Smart announces UK details of new #5 SUV

Smart's next car, an electric SUV called the Smart #5, will go on sale towards the end of 2025 and promises a battery range of up to 366 miles.

Based on the Concept #5 shown earlier this year, the production version of this new larger car joins the existing Smart #1 and Smart #3 in the firm's revitalised line-up. It'll serve as a rival to a range of cars including the Skoda Enyaq iV, Tesla Model Y and more.

Smart has confirmed that the UK order books will open in Q4 of this year, with a choice of five trim levels, two batteries and two- or four-wheel drive. While UK specs haven't been confirmed, information from the Chinese market suggests some serious performance, with at least 335PS for the single-motor versions and at least 579PS for the dual-motor cars.

Among the Smart #5's headline features are rugged looks, floating wheel caps a la Rolls-Royce, and some fairly serious tech, with a 20-speaker Sennheiser sound system available. Smart also says the car will be able to tackle off-road terrain, with five dedicated off-road driving modes.

New 2025 Smart #5: price and release date

No prices have yet been announced for the Smart #5, but we'd expect prices to start between £35,000 and £40,000 to keep it competitive against prospective rivals. The UK order books open in Q4 2025 with deliveries soon after.

New 2025 Smart #5: exterior and interior

Much of what we know about the Smart #5's technical details come from information published by the Chinese government – China being a key market for this new five-seat car – which tells us that the car is 4695mm long, 1920mm wide and 1705mm high, with a 2900mm wheelbase, making it similar in size to cars like the Model Y, new Peugeot 5008 and BMW's iX3.

The looks have been styled by Smart's parent company, Mercedes-Benz, but some Smart hallmarks are present and correct – oblong headlights at the front and at the back and a logo on the D-pillar. The wheel caps are floating, remaining upright when the wheels spin, mirroring those on a Rolls-Royce. The top-spec Summit Edition model comes with the Aventurers' Collection pack, which ups the rugged factor with a roof light bar, electric trailer hitch and underbody protection for off-roading. There are also side steps, side ladder  and a side bag for extra storage. 

The interior is modern and crammed with tech. Smart says it's also very spacious, with generous headroom, adjustable seat backs in the rear and an electric sunshield, as well as LED reading lights and a panoramic roof. Leather upholstery and oak trim should make things feel suitably premium. 

The entertainment system features a built-in projector, as well as a 20-speaker Sennheiser Signature sound system. One of the speakers is portable. There's also a massive 25.6-inch augmented reality head-up display, a 10.3-inch digital instrument panel and two 13-inch AMOLED displays on the dashboard, all of which work with a generative AI voice assistant.

Smart says there's a lion avatar called Leo that will guide users throuh the controls, which we're intrigued to find out more about. Grrr.

The Smart #5 also has 34 storage compartments, a 72-litre "frunk" under the bonnet and a boot space expandable to 1530 litres.

New 2025 Smart #5: electric motors and batteries

Once again, little official UK-specific information from Smart has been released yet, but we know a lot of the #5's specs courtesy of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It's revealed details from the car's homologation filing, which shows that, in China at least, there will be four powertrain options.

There are two rear-wheel-drive options with a single motor, with 335PS and 358PS, and two all-wheel-drive, dual-motor options, with 579PS and 638PS. That means none of the Smart #5 models will be slow, with some serious power that should make for very rapid acceleration. Smart quotes a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds for the Pulse and Summit Edition models.

The car will feature 800V technology and 4C-rated charging for its 100kWh battery, which should in theory mean it can be charged very quickly – as fast as 15 minutes from 10% to 80% if you can find a suitable charger. Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities are promised, too, which means a 230V plug for powering external appliances using the car's battery.

Entry-level models will have a 76kWh battery. Smart has claimed that the car will have a range of up to 366 miles in its most efficient form.

New 2025 Smart #5: trim levels

There will be five trim levels for the UK, starting with the Smart #5 Pro. While the full list of features hasn't yet been released, we know that this single-motor model comes with the 76kWh battery and features the panoramic "halo" roof.

Next up is the Smart #5 Pro+, which has the 100kWh battery and upgraded features. Then there's the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Pulse model, which hsa an extra-wide dual OLED central display and a heat pump, and is design for outdoor and adventure use but without the full rugged setup of the Summit model.

The luxury-focused Premium trim uses high-end interior materials, including oak and leather, and features an ambient lighting system and the Sennheiser Signature sound system with Dolby Atmos. Meanwhile, the flagship Summit Edition as the full Adventure package, including an electric trailer hitch, a roof platform and a side ladder, as well as extra underbody protection.