Smart #3 First Drive Review

As the second model in the revitalised Smart lineup, the #3 - yet another compact electric crossover - might seem like the spitting image of the #1 on first glance.

Consequently, expecting a "Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V" experience across both cars wouldn't be entirely illogical nor nefarious. It's a tactic we've seen used by carmakers all over the world, anyway, especially when two models occupy the same segment.

But even identical twins have their own distinct qualities and quirks. One might be more of a bookworm, for instance, while the other might be more into sports. One perhaps envisions the perfect Friday evening as a solo night in; the other, as a night out at Zouk.

It's a human reality that Smart seems to have transfused into its two cars thus far. Real twins are, after all, actually discernible from each other. Despite all of its recognisable Smart-isms, spend a bit of time with the #3 and one will find that it ultimately compels with a personality it can call its own.

Trendier twin

The coupe-SUV trend is still taking the automotive world by storm, so it shouldn't be surprising that Smart has also hopped aboard. If we're going by the official line, in fact, the brand is officially designating the #3 as a "sports utility coupe".

As mentioned, the relation to the #1 should be immediately obvious.

Its clear preference for rounded edges and smoother lines aside, the #3 also gets the same eyemask-like LED strip up front, as well as a curved light bar at the rear. Opt for the dual-motor Brabus variant (which we also got to drive briefly in Brisbane), and apart from larger wheels, you'll find the usual Radiant Red accents and 'Brabus' logos joining the party too. There's no mistaking this car for anything but a modern Smart.

The #3's sleeker silhouette makes it clearly different from the #1. Instead of wearing the Smart badge on its D-pillars (as the #1 does), the #3's are lodged aft of its front wheel arches instead

Still, it quickly becomes clear that the #3 is no #1.

Instead of just lopping bits off the car's roof and calling it a day, one gets the sense that the Smart design team was conscientious in giving the #3 its own style. The car's dimensions themselves will already speak to this: It's significantly longer (by 170mm), wider (by 22mm), and lower (by 80mm) than the #1.

In fact, a casual observer couldn't be faulted if they were to classify the #3 as a hatchback rather than a compact crossover. Where we've seen the boxy-SUV to coupe-SUV conversion result in questionable styling in the past, the #3 genuinely feels like a good-looking - or dare we even say - better-looking counterpoint to the #1.

The more straightforward twin

It's inside the #3 and where the visual twinning will be most similar - although again, a number of unique touches have been dutifully put into place to set it apart.

Most notably, while the 'dual-cockpit' like atmosphere of the #1's front quarters is replicated here, the #3 puts one slight spin on this: With its… front air vents.

Apart from the getting its own circular-shaped air-conditioning vents up front, the #3 also sets itself apart from the #1 with a 'permanently open' panoramic glass roof

The capsule (or oblong) shapes in the #1 are certainly charming, but in deferring here to more conventional circular-shapes, the #3 also makes its Mercedes-Benz-links clearer. Another difference is that the car’s full-length glass roof doesn’t come with the retractable fabric shade on the #1 - a la cars like the Tesla Model 3 and the BYD Seal.

Interestingly, it's not just the #3's body, but its wheelbase too, that has been elongated over the #1's - by a good 35mm - meaning there's more room to stretch your legs out in the rear than you expect for a car this size. Overall, the sensation is cosier than in the #1, but headroom in the rear remains impressively decent for average-sized adults, despite the sloping roofline.

Legroom is even more generous at the rear thanks to the #3's longer wheelbase, and while its boot is larger than the #1's, it loses out in terms of versatility because its rear bench is not slidable (Boot of #3 Brabus pictured)

Unsurprisingly, the #3's larger dimensions means that you'll find a deeper boot with 370 litres of capacity when its electronic tailgate pops open. It's a bit of a mixed bag: It can swallow more than the #1's boot in its default setting, but loses out in both height and versatility, since the #1 comes with a handy, slidable rear bench.

Still, considering the SUV to coupe-SUV transfiguration, the #3 still scores fairly well in practicality points.

The sportier twin

On paper, you might expect the #3 to drive very similarly to the #1.

