Smart #1

Don’t underestimate the Smart #1 to be a cost-effective car based on its dimensions, for the electric hatchback packs in some of the most premium features and a futuristic-looking layout rarely seen in a car of its size. While the cabin of the Smart #1 is high on premium appeal and features, it also scores high on practicality and space.

With a three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel and a 9.2-inch full-TFT rectangular instrument console recessed in the dashboard behind the steering wheel, the Smart #1 has a dynamic driver’s cockpit to create a good first impression. A large 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system sits in the middle of the centre console, which supports a 13-speaker audio system from Beats and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The dashboard of the Smart #1 has sleek-looking AC vents on the corners, while the centre console below the infotainment screen is also accentuated by satin silver surrounds. The Smart #1 is heavily equipped with a host of features like a 10-way powered driver’s seat with memory function, leather upholstery, 60:40 split rear seats, panoramic roof with electric sunblind, powered tailgate with hands-free function, ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear AC vents, wireless charger, 64-colour ambient lighting and air purifier. The Brabus variant gets additional elements, including contrast red stitching, an Alcantara steering wheel and aluminium pedals, continuing its sporty intent in the cabin too.

Being a new-age compact electric vehicle which has been designed keeping the younger car buying audience in mind, the Smart #1 has a vibrant visual appeal. Despite not going too overboard with the design language, the Smart #1 is an eye-catching vehicle in the truest sense.

At the front, the Smart #1 looks clean and curvaceous, with it featuring triangular Matrix LED headlamps on the corners of its fascia. With rounded edges, these all-LED headlamps also come with tilted V-shaped daytime running LEDs over their inner edges. There is a slim LED light bar which connects the headlamps, while there is a large air dam covering a major central portion of the front bumper, which also has tiny-shaped air curtains on the sides. There is also a very usable 15-litre frunk in the Smart #1.

On the side, the Smart #1 wears a boxy look with angular pillars, while looking dynamic with the floating design for the C-pillar and sporty-looking 19-inch alloy wheel choices. The flush-type door handles and cladding over the rounded wheel arches and bottom part of the door panels add a dash of style and modernity to the side profile of Smart #1.

The rear profile of the Smart #1 gets wing-shaped LED tail lamps connected by a slim LED light bar across the top width of the boot lid. The Smart #1 looks a bit rugged too, primarily due to the tough-looking body cladding and a silver skid plate. In the range-topping Brabus version, the Smart #1 comes with more elements, including vents on the front bonnet, “Dynamo” alloy wheels, sportier-looking front and rear bumpers and rear spoiler and red-coloured brake callipers.

The Pro and Premium variants of the Smart #1 have a comfort-oriented suspension setup, featuring Macpherson struts at the front and Multilink at the rear. However, the Brabus variant has a relatively sportier setup for the suspension, giving it an added sense of sportiness and dynamism.

The base-spec Pro variant of the Smart #1 is powered by a rear-mounted 200kW motor, which generates 343 Nm of torque and claims 0-100 kmph run in 6.7 seconds. With a 49 kWh LFP battery that claims 315 km of range, the Pro variant of Smart #1 claims a top speed of 180 kmph.  

The mid-spec Premium variant shares the rear-mounted 200kW motor from the Pro variant with the same torque output, acceleration timings and top speed. However, it gets a bigger 66 kWh NMC battery that claims a 440 km range.

The top-spec Brabus variant features the same 66 kWh battery, but with a dual-motor setup giving it an all-wheel drive layout and a combined power output of which is 315 kW. This motor generates 543 Nm of torque and claims a 0-100 kmph sprint time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 180 kmph. However, the 66kWh battery returns a lower range of 400 km.

The Smart #1 is loaded with a range of driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control with highway assist and traffic jam assist, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, evasive manoeuvre assist, front and rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, lane departure intervention, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, automatic high beam and autonomous emergency braking with the front and rear collision mitigation support. Other basic safety features of the Smart #1 include front and rear parking sensors, airbags all around, ABS with EBD, 360-degree parking camera, electronic stability control, hill start assist and hill descent control.

With a very likable design and equipment list inside-out and a good balance of performance, ride, and handling, the Smart #1 is a finely engineered package, making it a good first all-electric car for many people.