The Smart #5 Brabus was hilariously quick, but this electric SUV has way more power than I need

Introduction

I rather liked the Smart #1 and #3 EV’s with their quirky styling and decent performance. Both were quite roomy too, but anyone in need of more space should head in the direction of the new Smart #5. This is a sizeable electric SUV that offers up lots more space, although that also means more bulk thanks to a chunky design. I’ve just driven it on a lot of country lanes though and, boy, it was a bit of a tight fit in places.

The Smart #5 will be available for the UK market in six different model variants. While pricing is yet to be firmed up, top of the pile will definitely be the Brabus edition. It packs in more performance – a lot more – along with lots of cosmetic embellishments. A 94kW battery pack makes it good for up to 338 miles or 366 miles in the Pro+ and Premium editions.

The Smart #5 marks a slight departure from the styling of the Smart #1 and #3 but, thanks to a very distinctive front and rear end, it oozes lots of personality. When it comes to kit, this car arrives full loaded. Sumptuous leather seats plus a 20-speaker Sennheiser sound system and an imposing duo of 13in OLED centre and passenger screens are highlights, but all trim levels are impressive.

The styling

I quite liked the slightly quirky styling lines of the earlier Smart hashtag models, but the Smart #5 takes things in a slightly different direction. This D-segment whopper is loosely a mid-to-large size SUV, with more of a leaning towards the large end. As a result, I realised I was going to have a bit of a task on my hands persuading this minor monster to get through countryside lanes that were barely any wider than the 1.9-metre width of the #5.

Some of the Brabus edition’s styling tweaks are a bit too lairy for my taste; I actually prefer the trim levels below this car, which start out (curiously) with the Pro edition. That’s also got a smaller 75kWh battery delivering 288 miles. Those without the need for attention might be better off going in that direction. In the middle are the rear-wheel drive Pro+ and Premium trims, which offer better range from a bigger battery. It’s a slightly confusing trim line-up, I think.

What all the variants do have though is dramatic looks, which rely on smoothed-off boxy edges, especially around the rear pillar and back end. That quite enclosed rear section, plus a length of 4.7-metres can make the Smart #5 feel a little intimidating to drive, but anyone who’s driven a Mercedes EQB or Kia EV6 shouldn’t feel too put off as it’s got that kind of stature. The high roof delivers lots of space inside and all cars have a premium finish, both inside and out. However, the Brabus trim is much more ostentatious and, well, most of it works if you like that sort of thing.

The drive

Anyone wanting to show off will be more than happy with the Brabus edition. It’s got all the get up and go anyone could ever wish for, with silly acceleration and an impressive top end. Better still, it’s built on 800 volt architecture, which means it’s quick to charge when the time comes around. Right up to a mental 426kWh is possible, but you’ll more likely be enjoying up to 150kW around the UK.

Of course, being a Brabus derivative, that performance is a little over the top when the car is pushed. Sure, it drives nicely enough if things are taken easily, but if the red mist descends this car turns into a rocket ship. This is boosted further by the dual motor, four-wheel drive powertrain, which is much more gnarly than the lower trim models. There are 21in wheels though, and a sporty suspension setup that can feel quite brutal on, for example, cobbled surfaces or when heading over speed bumps. It’s like lighting on the motorway, mind.

I tried the Smart #5 in all its various drive modes, with Comfort being the obvious choice for everyday motoring. However, it was hard not to select the Brabus drive mode for a good chunk of my experience. The downside of having fun in this edition is the way the efficiency isn’t much to write home about. Nevertheless, I spent a long time behind the wheel of my car, doing a lot of miles into the bargain, and still returned home with 30-odd percent. That’ll make it a hit with show-off day trippers.

The technology

Smart always packs in plenty of tech with any new model and the #5 comes with everything we’ve seen in the Smart #1 and #3, only dialled up another notched or two. Even more so in the Brabus trim. The dashboard layout might not be for everybody though. Aside from the driver’s dials, it’s dominated by a pair of landscape screens next to each other. The one closest to the driver has all the core controls, while the other is aimed at entertaining passengers.

This seems like a great idea, but I found the colourful graphics displaying movie posters glowing there on the other side of the dash a bit of a distraction. The other issue I encountered was dealing with control settings in the screen menus that didn’t feel very intuitive or easy to tackle on the move. Smart has made quick routes into these with more condensed menus along the bottom but, even then, it didn’t feel that easy. I also struggled with the sat-nav when I missed some waypoints, which turned a seemingly straightforward journey into something way more complicated.

Smart #5 verdict

Overall, the Smart #5 feels like a strong proposition and, in the Brabus guise, feels like overkill in the power department. The novelty value of the rapid acceleration is fun for about five minutes, but if you’ve got kids on board, it could be a recipe for triggering motion sickness.

However, anyone with a family will love the copious amounts of space on offer within the Smart #5. This is a surprisingly practical car underneath the loutish trim. I’d look at the lower tier models as they’re just as good and pack in extra range too.

Smart #5 Brabus technical specifications

Powertrain	Permanent magnet synchronous motor
Battery	94kWh
Power	637bhp
Torque	524lb-ft
0-62mph	3.8sec
Top speed	130mph
Range	335 miles
Charge rate	426kW
Cargo volume	630 litres