Smart #5 review

Our opinion on the Smart #5

In the busy compact electric SUV class, the Smart #5 stands out thanks to its premium finish, spacious cabin, strong equipment list and refined drive. It’s competitively priced when compared with the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4, while the higher-spec cars, especially the Brabus version, are ridiculously fast. 

There are two glaring flaws that pin the #5 back, though. The main issue is poor efficiency when compared with rivals, but we also think Smart’s established image as a manufacturer of small cars will stop buyers even considering the #5 in the first place. That’s a shame, because this quirkily designed electric family SUV has a lot going for it.

About the Smart #5

At 4.7 metres long, the Smart #5 is only 30cm short of being the same length as a pair of Smart ForTwos. It’s the biggest car the company has ever produced, but it’s still packed with plenty of distinctive design touches and clever features. It’s based on a variation of the platform used by the #1 and #3, but at 4.7 metres long and 1.7 metres tall, it’s bigger than both of them and matches rivals in the compact electric SUV class.

A choice of rear or four-wheel drive powertrains is offered, along with two battery sizes. There are also no fewer than six trim levels to choose from, with the range-topping Brabus model bringing a big power boost into the fray.

Used - available now

2021 Land Rover

Range Rover

85,150 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £28,950

View Range Rover

2025 BMW

iX

22,197 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £31,197

View iX

2024 Jaguar

I-PACE

7,909 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £28,197

View I-PACE

2022 Mercedes

A-Class

16,827 milesAutomaticPetrol1.3L

Cash £20,597

View A-Class

We’ve put the Smart #5 through its paces since it first arrived in the UK, and this has included a triple test against the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV5. While the #5 couldn’t topple the mighty Tesla, it did manage to outshine the Kia due to its refinement and value for money.

18

The Smart #5 uses a development of the platform used by the #1 and #3 that allows for greater use of autonomous driving technology. As with those models, a kerbweight in excess of two tonnes means that the #5 feels weighty in corners, but it also helps to iron out bumpy roads so that the car delivers excellent comfort at all speeds.

Electric motors, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed

Smart offers a choice of four power outputs in the #5, and what you get depends on which version you choose. However, no model will feel particularly slow. The electric motors deliver strong performance from a standstill, while the rear-drive configuration on the lower-spec models means there’s instant thrust if you need it.

If you apply the power with even a slight amount of steering lock wound on, you’ll find the traction control light blinking as the electronics attempt to rein in the power. It’s quite a soft intervention, though, and just makes the rear-drive Smart feel a little more hesitant to accelerate than when you’re pointing straight ahead.

The Brabus model turns things up to 11. It features a dual-motor powertrain that produces a combined 637bhp and 710Nm of torque, and makes this 2.4-tonne family SUV an absolute rocket ship. Brabus mode offers full power, while Smart includes a synthesiser that offers different sounds when accelerating if you’d rather not sprint away in silence.

Town driving, visibility and parking

At lower speeds, occupants can revel in the comfort that the #5 offers. The soft suspension easily soaks up bumps, even on models fitted with the largest 21-inch wheels that are available.

A relatively tight 11.2-metre turning circle helps with low-speed manoeuvres. While the #5 is no ForTwo in terms of urban agility, that’s a tighter circle than in a Tesla Model Y (12.1 metres), plus there’s good visibility on the whole. The Smart’s front end is set quite high, though, leaving you to rely on the parking sensors and camera system to know where the front bumper is.

18

Country road driving and handling

The Smart remains comfortable at higher speeds, and there isn’t an increase in wind noise to accompany an increase in pace. The suspension remains composed, too, although the soft edge to the ride means that this isn’t a car with focused cornering as a top priority.

Switching to Sport mode sharpens the throttle response and adds a little more weight to the steering, but adaptive dampers aren’t fitted, so the ride remains on the soft side. In reality, the car’s 2.2-tonne kerbweight discourages you from pushing any harder than necessary.

While it’s nearly as powerful as the sensational Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the Smart #5 Brabus doesn’t get any suspension, brake or chassis upgrades over the standard model.

Motorway driving and long-distance comfort

At higher speeds the #5 remains resolutely quiet and comfortable. There’s a very light rustling from around the base of the windscreen, but overall the car remains refined for all occupants. Even the base model has plenty of torque to get up to the national limit quickly and safely, while mid-range power is usefully snappy.

