Smart #1 Review 2024

If you're after an electric SUV with quirky design cues, lots of interior space and a fairly good range, then the #1 should be at the top of your wish list. It remains one of the most comfortable cars to drive in its class and we like that you can opt for a fast Brabus version, if fast acceleration is more your bag. 

The Smart #1 is not much of a family hauler, simply because its tiny boot would struggle to more than two suitcases. It also feels weighty and it doesn’t feel that fun on a twisty road; some of its rivals do have the upper hand here.

What Smart #1 you choose depends on what your lifestyle involves. Luckily, Smart has aimed the #1 at a large audience, which is reflected in its trim selection. There are five trim levels and four are offered with the same 268PS 343Nm electric motor and every car apart from the entry-level Pro gets a 66kWh (64kWh usable) battery.

Selecting the Smart #1 Brabus takes things up a notch as this is equipped with a 434PS 584Nm twin motor. As with most Brabus products, the Smart #1 gets an injection of sporty serum, which can be spotted through the extra bodywork vents and gills. It also puts it deep into supercar baiting territory.

If you don’t plan on covering massive mileage or if you’re unsure if Smart life is for you, then the entry-level car should suffice. However, we feel the Smart #1 Pro+ car offers a good balance of range, onboard tech, performance and cost. 

It’s easy to pick the Smart #1 out of an EV crowd, but the same goes for much of its opposition. The Smart #1 is rivalled by the Cupra Born, Kia Niro EV, Peugeot e-2008, MG4, BYD Atto 3, Jeep Avenger, and Hyundai Kona Electric. Now, we know that’s quite a large list but the Smart #1 does a fine job at holding its own.

In its entry-level Pro spec, the #1 is the second cheapest car on the list with the MG4 being first, but the Smart #1 Pro also has the lowest range. 

Dig deeper into your pockets, spec the mid-range Pro+ and you’ll get more range, but some of the #1’s rivals will still offer more at the same price point. Still, you may need to spend extra on options that the #1 already has as standard.

The interior quality and finish are impressive in the Smart #1. Smart hasn’t cut corners by littering the cabin with scratchy, easily marked plastics. They still exist but they’re tucked out of sight.

It has filled the Smart #1’s interior with soft-touch materials and the visible plastics feel very upmarket, just like you’d find on a high-end Mercedes-Benz.

Running your hand along the dashboard showcases its smooth leather and the same goes for the seats. The entry-level model gets artificial leather, while the Premium gets the real stuff. Of course, these aren’t much use in the Brabus as you’ll slide around when tackling corners with gusto, so it gets grippier upholstery to help keep you in position. 

Regardless of which trim you choose, the Smart #1 gets a crisp and bright 9.2-inch digital instrument panel and a similar 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment in the dashboard centre. 

Smart has not only made it responsive to touch inputs but it’s also heaps of fun. At first, it can all seem a bit much. On the left, the home screen shows the car’s range and radio station. There are also a few quick menu buttons at the top left while the bottom row allows access to the climate controls. A digital earth, which is the sat nav control, is in the middle. To the right is the weather and the current driving mode, and there’s a fox avatar which follows you from menu to menu.

It’s all very friendly but like many modern EVs, most settings, including the door mirror adjustment, are annoyingly buried deep within sub-menus on the touchscreen. It does come equipped with Android Auto and AppleCarPlay, and there’s a pet mode so you can safely leave an animal in the car on hotter days. 

We found using the voice control to be a tricky affair as it almost baked us when attempting to adjust the climate control. Lifting the small dashboard cover in the centre console reveals two USB-C charging ports, a 12V socket, and a wireless phone charger. 

It might have a pet mode but unless you have a Bichon Frise, your beloved dog might struggle to get comfortable. Opening the electronic boot lid reveals a rather disappointing 411 litres of boot space.

That’s still better than what the Cupra Born offers at 385 litres but it falls short against most of its other rivals. Putting the rear seats in the knee-friendly position via its sliding mechanism decreases this to just 273 litres. Of course, you can fold the rear seats flat by pulling the latch on each seat, which brings it up to 1,000 litres.

