Smart #1 Pulse

Overview

The Smart #1 Pulse is a cracking little electric SUV that punches well above its weight, blending a premium vibe – thanks to a sprinkle of Mercedes magic – with zippy performance. The Pulse trim snags you all-wheel drive for all-weather grip, making it a properly versatile choice. It’s a stylish urban adventurer that’s not afraid of the open road. In Europe, expect to shell out around €46,490 new for this well-equipped package, with used examples hovering near €36,888. It’s a real head-turner with a surprisingly spacious feel inside.

What's New for 2025?

For 2025, the Smart #1 Pulse continues to impress as a relatively fresh face in the electric scene, having been introduced to broaden the #1's appeal with a compelling all-wheel-drive option below the top-spec Brabus. While major overhauls for 2025 aren't typically detailed this early for a model whose production started in 2023, the Pulse maintains its strong offering of dual-motor performance and a generous tech suite. Expect continuous software updates and potentially minor equipment tweaks, keeping it competitive in the bustling European compact EV market. It's all about refined electric motoring.

Design & Exterior

The Smart #1 Pulse boasts a properly cool and modern design, looking like a very grown-up and sophisticated city slicker. Think smooth, pebble-like surfacing with some distinct Mercedes-Benz design cues, especially in the sleek LED light bars front and rear. The Pulse trim typically sports smart 19-inch alloy wheels that fill the arches nicely. Dimensionally, it’s compact yet substantial: 4300 mm long, 1822 mm wide (without mirrors), and 1636 mm tall, making it perfect for nipping around town but with a confident stance. It’s a cheeky charmer!

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Step inside the Smart #1 Pulse and you're greeted by a surprisingly posh and minimalist cabin. Material quality is a cut above, with a bright and airy feel, accommodating five passengers comfortably. For your luggage, you get 313 litres in the boot, expanding to a useful 986 litres with the seats folded flat. Plus, there’s a handy 15-litre frunk, perfect for stowing charging cables! Tech-wise, a massive 12.8-inch central screen and a 9.2-inch driver display dominate, with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto usually standard, alongside built-in navigation.

Performance & Driving Experience

The Smart #1 Pulse is a proper little rocket! With its dual Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors delivering a stonking 315 kW and 584 Nm of torque to all four wheels, it’ll whisk you from 0-100 km/h in a mere 4.5 seconds. That's hot hatch territory! On the road, it feels lively and secure, with the all-wheel drive providing excellent traction. The ride is generally comfy, soaking up city bumps well. Expect responsive regenerative braking modes to help eke out extra range, making it a fun and engaging drive up to its 180 km/h top speed.

Range, Battery & Charging

Powering the Pulse is a 62 kWh (usable) battery pack, offering a Green Cars Compare calculated real-world range of around 340 km – pretty decent for its class, with an efficiency of 5.48 km/kWh. For charging, its standard 22 kW AC on-board charger can juice it up fully from a compatible source in under 3 hours. When you’re out and about, it can accept DC fast charging at up to 150 kW via its CCS Type 2 port, meaning a 10-80% top-up can take around 30 minutes under ideal conditions.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Safety is a big tick for the Smart #1 Pulse, having bagged a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP. That’s top marks! It comes loaded with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance systems, often bundled under "Smart Pilot Assist." Expect features like adaptive cruise control with stop & go, active lane keeping assist, blind-spot detection, and traffic sign recognition to be standard on the well-equipped Pulse trim. This makes motorway schleps and city driving a whole lot more relaxing and secure for European roads.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Smart typically offers a reassuring warranty package in Europe for the #1. You can expect a basic new vehicle warranty of 3 years with unlimited kilometres. The crucial high-voltage battery is usually covered for a more extensive 8 years or 160,000 kilometres, whichever comes first, including a guarantee against excessive degradation (often to 70% of original capacity). Powertrain components often mirror this. While complimentary maintenance isn't always standard in Europe, reliability for these new-generation Smarts, built on Geely’s robust SEA platform, is generally anticipated to be strong.