Smart #3
New from £33,950 / £550 p/m
Is the Smart #3 SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Autotrader
"Smart’s #3 is the second vehicle in a wholesale re-invention for the brand. It’s moving away from ultra-compact city cars such as the old ForTwo, and into the heavily contested waters of the medium-sized electric crossover market. With big rivals, the #3 has some serious work to do if it’s to convince buyers that this is still a brand worth buying into."
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Running costs for a Smart #3
The Smart #3 is very well priced, with the basic Pro model starting at £32,950 - significantly undercutting the mechanically identical Volvo EX30. The Pro+, with the bigger battery, starts from £36,905, while the Premium costs £39,950. Even the high-performance Brabus version is quite reasonably priced for something so quick at £45,450. The #3 should prove cheap to run as long as you can charge up at home or at work on a cheap electricity rate. The basic Pro version uses a 49kWh battery that delivers a 202-mile range which should be enough for those who only undertake occasional longer hauls. The Pro+, Premium and Anniversary models all get a 62kWh lithium-ion battery, which gives a maximum range of up to 283 miles, while the more powerful four-wheel-drive Brabus version can manage 258 miles. In general, the efficiency of the #3 is good. We saw an average of 3.5 miles per kWh for the Premium model, and 3.2 miles per kWh for the Brabus - very reasonable for real-world conditions. Of course, at the moment, you don’t pay any VED motor tax for any electric car, which is a helpful saving, but remember that changes come 2025.
Reliability of a Smart #3
The #3 is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to quality. While it feels well-made overall, and has the backing of both Mercedes-Benz and Chinese giant Geely, we did notice some unpleasant rattles and squeaks in the cabins of our test cars. To be fair, these were pre-production vehicles, and not quite the finished article, but it’s a concern, nevertheless. As for mechanical reliability, the batteries and motors are all shared with Volvo, Polestar and others, so should be fine.
Safety for a Smart #3
As standard, the #3 comes with plenty of safety technology, including automated anti-collision braking, traction control, stability control, LED headlights, a 360-degree parking camera system and much more. Higher spec versions get full electronic driver assistance in the form of lane-keeping steering, active speed limit monitoring, driver monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The #3 hasn’t been tested yet by Euro NCAP but given that it has both Mercedes and Volvo genes, we’d be very surprised if it doesn’t come back with a full set of five stars.
How comfortable is the Smart #3
Smart promises that its new, larger SUV and crossover range will still be 'true' Smarts because they'll be the most spacious and practical cars in their class. For the most part, this holds up for the #3 as it’s very comfortable in the front. There are big bucket seats, a good driving position, plenty of adjustment and a good view out. And it’s really very spacious in the back, too, with ample legroom and headroom even if there are tall passengers in the front seats. The only drawback here is the small boot, which holds just 370 litres, although that does expand to 1,160 litres with the rear seats folded down. You’d think that the sloping roof would make the back of the #3 feel really claustrophobic, but it doesn’t - the standard big panoramic glass roof lets in loads of light, so even though the side glass is quite shallow, it never feels too oppressive back there. One thing, though - the ‘frunk’ storage space in the nose is so tiny, just 15 litres, that it’s effectively pointless. The charging cables, for example, will have to stay in the main boot, further eating into that space.
Features of the Smart #3
All versions of the #3, from the lowly Pro upwards, get the same big 12.8-inch screen in the centre of the dashboard. However, the Pro is the only one that doesn’t get a useful slim nine-inch driver’s display behind the wheel. This is a big help, as it means you don’t get distracted by whatever’s on the big screen when you’re just checking the speed and range to recharge. For higher-spec models, there’s also a head-up display projected onto the windscreen. The big central touchscreen is a bit of a liability, though. The graphics look smart enough, and there’s a cute Cheetah avatar for the ‘Hello, Smart’ digital voice assistant. However, the menu layout is cluttered and confusing, with similar functions spread across multiple screens. Worse are the infuriating, distracting and constant parade of warning beeps and voice commands. Worst of all is the driver distraction warning, which beeps if you so much as glance at the big screen trying to find the links to simply turn down the cabin temperature or adjust the wing mirrors. The voice control assistant is no help in this regard, as too often it just ignores your calls for help. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but those will only alleviate some of the problems.
