Smart #1 Review 2025

Mention Smart in an automotive context and most people will think of the Fortwo city car. It was great in the right circumstances, but too many would-be customers felt offered an insufficient amount of car for the money. To brand loyalists dismay, those tiny two-seaters are now history — the future is small electric SUV-shaped. Find out how good its first is with our full Smart #1 review.

For those who feel like Smart’s abandoned its city car heartland, let’s deal with an inconvenient truth — twenty years ago, the brand’s then whole owner Mercedes started development work on a Smart-badged SUV before canning the project due to a perceived lack of demand.

In more recent times these compact SUVs have gained huge popularity and their tall bodywork allows plenty of space beneath passengers’ feet to install battery packs for the electric drive systems. So, now 50:50 co-owned with the Chinese manufacturer Geely, the #1 represents a new, SUV-themed future for the brand.

And yes, #1 is spoken as ‘hashtag one’.

Under the Mercedes/Geely partial parentage, economies of scale mean that other electric models can be spun off the same underpinnings, spreading out the cost of development. Although they share no bodywork or interior fixtures, the Smart #1 shares is batteries and motors with another Geely-owned model — the Volvo EX30.

In the fiercely competitive compact battery-power SUV market, the EX30’s arguably the #1’s toughest competitor, but these close cousins don’t have everything to themselves. There’s the sportier image portrayed by the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica to contend with, which is a theme shared by another of the Smart’s rivals — the MINI Aceman.

Not everyone is looking for sportiness, of course, which is why for those more concerned with efficiency and practicality in a stylishly value-focused package, the Kia EV3 is likely to appeal strongly. If an SUV bodywork has to be synonymous with a degree of go-anywhere credibility, then the Jeep Avenger Electric might be more up your street — or, indeed, off-road altogether.

The Smart #1 range kicks off with the Pro version, which has a 49kWh battery and a single 272PS electric motor driving the rear wheels, with an official WLTP Combined cycle range of 193 miles.

Both the Pro+ and Premium models have a larger 66kWh battery, which in the Pro+ models gives an official range of 260 miles and 273 miles for the Premium. The same 272PS single motor as used in the Pro model features here.

At the top of the range is the #1 Brabus, which has twin motors to give a power output of 428PS — unsurprisingly, the urgency that comes with such a high figure has a negative impact on range, with a 248-mile claim from its 66kWh battery.

In terms of styling the #1 breaks new ground for Smart, with few visual similarities between this new era and the old one. The visible, contrast-colour safety cell around the passengers is no more, but the shape of the upper window line and curvature at the base of the rear doors gently hints at it. Just. More importantly though, the Smart #1 looks fresh, particularly in the bolder colour options, while if anything, there’s a hint of Mecedes EQE SUV about the rear end’s styling.

On the inside there’s more clean, flowing lines and this simplicity is a big plus. The dashboard layout is simple, with a 12.8-inch central touchscreen and a 9.2-inch instrument display, but little in the way of clutter. The view out is also very fine, with generously sized windows and the low-set dashboard giving good visibility. All models have front and rear parking sensors plus a 360-degree camera system.

Interior space is good, with plenty of room both in the front and rear for four adults — even three across the rear bench at a push. Less impressive is boot space, which has a maximum 421-litre capacity in the Pro+ but reduced volumes for the other #1s.

To drive, the Smart #1 initially impresses thanks to its generous performance. With even the most basic version offering 272PS, albeit with less range than the pricier ones, acceleration is effortless and very rapid — 0-62mph takes 6.7 seconds but it feels much faster. While many buyers won’t be choose a Smart #1 for its speed, nonetheless it’s reassuring to have the performance easily on tap.

There’s no shortage of small electric SUVs on the market, but the Smart #1 deserves serious consideration. Its appealing design, quality feel, strong performance and impressive specification make it a well-rounded car. While the boot is on the small side and the ride’s not always as good as it could be, these are minor quibbles rather than deal breakers.

