Smart #1 review

The Smart #1 represents the start of a radical new era for a company best known for those tiny two-seat city cars you see taking advantage of impossibly small parking spaces.

A few years ago, Smart’s original owner, Mercedes, signed a 50/50 partnership with Chinese car maker Geely to reinvent the brand as an electric car specialist with an entirely new line-up of models.

The Smart #1 – which you're supposed to call the “Smart Hashtag One” – is the first product of the joint venture. As you can probably tell from the photos, it's not another tiny city car. In fact, this electric SUV is a similar size to, for example, the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Jeep Avenger.

But does the Smart #1 deserve to become as popular as a viral tweet? Or is it as bang on trend as MySpace? That's what we'll tell you in this review.

Read on and we'll tell you how it stacks up against the best electric car rivals in all the important areas. Or, if you're interested in a sleeker, coupé version of the model, see our Smart #3 review.

The entry-level Smart #1 has a 268bhp electric motor driving its rear wheels and is quicker than any of its direct rivals. It can officially do 0-62mph in a zippy 6.7 seconds, but in our tests it sprinted from 0-60mph in just 5.8 seconds.

For context, the similarly priced BYD Atto 3, Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV took around 7.5 seconds, while the Jeep Avenger and the Peugeot e-2008 took around 8.5 seconds.

The performance-focused Brabus version adds a second electric motor driving the front wheels. That gives it four-wheel drive and a big jump in power to 422bhp. The 0-62mph time drops dramatically to 3.9 seconds, so it's as fast as an Audi RS3. It feels brutally quick and builds speed so effortlessly it's hilarious.

For similar pace among electric SUVs, you’ll need to look at the Kia EV6 GT or the Tesla Model Y Performance – and both those options are way more expensive.

Whichever version you go for, the #1 gets a 62kWh (usable capacity) battery. That gives the Pro+ model an official range of 260 miles, while the Premium – which has a slightly more efficient motor – can officially manage 273 miles.

In our real range test a #1 Premium travelled 245 miles before running out of juice – that’s 30 miles further than the Atto 3 went on the same day. However, it’s worth noting that in colder weather conditions, the Premium returned a lower calculated real-world range of around 190 miles.

The #1 Brabus, which is heavier, has an official range of 248 miles, but we suspect you’ll see more like 170 to 210 miles in normal driving. Impressively, the #1 can tow up to 1,600kg, the same as our electric Tow Car of the Year, the Kia EV6.

Relatively firm suspension makes for a slightly choppy low-speed ride, but on faster A-roads and motorways, the #1 settles down and rides more smoothly than most rivals, including the Atto 3, the Kona Electric, the Avenger and the e-2008. 

The #1 feels more alert and sportier than those cars at low speeds too. The steering is well-judged, with a natural response and a reassuring amount of weighting in the heavier of its three driving modes.

Body lean is well controlled and a high level of grip means you have to push it hard through a series of bends to make it lose any of its composure.

Refinement is good, with a touch more road noise on the motorway than you hear in a Kona Electric or e-2008, but wind noise is similarly well contained. The occasional suspension thump at low speeds disturbs the peace inside, but there’s less electric motor whine than in a Kona Electric.

The braking is the only real weak spot, with the sharp brake pedal causing it to slow quickly with even a light touch.

You can also slow down through regenerative braking, with the stronger of the two settings able to bring the car to a halt. However, the delayed and inconsistent response takes some getting used to when you lift off the accelerator pedal, making for jerky progress.

The Brabus version hasn't been given a huge mechanical makeover, just a whole lot more power. It remains pretty agile for an electric SUV at low speeds, but the tyres can feel overwhelmed when you make full use of the power – especially in the most aggressive Brabus drive mode.

Meanwhile, the #1 Brabus's suspension struggles to contain body movements as it pitches back and forth when you press on. Sportier petrol-powered SUVs – such as the VW T-Roc R – handle with far more finesse.

Driving overview

Strengths Good high-speed ride comfort; agile handling; quick performance 

Weaknesses Efficiency could be better; Brabus version lacks composure

By SUV standards, you don't sit far from the road in the Smart #1, but otherwise the driving position is tough to fault. There’s plenty of steering and electric seat adjustment (including adjustable lumbar support) to help you get comfortable, and the seat supports you in all the right places.

Visibility is good, thanks to upright, slender windscreen pillars and a low dashboard. You get a clearer view over your shoulder and out of the back than in a Peugeot e-2008, thanks to larger side windows and a taller rear windscreen.

