Smart #5: Mercedes Style, 400kW Charging, Under £50K?

We are officially moving on from the idea of Smart as the quirky, ultra-compact car company. Enter the Smart number 5 – a bold, spacious electric sport utility vehicle that stretches 4.7 meters long with a wheelbase of 2.9 meters. This is no city runabout. It is a full-fledged family-sized electric sport utility vehicle that just might become the backdoor into Mercedes-Benz ownership, minus the Mercedes-Benz price tag.

Smart has evolved into an all-electric brand under the shared leadership of Mercedes-Benz and Geely. While the styling and influence are clearly Mercedes-inspired, Geely brings its engineering muscle to the table – the same parent company behind Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus.

When it launches, the Smart number 5 lineup will feature both dual and single motor configurations. The Pulse and Summit variants get all-wheel drive powered by dual motors, delivering 588 brake horsepower and a zero to sixty-two miles per hour sprint in just 4.9 seconds. These versions are also equipped with selectable off-road driving modes to tackle rougher terrains. Meanwhile, the Pro, Pro Plus, and Premium models feature a single rear-mounted motor, tuned more for urban comfort than off-road capability. The entry-level Pro gets a smaller lithium iron phosphate battery, while the rest of the lineup shares a much larger 94 kilowatt-hour pack.

The exterior design blends Mercedes-Benz cues with unmistakable Smart DNA. While the shape feels like a distant cousin of the Mercedes EQB, there are details like the oblong-themed headlights, grille, wheels, and rear light clusters that remind you this is still a Smart. The floating wheel cap logos stay upright while in motion – a nod to the luxurious Rolls-Royce detail. At the back, the upright tailgate gives it a boxy silhouette with a sharply curved rear window.

Smart is also playing around with trim personalities. The rugged Summit Edition comes dressed for adventure with a roof rack platform and a side ladder, giving off a mini Defender vibe. If you are not into the off-road look, the Premium version tones it down with a more refined, car-like appearance. A base model called the Smart number 5 Pro will come later, offering a more modest equipment list and battery size – but given how well-equipped other Smart models are, it should still have plenty of tech and comfort.

Inside, the cabin feels more like a tech hub than a car. Design elements carry over from the Smart number 1 and number 3, including the signature ‘floating bridge’ center console that gives the front passengers plenty of space. Up front, there are two massive 13-inch OLED displays – one in the center and another facing the front passenger. Drivers get their own 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while a 25.6-inch augmented reality head-up display floats ahead with essential driving info.

The infotainment system runs on the powerful AMD V2000 processor, which is capable of handling high-end features like video playback and even in-car games. You will also find a fun digital animal assistant that varies by model – the number 1 has a fox, the number 3 features a cheetah, and this one introduces a lion as your animated helper.

Entertainment is dialed up even further with a built-in projector and a high-end Sennheiser Signature Sound System, which includes 21 speakers and a detachable portable speaker for outdoor use. The ambient lighting can pulse to the beat of your music, setting the vibe for road trips or camping adventures. If you need to chill, the front passenger seat includes heating, ventilation, a leg rest, and massage functionality.

Seat belts are integrated into the seats themselves for optimal comfort and safety positioning. As for rear passengers, the frameless doors are a stylish touch not typically seen in sport utility vehicles. Headroom is great thanks to the tall, squared-off design, and the rear seats can recline or fold flat for maximum versatility. Add in fancy touches like LED reading lights with a “First Class” mode, and it starts to feel like the premium lounge experience.

There is no third-row seat option like you get in the Mercedes EQB, but luggage capacity is generous. The rear cargo space holds 630 liters – which beats the Skoda Enyaq’s 585 liters. Fold down the back seats and that jumps to 1,530 liters. Up front, there is a 72-liter frunk that is perfect for charging cables or smaller bags.

Speaking of charging, this vehicle is seriously future-ready. The Smart number 5 uses an 800-volt electrical architecture and supports ultra-rapid charging up to 400 kilowatts. That is quicker than a Tesla Model Y, Porsche Macan, or Audi Q6 e-tron. If you can find a 400-kilowatt charger, you can go from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. More common 350-kilowatt chargers, like the ones on most UK motorways, will do it in around 25 minutes.

There will also be a version with a smaller 74 kilowatt-hour usable lithium iron phosphate battery, but it will not support the 800-volt system, so expect charging speeds closer to 150 kilowatts.

The larger 94 kilowatt-hour lithium nickel manganese cobalt battery is rated for 366 miles of range on the WLTP cycle. While that sounds decent, it is worth noting that the Tesla Model Y can manage 387 miles and the Skoda Enyaq gets 365 miles – both with smaller batteries. That hints at lower efficiency for the Smart number 5.

Still, Smart’s CEO says the focus is more on fast charging than squeezing every last mile of range. That makes sense in theory – if you can top up quickly, range anxiety becomes less of an issue. But for many potential buyers, the limited fast-charger network may still make them nervous.

No official pricing has been announced for the United Kingdom yet, but based on European estimates, the 76 kilowatt-hour version is expected to start around £48,000, the Premium mid-tier version could be around £53,000, and the dual-motor Pulse and Summit trims may go for about £55,000. A performance-tuned Brabus variant is coming too, and it will likely sit at the top of the range.

There is no denying that the Smart number 5 is packed with personality, space, and cutting-edge tech. If efficiency improves in real-world testing, this could be a serious contender in the electric family sport utility vehicle space.