Skip advert
Advertisement

Smart Vision EQ concept ride review

We head to Tokyo to take a ride in the self-driving, all-electric Smart Vision EQ concept

It looks like a toy, and the feeling of being driven in the Smart Vision EQ is stranger than you would have imagined. However, once you get used to it and learn to trust the technology, we’ll soon all be wondering how we lived without it.

Revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show just two months ago, this Vision EQ bubble car is Smart’s idea of the future of urban mobility. It has an electric powertrain and a fully autonomous set-up, and is designed to cruise around cities without driver input. We’ve been to Tokyo to see what it’s like.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The glass door swings open like the front of a giant washing machine. Inside, the white sofa, blue lights and large digital display make it feel more like a spaceship than a car, a sensation enhanced by the fact there is no steering wheel or pedals. This absence of any controls makes it a fully autonomous Level 5 vehicle.

Ultimate guide to self-driving vehicles

The Vision EQ won’t directly make it into production; it’s more of a preview of what we can expect from the brand during the next decade. One clever piece of tech is the ride-sharing element. The Smart gives you the option of sharing the vehicle with other people, while you can invite passengers nearby using the digital dashboard.

In an environment as strange and as futuristic as Tokyo, it fits in. The Smart silently whirrs across the lively and noisy area of Akihabara in centre of the city. Then, just when we’re getting more and more comfortable with the strange situation, it slowly approaches the side of the road and silently opens its doors. This isn’t because we’ve arrived at our final destination, but because the inductively charged battery has become depleted.

Smart claims the concept should be capable of around 250km (155 miles) on a single charge; in a city with traffic as dense as Tokyo’s that seems a reasonable figure considering the size of the company’s cars.

However, another advantage of an autonomous vehicle such as this is that when empty of passengers it can take itself away to be fully recharged without you having to worry about where to top it up with electricity next. 

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,241 off RRP*Used from £20,921
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £34,716
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,919 off RRP*Used from £37,995
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,672 off RRP*Used from £12,200
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power
Peugeot E-208 GTi - reveal front

New Peugeot 208 GTi: electric hot hatch gets stunning looks and plenty of power

Hot Peugeot E-208 gets racier styling, 276bhp and does 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds
News
13 Jun 2025
New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort - front

New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet

The new BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort is arguably the Chinese brand's most convincing model in its range
Road tests
11 Jun 2025
New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai
Renault Symbioz hybrid - front angled

New entry-level Renault Symbioz is £3k cheaper than a Nissan Qashqai

The Renault Captur has also been fitted the new full-hybrid powertrain, which gets a bigger battery for more pure-electric driving
News
12 Jun 2025