Impressively, all versions of the #1 come with front and rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree bird's eye view camera to help with parking.

The 9.2in digital instrument panel looks quite narrow, but it’s bright, crisp and easy to read with all the information you need. Premium and Brabus versions have a head-up display that projects your speed and other information on to the windscreen in your line of sight.

A big 12.8in touchscreen infotainment system sits in the middle of the dashboard. On the plus side, the screen is very responsive to touch inputs, you can play games on it, and there's a pet mode so you can leave an animal in the car without it getting dangerously hot (Teslas offer the same function).

However, you have to use the touchscreen (or the hit-and-miss voice control) to adjust the air-con.

We'd prefer physical controls, like the ones you get in the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Jeep Avenger, and it's also a faff that you have to use the screen to adjust the door mirrors. As a result, this can be more distracting to use while driving.

A fox avatar can follow you around from menu to menu and may prove annoying, but you can avoid it for the most part by using the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. A punchier Beats sound system is standard on Premium and Brabus models.

The #1's interior quality impresses. There are plenty of soft-touch materials, and while there's also a lot of hard plastic, it's of a good quality and feels upmarket – like the kind you might find on a high-end Apple product.

Meanwhile, ambient lighting in the air vents and around the dashboard brighten up the interior at night.

The entry-level Pro model has artificial leather seats, while the Premium gets genuine leather. Meanwhile, the Brabus version has grippy faux-suede upholstery.

Interior overview

Strengths High-quality interior; great visibility; crisp displays

Weaknesses Some basic features are hidden in the infotainment system

There’s plenty of head and leg room up front for 6ft adults, and despite the Smart #1's minimalist interior look, there are plenty of storage compartments. In the back, you’ll find a surprisingly decent amount of head room (enough for six-footers), and leg room is good too.

It edges the BYD Atto 3, the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia Niro EV in that respect, and feels far less confined than inside a Jeep Avenger or a Peugeot e-2008. The flat floor (common to most electric SUVs) makes life relatively comfy for someone sitting in the middle seat.

The rear seatback splits and folds down in a 60/40 split, rather than the more versatile 40/20/40 layout of the Kona Electric seats. At least there's a ski hatch in the middle so you can poke long items through between two passengers.

Unusually at this price point, the #1 has sliding and reclining rear seats so you can juggle between boot space and rear-seat comfort.

Rather less impressive is the boot. We managed to fit in just three carry-on suitcases below the load cover – or four with the back seats slid forwards – compared with five in the Avenger and the e-2008, six in the Atto 3 and the Kona Electric, and seven in the Niro EV.

That doesn't tell the whole story, though. There's also a useful amount of underfloor storage (plenty for the charging cables), plus a small front boot, although it's roughly the size of a lunchbox. A powered tailgate is standard.

Practicality overview

Strengths Spacious for all occupants; versatile rear seats

Weaknesses Tiny boot

The Smart #1 isn't as cheap as an MG4 EV or an MG ZS EV but it does undercut some key rivals, including the BYD Atto 3 and the Kia Niro EV. It's predicted to hang on to its value fairly well too, faring much better than the Peugeot e-2008, although expect slightly faster depreciation than with a Kona Electric or Niro EV.

There are two main trims for the regular #1 – called Pro+ and Premium.

Entry-level Pro+ is really well equipped, with dual-zone climate control, heated seats, adaptive cruise control, a sunroof and keyless entry.

However, we reckon our preferred Premium trim is worth paying extra for because it adds a heat pump (for more efficient warming of the interior), matrix LED headlights and a head-up display.

The Brabus version adds some sporty styling touches, including bonnet vents, red brake calipers and seatbelts, and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.

The #1 was awarded the full five-star rating by safety experts at Euro NCAP when they tested it in 2022. What’s also very impressive is the fact that you get lots of safety equipment as standard, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and front and rear cross-traffic alert. Some car brands save their best safety equipment for the range-topping trim level.

A 150kW maximum charging speed means the #1 can get a 10-80% top-up in as little as 27 minutes. You'd be waiting about 45 minutes for the same charge in an Atto 3, Kona Electric or Niro EV.

Every #1 comes with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, while the battery has its own eight years/125,000 miles warranty. To help minimise running costs, a service package covers the initial three years or 30,000 miles and includes wear-and-tear items such as brake pads and windscreen wipers (but not tyres).

Costs overview

Strengths Well equipped; competitive price; fast charging capability; generous safety equipment

Weaknesses Nothing major, but the warranty period could be longer

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