Other than the top of the range Brabus model the Smart #1 doesn’t really have any sporty pretensions, which is slightly at odds with its strong acceleration.

The emphasis is clearly on making the Smart #1 undemanding to drive, with very light but accurate steering, although you can adjust how heavy the steering is in the vehicle’s settings. It also manages to keep noise levels low, with little wind noise or much in the way of a hum from the electric powertrain.

Where the Smart #1 falls a little short is in ride quality. At medium and higher speeds it copes well with road imperfections and feels settled, making it a comfortable cruiser. Around town it sometimes struggles to deal with poor quality road surfaces. The flip side to this is that it feels composed and controlled through the bends at higher speeds.

The majority of the Smart #1 range shares the same hardware, but some key differences in specification between them mean it is worth carefully considering your needs before choosing a model.

Pro, Pro+ and Premium versions of the Smart #1s a 272PS electric motor driving the rear wheels through a single-speed automatic transmission. While the Pro+ and Premium have a little more torque — 384Nm versus the Pro’s 343Nm tally — this doesn’t change the 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds.

This is different with the twin-motor, all-wheel drive Smart #1 Brabus. Here you’ll have 428PS and 584Nm of torque at your disposal, resulting in a sports car-slaying 0-62mph time of just 3.9 seconds.

Even the least expensive Smart #1 Pro model never feels short of performance. It’s easy to keep up with — and get ahead of — traffic, and the fact that it is rear-wheel-drive means you can use the power with a bit more confidence.

Driving range is also good, although it’s worth considering the Pro+ and Premium versions if you’re planning regular journeys of 150 miles or more.

Euro NCAP safety assessed and crash-tested the Smart #1 in 2022 awarding it the maximum five star rating.

It achieved a 96% score for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupant protection, 71% for vulnerable road user mitigation and 88% for safety assist.

If you plan to tow using the Smart #1 then you’ll need to avoid the entry-level Pro version as that can’t be equipped with a tow bar.

Other models can be, though, hauling up to 1600kg of braked trailer, which is substantial given the Smart’s relatively compact dimensions.

The Smart #1 has a sensible cabin layout, both in terms of the passenger space on offer but also comfort and with the design of the controls. Although it doesn’t offer a particularly high-set driving position that some SUV buyers look for, the deep windscreen and low-slung dashboard mean the view out is excellent, while there’s plenty of adjustment in the seat to get a good driving position.

Space up front is very good, with the sense of room helped by the generously sized glazing. Head and legroom for front seat occupants is more than good enough for six feet-tall adults while there’s enough elbow room that driver and passenger won’t get in each other’s way.

In the back there’s still enough headroom for those same six-footers, while legroom is good too, but the relatively narrowness of the cabin means squeezing three adults across the back is recommended for short journeys only.

The boot space is relatively modest at 313-421 litres depending on specification, but there’s under-floor storage and a front boot with a 70-litre capacity, shrinking to 60 litres in the Brabus. Fold the rear seats over and the volume expands to 976-986 litres, again spec-dependent.

The Smart #1’s parentage shows up in terms of quality, as the cabin is finished to a high standard with some attractive materials. The key contact points are soft to the touch and even where harder plastics are used they feel robust and well-constructed, rather than cheap.

There’s a pleasing mix of textures and colours even on the entry-level Pro model. Although the design is relatively simplistic it feels like a deliberate, minimalist choice rather than a cost-cutting exercise.

All versions of the Smart #1 come with the 12.8-inch central infotainment touchscreen display and a 9.2-inch digital instrument panel. Included as standard are DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a basic navigation system.

Pro and Pro+ models have a five-speaker arrangement, while the Premium version adds a Beats audio system with 13 speakers and a head-up display.

The main infotainment system works very well and it’s clear a lot of thought has gone into its design. The graphics are bold, clear and easy to understand, while the screen responds quickly to inputs.