"There’s one aspect of the sensors that could be changed to make the risk of collision even lower. While the frequency of the Smart’s beeps increases as you get closer to an object, there’s no final ‘flatline’ as you’ll find in many other cars." - Dean Gibson, senior road test editor.

18

Despite a 100kWh battery being offered, the #5 struggles to match the class best for efficiency.

The entry-level Smart only has a 76kWh battery that delivers an official range of 288 miles, but when we tested this model (admittedly in cold winter conditions) a return of 2.4 miles per kWh meant a potential range of only 179 miles was possible. That was well behind the 3.1mi/kWh we achieved in the Kia EV5 on the same roads in matching conditions, while the base Tesla Model Y managed 3.6mi/kWh, so has a longer range with a smaller battery.

Upgrade to the 100kWh model model and you’ll benefit from an extra 78 miles of range in Pro+ guise, while a heat pump should help to mitigate against any cold-weather losses. Achieve the same efficiency figure as we did in the 76kWh car, and you can expect a range of around 225 miles, which is similar to that possible in the base Model Y.

You’ll also see the maximum DC charging rate increase from 150kW to a whopping 400kW. So while the 76kWh pack takes 30 minutes to charge from 10-80 per cent, the 100kWh battery can be charged to the same capacity in just 18 minutes.

The Pulse, Summit and Brabus variants are also powered by the 100kW battery, but they offer a shorter WLTP combined range of 335 miles due to their increased power output. 

Insurance groups

Insurance group ratings for the #5 sit on the higher end of the spectrum, starting from group 41 out of 50 and rising to 46 for the Brabus. Following some line-up revisions, the Tesla Model Y now sits as low as group 34. The Kia EV5 is closer to the Smart, though, starting from group 40.

Tax

Venture too high up the Smart #5 trim level ladder and you’ll cross the £50,000 electric luxury car tax threshold. This will add another £440 onto your annual VED road tax bill between years two and six after the car is registered. You’ll also need to be wary of the looming eVED pay-per-mile tax that’s planned for 2028.

If you’re a company car driver, you will benefit from the lowest Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rates.

Depreciation

Our market data shows that the Smart #5 isn’t the best performer when it comes to depreciation. After an ownership period of three years or 36,000 miles, this electric SUV should retain between 39 and 42 per cent of its original value. The Kia EV5 puts up  stronger resistance at 47 to 48 per cent, but both cars are a long way behind the Tesla Model Y at 51 to 60 per cent.

How much is your car worth? Find out with our free car valuation tool...

18

There’s no doubt that the Smart #5 stands out in the electric SUV market. Where rivals have fairly generic styling, the Smart offers a boxy shape reminiscent of the US market Ford Bronco Sport, but with a smooth nose and distinctive four-part light bars front and rear. There are frameless windows and pop-out handles for the doors, while wheel sizes range from 19-21 inches and the option of a black contrast roof is available.

Interior and dashboard design

The quirky exterior design is a precursor to the cabin, which also has a distinctive look. There are hints of Mercedes in the design of the high-set centre console and door-mounted seat controls, but the cross-shaped air vent adjusters and large, flat touchscreen housing offer a unique style.

Materials and build quality

One aspect of Mercedes’ input that is hard to ignore is the quality of the fit and finish in the Smart. There are plenty of soft-touch plastics and upmarket metal-effect trim used throughout, while the soft artificial leather feels good, too. Everything seems solidly built and the #5 feels more expensive than it actually is.

18

Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo

All versions of the Smart #5 come with a large, upright 13-inch infotainment touchscreen that is used to control nearly all the on-board functions. Fortunately the climate controls are fixed across the bottom of the display for ease of use, while a drop-down menu at the top of the screen allows you to access specific functions. The menu system itself is a little more complicated than necessary, because you need to scroll down long lists in places to access certain options. The system is fast to respond, though, and has a lot of personalisation options, including colour schemes, brightness and audio settings.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted, so you can bypass the on-board system if you want, although we found that when using CarPlay, the shortcut buttons were arranged on the left-hand side of the screen, so were easier for the passenger to use than the driver.

Base models have a single screen, but Pulse and Brabus cars add a second display for the passenger. It seems a bit OTT when the main screen is so large, but does mean the navigation and entertainment functions can be shown at the same time. There is a lockout function on offer to stop the driver looking at the second screen, although the system didn’t interject once when we tried to provoke it. We were warned the car’s software is still being fine-tuned, and hopefully this function will have been improved by the time deliveries begin.

