The Smart car range has changed dramatically as, rather than the tiny Fortwo, we now see a range of full-size saloon cars – and all are electric.
Smart is now a product of Mercedes-Benz (Daimler) in partnership with China’s Geely and, as Geely owns Volvo – along with many other brands – the Smart #3 shares its platform with the Volvo EX30.
This is a very good looking, small hatchback although they tend to call it an ‘SUV-coupe’. Despite not being terribly keen on reviewing EVs any longer, l enjoyed my week with this little rocket.
The #3 range starts at £32,950 for the entry-level single motor, rear-drive Pro model with 49kWh battery (for 202 miles of WLTP range). Then there is the mid-range Premium model – which gets a 66kWh battery for 283 miles of range – and this comes in at £39,950. Like for like, the #3 costs around a grand extra over the #1. I got around 240 miles of real world range out of this model.
The top-spec Brabus car costs £45,450, adding dual motor AWD into the mix but taking a hit on range (258 miles). In more realistic driving, the Brabus is a 220-mile car if you’re gentle, but could easily drop below 200 miles if you’re not - and you will not be as it is a monster.
The Smart has got price in its favour: it's much cheaper than the £50,000 Volvo EC40 and new Peugeot e-3008, or the Skoda Enyaq Coupe. Less convenient for Smart is the presence of the Renault Scenic and electric Mini Countryman, both of which are close on price when compared to the big-batteried #3.
Bigger doesn’t necessarily also mean better packaged, of course, but while the #3 does give away a little bit of head room compared with the taller #1, its cabin is still quite spacious. There’s plenty of room for taller, larger adults in the front row, although the car’s sporty-looking front seats weren’t considered ideally comfortable by a few of my family.
Their ‘integral’-style headrests are fixed, and tended to jut out and poke some drivers in the nape of the neck rather than supporting the head itself, while their seat cushions lacked useful inclination adjustment and thigh support. Having said that, l drove it over 500 miles and had no issues with the position of comfort the seats offered.
I might, though, have a small issue with the infotainment screen. The design is stylish and fun but it can call upon a dose of anger management. Every time l set the car up how l want it, then turn the car off, everything defaults back – and you have to start all over again.
Satnav, aircon, trip info and even wing mirror adjustments are to be found in the 12.8in central touchscreen, otherwise you get a smattering of steering wheel buttons and some shortcut buttons underneath the touchscreen. I got used to it all after some miles but does it really have to be this counter intuitive?
And I’m not quite sure what the cheetah is doing on the screen, moving around and pulling your eye when you really don’t need it pulled away from the road.
All in all, it is a very good car with a distinctive look that doesn’t appear as if a sci-fi nerd has got carried away, but it is stylish and practical. With the exception of the above, the interior is really nice and l do like the exterior design with wheels that at first look too big for the car but then they just blend in perfectly.
The Brabus version is by all accounts, a total animal, and l await its delivery with relish.
Tech Stuff
Model Tested: Smart #3 Premium
Power: 268 bhp
Speed: 0-62 - 5.8 secs
Top: 112 mph
Range: 283 miles
Price from: £39,895
