Video Summary
The Smart #5 is a large, 5-seat family SUV with a design resembling a small Jeep. It has two battery size options: an LFP battery around 74.4 kWh net, and an NMC battery around 94 kWh net. WLTP ranges are 465 km and 590 km, respectively.Charging is very fast; the car comes in 400V and 800V platform versions. The 800V version can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 18 minutes. A standard 22 kW AC charging is included, a feature missing in Tesla.
Official autonomy with the bigger battery is around 590 km, placing it a bit behind competitors like Mercedes and Audi, given the battery size. It's not ultra-efficient and has a “shoebox” look, sitting higher on its suspension, factors which can reduce efficiency. Motors are also known to consume a bit more energy in Smart vehicles.
It has a rugged, off-road look, with roof rails and camping features. Camping inside the car will be shown in another video. It has two propulsion power options and some 4x4 versions. The 0-100 km/h acceleration varies from 6.9 seconds to 4.9 seconds, depending on the trim level. The Vmax is around 200 km/h.
The trunk, while officially 630 liters, may feel small and is calculated up to the roof. More space is allocated to the rear seating area. Some models include a camera that is placed high. There is often a tow hitch and good ground clearance.
Pricing is about 45,900€ (Germany) for the entry model and up to 56,900€ for the high end Summit Edition, making it a bit more expensive than a Model Y. Being built in China, in most countries it does not benefit from any government electric car bonus. The rear has a polarizing effect and could have used more of the angular elements of the front, instead of looking a bit cuddly.
Overall assessment before testing on the road: about 8/10, and a good candidate for being the first electric offroader.