"We like the aircraft-style reading lights and electric seat reclining in the rear, but less successful are the push-button door releases. They can confuse the unfamiliar, and as with any car with a similar set-up, a manual release is necessary anyway, so it just seems like excess tech for the sake of it." - Dean Gibson, senior road test editor. 

18

The #5 is the biggest car that Smart has ever produced, and it blows away any preconceptions that the company specialises in smaller models. It’s tall and wide, which creates plenty of space for passengers and luggage.

The Smart #5 is 30cm short of being the same length as two Smart ForTwos parked end to end, and it’s one of the larger compact electric SUVs on the market. Its boxy shape means it fills out its dimensions, while a long wheelbase boosts cabin access and passenger space.

Seats & passenger space

The front cabin is cleanly divided in two by the high-set centre console, which has an armrest bin with a split lid, just as you’d find in any Mercedes. The space below is deep, but features a shallow tray so you don’t lose smaller items. Ahead of that are a pair of cup-holders and two trays for smartphones; lower-spec cars have a single wireless charging pad, high-spec models have two.

The big screen means the glovebox is set low ahead of the passenger, but it’s a decent size, while the door bins are deep, but the extended armrest with door release button means it’s harder to stow tall bottles here than in some rivals.

The front seats are comfortable and there’s plenty of room, while electric adjustment makes it easy to find a comfortable position.

Access to the back is easy courtesy of the wide-opening doors and frameless windows, and once on board you’ll find plenty of head and shoulder room, while legroom is excellent even when the front seats are pushed all the way back. You can adjust the seat backs electrically via the controls on the doors if you want to stretch out further, while the front passenger seat can be moved forward using the controls for the seat behind.

Amenities in the back include air vents and twin USB sockets, while the aircraft-style cabin lights and panoramic glass roof add the upmarket and spacious feel in the back.

Boot space

All versions of the Smart #5 feature a powered tailgate, and it opens to reveal a 630-litre cargo space. That’s a good size for a car of this type, although there is a bit of a high load lip to negotiate if you’re lifting heavier items. A false floor hides extra storage space, while the seat backs have an offset split and are completely flat when folded. A rolling load cover is included, and this can be stowed under the boot floor when removed.

If you want to keep the charging cables out of the load bay, there’s storage under the bonnet. There’s a capacity of 72 litres in rear-wheel drive cars, but the addition of an electric motor up front cuts the space to 47 litres, but that’s still plenty for a charging cable and the tyre repair kit. 

Towing

Every variant of Smart #5 is rated to tow up to 1,600kg. This is stronger than both the Renault Scenic (1,100kg) and Skoda Enyaq (1,200kg), but the Kia EV5 manages up to 1,800kg when fitted with an AWD powertrain.

18

The Smart #5 was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2025, so it’s going to be a safe car in the event of a collision. In fact, the car will do its utmost to prevent that in the first place, with a comprehensive suite of sensors and cameras monitoring the #5’s surroundings at all times.

Of course, a lot of people want to turn off their cars’ driver-assistance tech, and this is relatively simple process in the #5. Much like in the Renault Scenic, drivers can set up a unique profile with their preferred settings for the ADAS suite, and activate it quickly using the customisable button on the steering wheel and confirming it on the touchscreen.

• Best buy: Smart #5 Pro+

The entry-level Pro model starts from under £40,000 and is very well equipped. It’s also powerful enough, so we don’t think it’s worth paying extra for a higher trim level that offers less range in exchange for even sharper responses. Having said that, the extra £4,000 for the Pro+ model is worth paying to benefit from a longer range.

Both the Premium and Pulse versions are another £3,500 on top of this, while the Summit costs a considerable £48,100. At the very top sits the Brabus which comes in at around £52,000. However, while this is a fair chunk of cash, it does undercut the similarly quick Tesla Model Y Performance.

You can save on these list prices by building your new Smart #5 via the Auto Express Buy A Car service. We also have #5 leasing deals and new #5 models in stock right now. We can even help you to sell your car.

Smart #5 alternatives

The Smart #5 is a mid-size electric SUV, which means it competes primarily against the hugely popular Tesla Model Y. Of course, there are plenty of other capable rivals, too, including the Skoda Enyaq, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Renault Scenic, plus there’s the Kia EV5 and Citroen e-C5 Aircross to consider.

Smart #5 pictures

Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.