Power for a Smart #3
Power is one thing that even the basic model of the #3 doesn’t lack. Whether you’re going for the 49kWh Pro version, with its cheaper LFP battery, or the bigger-battery 62kWh Pro+, Premium, or 25th Anniversary models, you’ll get the same 268 horsepower rear-mounted electric motor. This has plenty of go. In fact, it has so much that even the basic #3 will accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds - faster than many hot hatchbacks. Performance is rarely less than very brisk, with only extended hard acceleration tiring both the motor and battery, although both recover their vim once you give them a moment to cool down again. Mind you, there’s more. Much more, if you go for the two-motor, four-wheel-drive Brabus version, which is packing 422 horsepower and an insane 0-62mph time of just 3.7 seconds. Do you really need a family five-door that can out-accelerate some Ferraris? Probably not, but it can be entertaining. The only problem is that the Brabus is only fun to drive when you have it in the specific Brabus driving mode. Then the steering weights up properly, and the whole car feels tauter and a little more agile. The problem is weight, and no matter how powerful the motors are, that weight makes twisty roads a chore, as it constantly tries to pull the #3 away from the corner you’re aiming at. The standard #3 has steering that’s very numb and free from feel, so it’s not much fun at all to drive, although it is competent at least. The ride quality is also quite firm, possibly too much so for broken British back roads, and the large turning circle makes navigating tight corners and small roundabouts more difficult than it really ought to be.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
£760.70
Monthly payment
£4,564.18
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Electric
- Automatic
- 283 miles
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Smart #3 SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
- 12.8in Central Display Touchscreen
- 12V Port - Front
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Bcall
- Bluetooth Hands-Free System with Plug and Charge
- DAB - Digital Radio
- Emergency Call System (eCall)
- Four USB Ports
- Speakers x5
- Wireless Phone Charger
- 19in Alloy Wheels - Flux
- Active Grille Shutters - AGS
- Concealed Door Handles
- Door Mirrors - Auto Dimming Electrically Adjustable and Heated with Memory and Reverse Auto Dipping
- Door Sills - Stainless Steel Treadplates
- Electric Windows
- Frameless Doors
- Heat Protected Sunroof
- Panoramic Sunroof - Halo Style - Fixed
- Roof Carrier Fixing Points
- Summer Tyres
- Tyre Repair Kit
- 2 Key Fobs
- ABS - Anti Lock Braking System
- Airbag - Driver and Passenger
- Airbag - Side Airbags for Driver and Front Passenger
- Anti Theft Immobiliser
- Anti Theft Internal Monitor
- Anti Theft Steering Wheel Lock
- Anti-Roll System
- Anti-Theft Alarm System
- Autohold
- Cornering Brake Control - CBC
- Door Open Warning
- EBD - Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Electric Parking Brake
- Electronic Traction Control - TSC-ASR
- Emergency Brake Assist
- Emergency Lane Keep Assist Plus - ELKA Plus
- Evasive Manoeuvre Assist - EMA
- Far-Side Airbag
- Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Hill Descent Control - HDC
- Hill Start Assist
- ISOFIX Front Passenger Seat and Two Rear Seats
- Keyless Entry
- Lane Change Assist - LCA
- Lane Departure System
- Side Curtain Airbags
- 360 Degree Camera
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go Function
- Blind Spot Detection - BSD
- Drive Mode - ECO-Comfort-Sport
- Driver Monitoring System
- Front and Rear Collision Mitigation
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors - 8
- Intelligent Voice Assistant Avatar
- Lane Departure Warning - LDW
- Traffic Sign Recognition - TSR
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- 40-60 Split Rear Seat
- 6 Way Powered Front Seats with Lumbar Support
- 9.2in HD Instrument Cluster
- Air Filter
- Automatic 1 Zone Climate Control
- Centre Console Cup Holders
- Centre Console with Air Vent Cooling
- Charging Port Cover
- Driver Memory Seat
- Driver and Passenger Seat Heating
- First Aid Kit
- Front Seatbelt Height Adjustment
- Frunk 15L
- Intelligent Power Management
- Man-Made Leather Wrapped Instrument Panel
- Manual Dimming Interior Mirror
- Manually Adjustable Steering Column
- Overhead Console Glasses Storage
- Powered Tailgate
- Premium Connectivity Package (1 Year Inclusive)
- Rain Sensing Windscreen Wipers
- Reading Lights
- Rear Armrest - Cup Holders
- Rear Seat Angle Adjustment
- Retractable Load Space Cover
- Safety Vest
- Smart Charge - Street Package
- Smart Pilot Assist
- Standard Connectivity Package (8 Years Inclusive)
- Steering Wheel - PU
- Steering Wheel - Sports Style
- Traffic Jam Assist - TJA
- Warning Triangle
- s-Pedal
- Automatic High Beam Assist
- CyberSparks LED Headlights
- LED Tail Lights
- CCS Type 2 Charging
- Comfort Suspension
- Electrical Power Assist Steering - EPAS
- Intelligent Speed Assist - ISA
Your questions answered
Monthly rentals ('payments') are not an offer of credit. Payments are based on offers available today which may be withdrawn or varied at any time in the future without notice.
Contract Hire ('Leasing') is subject to status and approval and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Vehicle must be returned with no more than fair wear and tear to avoid further charges. You will not own the vehicle. Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply.
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