Both cars are built atop of the same Geely-finessed platform. They're both powered by the same 66kWh battery pack (in the Pro+ and Brabus variants that Singapore will get at least). And they share the same single- and dual-motor powertrains, that put out the same levels of power. 

Surprisingly, however, the #3 is valiant in staying faithful to its 'sportier twin' positioning.

One gets the sense that they are seated within the car in the #3, rather than on it (as one may feel in the #1)

Notably, part of the car's height drop isn't just down to its lowered roof; its suspension has been lowered too. As you nestle into the driver's seat, you get the sense that you're sitting within, rather than on the car - as one is wont to do in many SUVs.

Smart also seems to have tweaked the car's steering rack slightly, which offers slightly more responsiveness here than in the #1, even if it still lacks feedback. Against its taller twin, the #3 also handles better, exhibiting more balance and less roll around bends.

But this coupe-SUV puts itself ahead of its twin even in terms of performance.

Put the #3 Pro+ into Sport mode, give the accelerator a good hard shove, and Smart claims the car will dust off the century sprint in just 5.8 seconds - or 0.9 seconds quicker than in the #1 Pro+

While the #3 Pro+ gets the same electric motor in the #1 Pro+ that sends 268bhp and 343Nm of torque to the rear wheels, it's a good 0.9 seconds quicker to 100km/h from a standstill, dusting off the sprint in a mere 5.8 seconds. It's yet another aspect of the drive that's slightly enhanced, lending further credence to the car's edgier identity.

These are proper hot hatch numbers; the sort that might tempt a playful driver into scaring his or her passengers on occasion, but which will probably work more towards delivering effortless power for plugging gaps in traffic on the regular.

It's hard to imagine the average driver needing more than this - but even then there's the dual-motor #3 Brabus, whose 422bhp and 543Nm of torque help it shred up the century sprint in an even crazier 3.7 seconds. It even comes with a handful of rather aggressive-sounding soundscapes to boot.

The #3 Brabus offers even more power with its dual motors producing 422bhp and 543Nm of torque (Pictured: Behind the wheel of the #3 Brabus)

Given that the #3's wheelbase is actually quite long, you don't really get the sense that you're driving something small (for a car ultimately still positioned as "compact"), especially when navigating tighter corners in the city.

Thanks to the smoothness and silence of its electric drivetrain, however, the #3 still makes light work of traffic jams and traffic-light-laden streets. Out on motorways, it cruises with ease and commendable comfort; its easy composure only broken by nastier tarmac. The same bugbears remain, though: Its generous suite of safety nannies veer a bit too much into chattiness with their manner of chimes and bongs.

Overall, it's still a rather accomplished machine - pretty good on the range front too, with its 66kWh battery giving it a claimed 420-440km by the WLTP-cycle - whose hat is tipped slightly more towards the driver than the passengers.

The #1, with its tall body, short bonnet and large glass windows, might revel more in ambling about the city, but the #3 feels the more chameleon-like of the two: Able to lap up all manner of non-urban environs with more finesse.

Twin with its own identity 

Stepping out of the #3, taking a final good look at it, and knowing that Smart has been quite honest with how it has positioned this alongside the #1 is strangely satisfying.

While there's no denying that the two cars have been cut from the same cloth - there's also no doubt: This is no simple copy-and-paste job.

In an age where so many cars of the same family line can start to feel overly similar to each other, the fact that the #3 is set clearly apart from the #1 feels like a win for Smart. 

Just because a pair of twins share many genetic similarities doesn't mean that they're the same individuals.

It's clear that Smart understands this, and even as the #3 stands proudly as a competent electric crossover and an unmistakable member of the Smart family, it also stands as its own distinct machine - that hasn't forgotten to develop a personality of its own.

Its impending arrival in Singapore, slated for mid-September alongside the opening of the Smart showroom in an iconic location, thus also spells the start of an interesting next chapter for the brand. 

Here are a few other electric crossovers on the market that might interest you!

The Volvo EX30's cool design elements and agile performance make it a compelling proposition for those on the hunt for a small electric SUV

With premium quality, ample features and effortless performance at a highly competitive price tag, the Zeekr X is a compelling new offering to consider

Big, and big on personality, the Countryman SE is a colourful electric crossover that dials up the practicality without losing MINI's penchant for fun