Being a rear-wheel drive car, there are lots of powertrain gubbins underneath and this means that the boot floor sits quite high. There’s also a removable parcel shelf and a nifty area underneath the false floor where it can be stored whenever it’s not in use. Popping the bonnet reveals a ‘frunk’, but this is miniscule at just 15 litres and is more suited to carrying a loaf of bread rather than charging cables. 

Thankfully, Smart has implemented lots of cubby holes in the Smart #1’s interior. Flip up the armrest and you’ll see a good-sized area for stowing valuables. Forward of the armrest is two cup holders and a phone holder. 

Being an EV, there are no additional gearbox choices. There are two motor options available with the Smart #1 depending on which trim is selected. The regular single-motor trims give enough oomph for everyday driving, with a 0-62 mph time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. This allows for swift overtaking and motorway joining thanks to the dollop of torque that’s readily available. 

Spec the twin motor Smart #1 Brabus, and the 0-62mph time drops to just 3.7 seconds although the top speed remains capped at 112 mph. The #1 sits on Geely’s new SEA platform (Sustainable Experience Architecture), which also underpins the Volvo EX30. 

The base Pro guise is claimed to travel up to 193 miles on a single charge. The Pro+ covers 260 miles and the Premium will manage 273 miles. The hot Brabus version is claimed to cover a lower 248 miles. 

Smart’s done a grand job hushing the Smart #1’s motors and silencing the overall ride. There’s not much whine, even when hammering on, and there’s very little tyre noise at lower speeds.

If we’re being picky, wind and tyre noise do increase slightly above 70 mph but overall, the cabin’s well insulated and aids the Smart #1’s relaxing aura.

Safety has never been an issue for Smart cars, despite the use of petite frames, with most models getting a four-star Euro NCAP rating. The Smart #1 gets a five-star Euro NCAP rating, which includes a 96 percent adult occupancy rating and an 89 percent child safety rating. 

The driver assist rating was quite high at 88 percent, too. This is because the #1 comes as standard with a host of safety tech such as blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-centring (which can be quite intrusive), automatic emergency braking, and front and rear cross-traffic alert. 

Step up to the Brabus or Premium models and you’ll get an automatic parking system. 

The Smart #1 is still relatively new and it hasn’t secured its place on the Honest John satisfaction index as a result. And there aren’t any previous newish Smart models to compare it to. However, it is a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz and Geely.

Mercedes-Benz did score a satisfaction index rating of just 80.98 percent in the 2023 index, putting it at the top of the worst 20 cars list. It wouldn’t be fair to put Smart in the same field, however, as other Geely products score a bit better. 

Like many cars, insurance cost depends on which trim level you choose. The entry-level Pro comes in at insurance group 30, putting it on par with the Kia Niro EV and Volkswagen ID.3.   

The Premium is group 32, placing it beside the Hyundai Kona Electric and Renault Scenic E-Tech. The go-fast Brabus is the highest in group 38. This puts it beside the BMW iX1 and iX2, the Cupra Tavascan, and the Skoda Enyaq. 

Being an electric car, there’s no road tax cost for the Smart #1. This is to change in 2025 and EVs that have a list price of over £40,000 will be subject to an expensive car tax supplement, which can be up to £600 per year. Luckily, most #1’s fall under £40,000, but those purchasing a new Brabus may get stung. 

Owners of new zero-emission cars registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay the lowest first-year rate of VED, which is currently £10 per year. From year two of registration onwards, this will increase to £190. 

The Smart #1 Pro and Pro+ have a decent standard tech list. This includes ACC, LED lights, heated seats, a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, high beam assist, powered boot lid, rain-sensing wipers, driver seat memory, and ambient lighting. There are no optional extras, just colour choices and these are split between solid and two-tone. 

Spec the Smart #1 Premium, and you’ll get a Beats sound system with 13 speakers, a HUD, and a heat pump. It also comes with other cosmetic add-ons such as door logo projectors and illuminated door tread plates. The Pro and Pro+ offer everything needed for daily driving, and we feel there’s no real reason to opt for the Premium unless you want the heat pump and value audio clarity. 

The same goes for the Smart #1 Brabus trim. It looks great, and its more powerful motor might be enough to persuade those eyeing up more expensive machinery, but the standard cars offer enough performance to tackle the daily commute.