Smart #5
New from £39,790 / £498 p/m
How long will it take to charge?
Results based on 84.40kWh Smart #5 battery
0
For a part charge (up to 0 miles)
0
For an 0% charge 0
You can charge this vehicle in 34 minutes at its fastest charging speed of 150 kW
* We have used data from the manufacturer to estimate these charging times, they are only a guide. Charging times for some speeds may not have been provided.
Is the Smart #5 SUV a good car?
Read our expert review
Words by: Dan Trent
"Considering your first Chinese car but still harbouring doubts about quality, reliability and the tech? Smart’s combination of Geely electric know-how and European design from its partnership with Mercedes might be just the ticket, the #5 combining the powerful tech and performance we associate with new Chinese brands with the solidity and quality of a known premium player. Distinctive looks, loads of space, a tech-focused interior and frankly astonishing performance add up to an appealing package, though the screen-heavy user experience and nagging safety aids are an annoyance."
Read the review by category
Running costs for a Smart #5
We won’t know how much the #5 will cost in the UK yet, but looking at the pricing in Europe expect it to compete with larger electric SUVs like the VW ID.4, Mini Countryman Electric, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and others like them. While most #5 models are powered by a sophisticated battery and offer huge performance for the money there’s also the option of a more affordable model with slightly simpler tech if you like the look but are less fixated on the numbers for range, charging speed and horsepower promised by the others. Other than that, it’s the usual story of cheaper running costs if you can charge at home, run it as a company car or buy through a salary sacrifice scheme. Unfortunately, given the likely pricing we’d expect all #5 models to be hit by the ‘expensive car supplement’ adding several hundred quid a year to your annual tax bill , at least for the first five years of ownership.
Reliability of a Smart #5
While always associated with Mercedes, Smart as a brand has had several partnerships along the way, this latest with Chinese megabrand Geely too new to have any meaningful reliability data as yet. Given Geely’s tech also powers Volvo, Polestar and Lotus, and the parent company’s resources, we’d hope for the best.
Safety for a Smart #5
Consider this a holding score for the fact Smart was upfront about the fact the cars we tested still had some glitches to sort before sales start, and many of the niggles we experienced were related to safety tech either not working as it should or just being a bit annoying! Suffice to say, we soon learned not to trust the semi-automated lane changes to ‘catch’ the car before it crossed the white line onto the hard shoulder while the eye-scanning attention monitor told us off even when we were looking where we were going. The car scolding us to slow down for tight corners when trundling at town speeds was also infuriating. If it all works as it should when the #5 reaches customers the range of safety aids should mean a top score here, though. We’ll report back!
How comfortable is the Smart #5
The Smart’s promise of Mercedes quality for Chinese pricing more or less plays out in the interior and its combination of 70s sci-fi style with (mainly) decent materials. It’s a big car as well, the flat floor and legroom in the back meaning it will be great for rear-seat passengers of all sizes with a boot big enough for all their stuff and a usable ‘frunk’ under what would usually be the bonnet for stashing charging cables and the like. You feel the benefit of that Mercedes influence in the ride quality and refinement as well, which is a lot more polished than many Chinese-built rivals. At sensible speeds the weight and response of the steering is confidence inspiring, the suspension strikes a good balance between body control and comfort and the notable lack of wind or road noise makes motorway cruising very relaxing indeed. A great place to rack up the miles, in short.
Features of the Smart #5
In an age where buying habits have changed car manufacturers have tended to simpler ranges to make choosing the right model easier, especially if you’re going the finance or leasing route. Smart seems to have missed that memo, and the #5 line up is somewhat confusing given it starts with a base model with a different battery from the rest and then progresses through various rear- and all-wheel drive options up to the top of the range Brabus we drove. Without getting too bogged down in what that all means all but base Pro and Pro+ get the distinctive double-screen dashboard, the passenger getting their own on which they can watch streaming services or play games on the move. In theory the second screen should detect if the driver is stealing a glance at it, but that didn’t happen on the pre-production cars we tried. Smart assures us it will but a neater solution would be the clever coating used by other manufacturers preventing the driver from seeing what’s on the screen without it having to switch itself off. There’s an awful lot of tech on the car as well, and much of it is very impressive. But, like other Smarts and, indeed, others within the wider Geely family, you’re forced by the lack of buttons to use the screen. But the interface is far too fiddly, with tiny icons that are difficult to read or use safely on the move. Doubly frustrating, given the huge screen means they could easily be made bigger.
Power for a Smart #5
Exactly what is the point of over 600 horsepower in a family SUV? Having driven the top of the range Brabus version we’re still not sure, but here we are and if you want to pummel your passengers’ heads into the seats every time you hit the accelerator this fastest #5 will do it all day long. Or, at least, until they throw up into their laps. Impressive as it is it doesn’t feel like the rest of the car has been engineered to cope with this much power, and after a couple of exploratory bursts of hard acceleration we soon dialled it back into the calmer driving modes and settled into a more relaxed cruise. Where, unsurprisingly, the #5 feels much more in its comfort zone. Based on that experience we’re keen to try one of the less powerful versions, which still look quicker than most rivals by the numbers but have a more meaningful and relevant level of performance for a car of this type. Range and charging speeds are, meanwhile, very impressive on the versions with the fancier battery, most models capable of well over 300 miles while if you can find a powerful enough public charger you’ll be able to top up in as long as it takes to grab a coffee.
Lease deals
These deals are based on terms of 8,000 miles, for a 36 month lease with a 6 months initial payment.
