Smart #1 Pro+ Review

Quite a few new Chinese manufacturers have made their entry into Singapore in the past months.

There's Ora with the Good Cat, Omoda with the E5, and Aion with the Y Plus, all hoping to mirror the success that BYD has had with the wildly popular Atto 3.

This #1 you see in the photos, comes from a brand that is neither Chinese, nor new. Not exactly, anyways.

Visual highlights on the Smart #1 include its 19-inch rims and its peculiar roof

So, just what is it?

Some explanation is needed here: The Smart brand, of course, has been around since 1994. Some of you might remember the firm's Fortwo, which captured the world's attention by being so compact that two examples of the car were able to share the same parking lot.

Originally founded as a collaborative effort between Mercedes-Benz and the Swiss watchmaker Swatch, the brand is now making a return after having been liquidated in 2006, thanks to a new collaboration, this time between Mercedes and Chinese manufacturer Geely.

And the Chinese link goes further than the sphere of mergers and acquisitions at the boardroom. This Smart #1 (it's pronounced 'hashtag one' in case you're wondering) isn't built atop Mercedes-Benz's MFA2 platform that is utilised on cars such as the EQA and EQB, but instead on Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture that is shared with the Volvo EX30.

The #1's rear taillights and steering column-mounted gear selector may look like those on the Mercedes-Benz EQA, but this Smart is actually based on Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture

Why does it look so familiar?

Not that you'd be faulted for guessing a Mercedes connection. Look at the rear of the #1 and you'll find taillights that seem like they were deliberately shaped to mirror those on the Mercedes-Benz EQA.

And there's plenty of other delicious touches on the Smart #1 as well, such as the roof and C-pillar, which remind one of those found on the MINI Coupe - not a bad touch when you're targeting young and affluent urbanite types.

The cabin of the Smart #1 features a cooled compartment in the centre console as well as a panoramic sunroof

Can it fit the entire family?

Open the doors of the Smart #1, however, and you'll find a cabin more similar to the Chinese cars we've seeing so much of on our roads. That is to say, a slim horizontal digital instrument cluster (with a diagonal measuring 9.2-inches) is offered here, supported by a larger 12.8-inch infotainment display.

Ergonomically, it's a bag of hits and misses. You get the excellent steering column-mounted gear selector that appears in other Mercedes-Benz vehicles, which makes three-point turns a breeze, but miss paddle shifters for quick changes to the level of regenerative braking on the go.

The two-tier centre console also opens up plenty of storage space, but smaller items will rattle incessantly whenever you accelerate or brake if they are stored in its lower section.

The car's centrally mounted 12.8-inch infotainment system sports a charming homepage and delivers pleasing graphics

You'll be able to turn on the Smart #1's AI-powered voice assistant system by tapping on this fox avatar

The door cards here are also comprised entirely of hard plastic and feel budget car hollow. At the back, meanwhile, you're accorded a total of 323 litres of boot space, which isn't great, but is a smidgen more than what is available in the MINI Aceman (which has yet to arrive here) or the Volvo EX30.

But countering this is the fact that there's genuinely an impressive level of knee and legroom for rear passengers - a product of the car's 2,750mm wheelbase, which stretches out 21mm further than that of the slightly larger Mercedes-Benz EQA.

Interestingly, the Smart #1 sports one more design touch here that seems to have been lifted from MINI: The use of a circular key fob.

And if you like to have the air-conditioning vents directed at your face and neck, those central ones will inevitably keep your left hand's knuckles freezing cold.

The wide centre console means those seated at the front can feel claustrophobic, but the rear seats offer plenty of knee and legroom for a compact crossover

And how does it drive?

But that's not the only way the Smart #1 will deliver a white-knuckle drive. With a total of 268bhp on tap facilitating a century sprint time of just 6.7 seconds, the Smart #1 is undoubtedly fast. Having said that, the overall sensation of agility is hurt by the fact that the accelerator pedal offers both plenty of travel and resistance.

And smooth braking in the #1 can also be a chore. The car's regenerative system always comes in only a moment after you let go of the accelerator pedal, and if you'd like to have the car simply coast along you'll need to apply a precise weight on the accelerator pedal. The consequence of this is driving the Smart #1 quickly becomes tiresome if you opt for the stronger level of regenerative braking or the one-pedal mode.

The steering is practically mute, but it is accurate, making the car easy to place on the road. And the Smart #1 is pleasingly settled once you've built up some speed. Cabin insulation is additionally excellent, and the car was supported by a set of Dunlop SP Sport Maxx tyres that offered plenty of grip.

I managed to average an energy consumption of 6.9km/kWh with the Smart #1 - an impressive figure given the BMW iX1 eDrive20 we tested a while back (a slightly larger but less powerful vehicle) managed a consumption rate of 6.6km/kWh.

The Smart #1 should appeal to those looking for an electric runabout with plenty of style

Should I buy one?

At $240,888 (as of 24 May 2024), the Smart #1 marks itself out as an appealing option for those who want a small and premium all-electric runabout. The fact that it is practically on par with the Volvo EX30 here price and power-wise means those who find the more conservative design of the Volvo uninspiring should naturally gravitate towards this Smart.

For those convinced, local distributor Cycle & Carriage will eventually house a permanent Smart showroom at the Mercedes-Benz showroom at 301 Alexandra Road. But you won't want to wait: The brand has a host of roadshows planned throughout the island in the coming months, and its last, held at Jewel Changi Airport, offered up to $30,000 in savings. Look out for the next event from the brand by following its Instagram page here and you might be able to net yourself some savings as well.

And you can add to this urgency the fact that the new MINI Aceman is also sure to challenge this Smart #1 for sheer style points when it makes landfall here in Singapore later this year. The swell of new electric options arriving here in Singapore, from Chinese brands or otherwise, won't be easing off anytime soon. It's time to make your pick.

Looking for a premium all-electric crossover? You'll also want to catch these stories:

The BMW iX2 is a capable, functional and practical electric crossover

The Volvo XC40 Recharge, meanwhile, offers good looks, cabin space plenty of driving delight

Or you might want to catch our first impression of the new MINI Countryman SE