2025, prices are likely to start from around £40,000. Top models will be more in the region of £50,000.
The Smart #5 lineup consists of Pro, Pro+, Pulse, Premium and a rugged Summit Edition. Besides the entry-level Pro, which gets a 76kWh battery, every #5 comes with a huge 100kWh battery. The upshot is a maximum range of 366 miles, which is impressive in isolation but merely middling in terms of rivals.
More noteworthy is its charging capacity. An 800V architecture for the 100kWh battery models enables a max charge rate of 400kW – faster than any charger in the UK at the time of writing. Plug into a 350kW charger, which you’ll actually find in the UK, and you’ll recoup 10-80% charge in 18 minutes. What’s more, there’s Vehicle-to-Load capability, allowing you to power other electricals from the car’s battery.
Pulse and Summit Edition cars get five off-road driving modes (Adaptive, Sand, Snow, Mud and Rock), while Pulse and upwards get a heat pump for better cold-weather efficiency. Summit Edition is aimed at 4x4 enthusiasts with a roof platform, electric tow hitch and a side ladder. The towing capacity is 1,600kg.
All models are quick off the line – even the Pro version offers 340hp and a sub-seven-second 0-62mph time. The 587hp Pulse and Summit Edition models drop that to 4.9 seconds. Across the range, top speed is 124mph. Rumours indicate a Brabus version with even more power and supercar-like acceleration is in the pipeline.
Inside, the #5 has more screens than a small-town cinema. Directly in front of the driver is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and then next to that are two (!) 13-inch screens – including one for the front passenger. Oh, and a 25.6-inch augmented-reality head-up display that you’ll have to look through to see the road ahead.
The touchscreens run a new infotainment system featuring an Unreal 3.0 engine – the sort of thing you’d find in open-world video games. There’s an AI-powered voice assistant, because of course there is, and Smart has enlisted a new on-screen assistant – a lion, instead of the fox in the #1.
It looks fairly compact in pictures, but the #5 is as near as makes no difference 4.7 metres long – the same as a Tesla Model Y (and many estate cars). That means passenger space should be generous, and the 630-litre boot looks to be the biggest in this sector. Additionally, a 72-litre frunk under the bonnet is big enough for a carry-on suitcase.
Can’t wait for the new Smart #5? Read our guide to the best electric SUVs to buy now or browse our entire selection of used electric cars to see what takes your fancy.