£644.87
Monthly payment
£3,869.21
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Electric
- Automatic
- 335 miles
£631.09
Monthly payment
£3,786.55
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Electric
- Automatic
- 366 miles
£685.85
Monthly payment
£4,115.09
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Electric
- Automatic
- 335 miles
£678.06
Monthly payment
£4,068.36
Initial payment
- 5 seats
- 5 doors
- SUV
- Electric
- Automatic
- 366 miles
Standard equipment
Expect the following equipment on your Smart #5 SUV. This may vary between trim levels.
- 1 Key Fob
- Anti Theft Alarm
- Anti Theft Immobiliser
- Anti Theft Internal Monitor
- Anti Theft Steering Wheel Lock
- Anti-Roll System
- Autohold
- Autonomous Emergency Braking
- Cornering Brake Control - CBC
- Digital Key
- Door Open Warning
- EBD - Electronic Brake Force Distribution
- Electric Parking Brake
- Electronic Traction Control
- Emergency Lane Keep Assist Plus - ELKA Plus
- Evasive Manoeuvre Assist - EMA
- Far-Side Airbag
- Front Airbags
- Front Cross Traffic Alert
- Front Side Airbags
- Hill Assist
- Hill Descent Control - HDC
- ISOFIX - Rear
- ISOFIX Front Passenger Seat
- Keyless Entry
- Lane Change Assist - LCA
- Lane Departure Prevention - LDP
- NFC Key Card
- Parking Emergency Brake
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Side Curtain Airbags
- Trailer Stability Assist - TSA
- Ventilated Disc Brakes
- 10.25in HD Instrument Cluster
- 40-60 Split Rear Seat
- 6 Way Powered Driver and Passenger Seats Adjustment with Lumbar Support
- Aeroplane Style LED Rear Seats Reading Light
- Air Filter
- Ambient Lighting
- Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror
- Automatic 2 Zone Climate Control
- Centre Console Cup Holders
- Centre Console with Air Vent Cooling
- Driver Memory Seat
- Easy Entry-Exit Seat Adjustment
- First Aid Kit
- Front Seatbelt Height Adjustment
- Frunk with Light
- Halo Roof - Electric Blind
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Inner Door Release Button
- Intelligent Battery Temperature Control Management System
- Man-Made Leather Wrapped Instrument Panel
- Manually Adjustable Steering Column
- One Button Comfort Mode
- Overhead Console Glasses Storage
- Passenger Easy Entry-Exit Seat Adjustment
- Passenger Memory Seat
- Powered Rear Seat Back Adjustment
- Powered Tailgate
- Premium Connectivity Package (1 Year Inclusive)
- Rain Sensing Wipers
- Reading Lights
- Rear Armrest Centre - Cup Holders
- Rear Seat Load-Through Access
- Retractable Load Space Cover
- Safety Vest
- Seats - Driver and Passenger - Heated
- Smart Charge - Street Package
- Smart Pilot Assist
- Standard Connectivity Package (8 Years Inclusive)
- Steering Wheel - Man-made Leather
- Traffic Jam Assist - TJA
- Warning Triangle
- s-Pedal
- 12V Port - Front
- 12V Port - Trunk
- 13in OLED Central Screen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless and Wired Connection
- Audio System with 9 Speakers
- Bcall
- Bluetooth
- DAB - Digital Radio
- Emergency Call System (eCall)
- Four Fast Charge USB Ports
- Wireless Phone Charger
- 19in Alloy Wheels - Orbit
- Acoustic Front and Rear Glass
- Active Grille Shutters - AGS
- Concealed Door Handles
- Courtesy Lights with Logo Projection
- Door Mirrors - Auto Dimming
- Door Mirrors - Electrically Adjustable and Heated with Memory and Reverse Auto Dipping
- Electric Charging Port Cover
- Electric Hood Release
- Frameless Doors
- Full Length Position Lights
- Halo Panoramic Roof
- Roof - Eclipse Black
- Roof Rails
- Summer Tyres
- Tyre Repair Kit
- 360 Degree Camera
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
- Automatic Parking Assist - APA
- Blind Spot Detection - BSD
- Drive Mode - ECO-Comfort-Sport
- Driver Monitoring System
- Front Collision Mitigation
- Front and Rear Parking Sensors - 12
- Lane Departure Warning - LDW
- Rear Collision Mitigation
- Traffic Sign Recognition - TSR
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
- Automatic High Beam Assist
- CyberSparks LED Headlights with Automatic High Beam
- Follow-Me-Home Headlamps
- LED Tail Lights
- CCS Type 2 Europe
- Double Wishbone Front Suspension
- Electrical Power Assist Steering - EPAS
- Intelligent Speed Assist - ISA
- Multilink Rear Suspension
- Plug and Charge ISO15118
- Regenerative Braking
- Vehicle 2 Load Capability - V2L
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.
Autotrader Limited (Firm Reference Number: 735711) is a credit broker and not a lender. Autotrader Limited introduces you to Autotrader Leasing Limited, which acts as a credit broker in its own right. Autotrader Leasing Limited, No.3 Circle Square, 3 Hawkshaw Street, Manchester, M1 7BL (Firm Reference Number: 630748) may go on to introduce you to one of a limited number of leasing companies. Autotrader Leasing Limited will typically receive a commission or other benefits from the leasing company as a result of this introduction.
Autotrader Leasing Limited is an Autotrader Group Plc company.
Vehicles are subject to availability and may vary from images shown.