Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 Smart #5 Brabus
Price: £TBC
Engine: Two electric motors
Battery: 100kWh LMNC battery (94kWh usable)
Transmission: single-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power: 646hp
Torque: 710Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 335 miles
0-62mph: 3.8 seconds
Top speed: 130mph
Boot space: 630 litres (plus 47-litre 'frunk')
Styling
From the outside, it's easy to think the #5 is somewhat smaller than it is. There's something of the Jeep Renegade about the boxy style, which perhaps makes the car look a little more compact, but its dimensions mean it's slightly larger than the Skoda Enyaq. However, while it's definitely minimalist, it's a much less aerodynamic proposition than the Skoda, with its bluff nose and square shoulders. And while it doesn't have much in common with the other models in Smart's range, it's hardly an ugly mug, even with the gaudy red Brabus detailing and the 21-inch alloys.
Interior
Just like the exterior, the Smart's cabin is minimalist, but it feels less Jeep knock-off. Instead, there's a clean design with simple shapes and few buttons, but a selection of screens and tech additions. All versions get a digital instrument display and a 13-inch central touchscreen, but the more upmarket versions add a big head-up display and a passenger touchscreen.
Overall, the software in those screens is pretty good, with sharp responses and slick graphics, but there are one or two foibles. Some of the menus are a bit confusing, and there's a distracting lion avatar that runs around the screen for no apparent reason. The passenger screen also lacks any kind of anti-distraction device to prevent the driver from watching whatever the passenger is seeing, whether that's a movie or a game. And yes, you can do either from that screen, which is handy when you're charging.
The functionality, then, cannot be questioned, but with so few buttons on the dash, the screens have a lot to do. The climate control and driver assistance controls all live in there, for example, and that isn't always the simplest interface to work with. Still, Smart has executed it better than some more established brands, so it isn't as bad as it could be.
And Smart should also be commended for its cabin quality. The materials are largely very impressive, and the upholstery all feels nice and tactile. Perhaps it isn't as upmarket as a Mercedes, but it's more than a match for the likes of Ford and Volkswagen, which makes the #5 a very well-made thing.
Practicality
Because the #5 is so big – it’s actually bigger than the Enyaq – it’s a very spacious thing. Those in the back get acres of legroom and ample headroom, while the 630-litre boot is only a bit smaller than that of the Skoda with which it competes. So far, so competitive, but when you add the ‘frunk’ under the bonnet to the equation, it gets even better. In rear-wheel-drive examples, that cargo space measures 72 litres, which is apparently enough for a wheeled carry-on suitcase, but the front motor of all-wheel-drive versions cuts the space down to 47 litres. Still it’s useful for charging cables and the like.
Performance
The #5 will be offered with a selection of battery and motor combinations, with base models getting a 76kWh battery (of which 74.4kWh is usable) and a rear-mounted electric motor with 340hp. That’s more than adequate in terms of performance – 0-62mph takes less than seven seconds – but it isn’t the most efficient option. Although the battery is roughly the same size as that of a Skoda Enyaq 85, the range is considerably lower, at 288 miles.
To increase that range, though, you can have the 100kWh (94kWh usable) battery fitted to all but the basic #5 variants. Normally, it’s paired with a 363hp electric motor that drives the rear wheels, and allows a much more competitive 366-mile range, but you can have a twin-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain that offers a massive 587hp and cuts the 0-62mph time to below five seconds. It cuts the range slightly, too, but only to around 335 miles, which is roughly on a par with the Skoda Enyaq vRS.
Surprisingly, even the #5 Brabus models, with their 646hp twin-motor set-up, manage the same 335-mile official range, but provide even more stonking acceleration. Getting from a standstill to 62mph takes 3.8 seconds – fast enough to be uncomfortable – and the immediacy of the delivery makes it feel faster than that.
However, perhaps the fastest thing about the Smart is the speed at which it charges. Officially, it can charge at 400kW, and we’ve seen it go faster than that for a short period, but there’s a catch. Hens’ teeth are more common than 400kW DC chargers in the UK, so you can’t get that speed at the moment. Still, if it becomes widely available, the #5 will be ready, and it’ll be able to make the most of 350kW chargers that currently exist.
Ride & Handling
Although this Brabus version of the #5 may be quick in a straight line, it doesn't have any suspension upgrades over any other twin-motor #5, which might disappoint some. But for the rest of the range, things look pretty good. Even on 21-inch alloys, the ride is good, and though the Brabus is heavy (it weighs almost 2.4 tonnes) and that shows occasionally, it largely deals with the weight very well.
That gliding ride comfort comes with a few trade-offs, though, and there's noticeable body roll in corners, as well as a tendency to pitch under braking, but it's hardly dreadful. In fact, in any model other than the Brabus, it would be a trade we're very happy to make. Especially as the steering is fairly precise, if a bit artificial in its feedback, and the grip is plentiful. The car is quiet, too, with thick soundproof glass that keeps the cabin nice and isolated from the world outside.
Value
Smart is still yet to announce prices for the #5, but we're expecting the base models to start at around £40,000-£45,000, making it a little more expensive than the Skoda Enyaq. However, you will get plenty of equipment as standard, including the 13-inch touchscreen, digital instrument display and two-zone climate control. Wireless phone charging, over-the-air updates and a panoramic roof are standard, too, not to mention the 19-inch alloy wheels and man-made leather upholstery.
Admittedly, the Brabus models, which are expected to cost more than £50,000, get a little more kit, including sportier styling, bigger wheels and the passenger touchscreen, but even they won't be too ruinously expensive alongside rivals from VW and Ford. Mid-range versions with the 100kWh battery are expected to be the sweet spot, however.
Verdict
Until we know more about pricing, it's difficult to reach a hard-and-fast verdict on the #5, but we do know it'll be a competitive piece of kit. It may be imperfect, what with the efficiency issues and the tech, but it's comfortable, pleasant to drive and spacious, which stand it in good stead. And while this Brabus version may not make all that much sense, we suspect mid-range models will be quite a compelling option.