It has some novel features too, such as a playable apps and the ability to put the car into a pet-friendly mode if an animal needs to be kept in the car for a short period. The downside is the lack of physical buttons for some key functions, such as the climate control, safety systems and even adjusting the door mirrors, all of which have to be done via the touchscreen.

Prices start at £31,950 for the Smart #1 Pro, rising to £35,950 for the Pro+ and £38,950 for the Premium. The top-ranking Smart #1 Brabus is an eye-watering £43,450.

Of the #1’s rivals, the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica starts at £33,895, while its Jeep Avenger Electric cousin costs from £29,999. You’ll need £32,995 to get behind the wheel of the Kia EV3 while the car the Smart’s closest to — the Volvo EX30 — has a gateway price of £33,050.

As for used examples, we found quite a few for sale even though this is still a relatively new car. A search online unearthed a 2024 Pro model with under 1000 miles on the clock for £22,000, while a Pro+ from the same year with 17,000 miles was priced at £23,000 —big savings over brand new.

The Smart #1 should prove cheap to run assuming you can charge at home and the fast charging speeds available on the Pro+ models and above mean that even if you have to use public charging you’ll spend less time waiting around.

Servicing costs should be lower than an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, although insurance groups are relatively high - 30 for the Pro, 32 for the Premium and a shocking 38 for the Brabus.

Company car drivers considering a Smart #1 will appreciate the 3% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rates for 2025/26. Private motorists need to be aware that from April 2025 Vehicle Excise Duty (VED or road tax) is payable on EVs, including the additional £410 annual premium on those costing over £40,000 that’s payable between years two and five.

Smart #1: Range and charging

The Smart #1 Pro has the lowest range of the available options on account of its smaller battery at 49kWh, giving an official WLTP Combined cycle figure of 193 miles, which means a realistic range of 150 miles unless conditions are ideal.

The Pro+ benefits from a 66kWh battery to give a range of 260 miles, and although the Premium version uses the same battery, it has the heat pump for greater efficiency, boosting the claimed range to 273 miles.

That 66kWh battery is also fitted to the Smart #1 Brabus but its girthier performance saps the potential range down to 248 miles on the WLTP Combined cycle.

Using a 7.4kW AC domestic wallbox to charge the #1 with the 49kWh battery requires 5 hours 30 minutes to jump from a 10-80% charge. This increases to 7 hours 30 minutes for the 66kWh battery, although Premium and Brabus versions have an upgraded on-board charger that can handle a flow of 22kW, which would reduce that down to 3 hours if you can find one.

There’s a 130kW DC rapid charge cap on the 49kWh battery, but that’s still sufficient for a 30-minute 10-80% recharge. Smart quotes the same time duration for the 66kWh battery on account of its on-board charger being able to manage a 150kW energy flow.

There are essentially four trim levels in the Smart #1 range of Pro, Pro+, Premium and Brabus. Each has a different driving range figure due to different combination of motor power, battery size and heat pump installation.

Standard fittings for the Smart #1 Pro include 19-inch alloy wheels, hill-descent control, an electric tailgate, a panoramic roof, automatic wipers, LED head and tail lights, climate control, ambient lighting, faux-leather seats, electric and heated front seats, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, a driver monitoring system, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, front and rear cross-traffic alert, a 12.8-inch central infotainment touchscreen display, a 9.2-inch digital instrument display, DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, integral navigation and a 49kWh battery pack.

Upgrading to the Smart #1 Pro+ adds a 66kWh battery and trailer stability assist for when a tow bar’s fitted.

Stepping up further to the Smart #1 Premium nets a 22kWh AC on-board charger, gesture control for the electric tailgate, illuminated door handles, adaptive LED headlights, a battery heat pump, an advanced air quality filter, additional ambient lighting, genuine and faux-leather upholstery, a leather steering wheel, automatic parking assist and a Beats audio system with 13 speakers.

Topping the range is the Smart #1 Brabus which further adds a second electric motor for four-wheel drive, Brabus-specific bodywork features including red-painted brake calipers and faux-suede coverings for the steering wheel and seats.