Review: Smart #5 Premium
Upscaled smart makes for a characterful family EV
If you were apoplectic when Porsche launched an SUV or lost your mind when Mini swelled to Countryman size, hold on to your hat...
It may not have arrived with quite the fanfare of those brand-defying transformations, but the smart #5 is just as much of a departure for the microcar specialist once famed for its tiny fortwo runaround.
At 4.7m long and 1.92m wide, the #5 is the largest in a new crop of fully electric smarts, aimed at the likes of Tesla’s Model Y, Kia’s EV5 and the Skoda Enyaq.
Prices start at £39,800 for the Pro, which features 77kWh battery good for a 289-mile range.
All other smart #5s feature a whopping 100kWh battery, which is good for 367 miles in rear-wheel-drive Pro+ (£43,800) and Premium (£47,300) trims or 336 miles in the all-wheel-drive Pulse (£47,300) or Summit Edition (£48,800).
A £51,800 smart #5 Brabus delivers 637bhp, meanwhile, making it good for a 3.8-second dash to 62mph.
The Premium trim tested here was no slouch, however, its 358bhp motor making 62mph possible in 6.5 seconds.
Furthermore, an ability to charge at up to 400kW means that the #5’s battery can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in just 18 minutes.
A partnership between Mercedes and Geely, smart shares underpinnings with Volvo and Polestar models and, despite is boxy looks, the #5 rides and handles better than many D-segment EVs.
While the suspension will lean, the measured responses of the steering make for a pleasingly fluent drive.
However, it is the #5’s quality and styling that makes it stand out.
Striking 20in wheels fill the #5 Premium’s wheelarches, while our test car’s satin-effect Sand Gold paint looked impressively expensive.
Inside, the cabin is a match for a modern Mercedes.
Brown leather seats, tasteful wood veneer and a sculptural speaker which rises from the dashboard – one of 20 featured in the impressive Sennheiser sound system – are standout elements.
Also very Mercedes are the 13in infotainment and passenger touchscreens, which dominate the dashboard, accompanied by a 10.25in instrument cluster and a head-up display.
For all its vivid graphics, the infotainment screen can be awkward to navigate, with elements of style over usability. This is common in so many new cars.
However, the tech does not detract from what is a very usable family car.
Leg and headroom are huge and rear passengers also benefit from heated seats and a panoramic sunroof.
Storage is also at a premium, with a 630-litre boot and a further 72 litres of storage under the bonnet.
For its premium interior alone, the #5 deserves success. In an EV segment where character is in short supply, its design and a fast-charging electric architecture cement it as a surprise standout choice.
Price: £47,300
Engine: 100kWh battery
Power: 358bhp
Torque: 373Nm
Transmission: single-speed automatic
Top Speed: 124mph
0-62mph: 6.5 seconds
Range: 367 miles (WLTP combined)
CO2 emissions: 0g/km