Small Smart in the Big Blick test: How many Smarts are in New #1?

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During our test drive, we frequently asked “Is this really a Smart?” we asked. Our answer: yes. The truth is: #1 (read: Hashtag One) no longer has anything in common with the old Smart Fortwo. For three years, Smart has been owned not only by Mercedes, but also half by Chinese automaker Geely. Its design comes from Germany, its technology and platform come from China, and its production takes place in China.

before trip

The short 2.70 meter Fortwo city car has become a 4.27 meter long compact SUV. The interior is tidy and quickly sculpted, even if the hard plastic protrudes in some places in the basic Pro+ version we tested. The large touchscreen is a real eye-catcher, ensuring that the center console no longer has any physical buttons. These are only available as touchpads below the screen. The 2.75 m wheelbase provides plenty of space for both front and rear passengers. Thanks to the panoramic glass roof, there is a general feeling of spaciousness inside.

on the street

The Chinese get their power from the electric motor with 272 hp (200 kW) and 384 Nm torque located on the rear axle. The Smart accelerates quickly, but not brutally: reaching 100 km/h takes 6.7 seconds and tops out at 180 km/h. It’s great: The power is a little delayed when you press the accelerator, but it’s fully available and makes overtaking maneuvers faster. Many warning sounds are annoying, for example when the current speed limit is slightly exceeded. This speed warning must be laboriously turned off from the menu every time you reboot.

that was good

The basic Pro+ version features a panoramic roof and driver’s seat heating, as well as ambient lighting and a longitudinally adjustable rear seat. This provides more luggage space or more legroom for rear passengers. There is already enough space for passengers: two adults can easily sit in the back without any restrictions. Consumption is also impressive: In our test we reached an average of 16.3 kWh/100 km. With a battery capacity of 62 kilowatt hours, this will lead to a calculated range of approximately 380 kilometers. If you drive mostly in the city and prefer comfort mode over sport, you should be able to cover over 400 kilometers in daily life. Also positive: thanks to the 150 kW charging power, it takes less than 30 minutes to stand from 10 to 80 percent at the charging station.

he was bad

Things get a little weird when you enter number 1: The handles extend to open the door, but you can only grab them from the bottom – which can be difficult depending on the situation. And the central touchscreen is graphically impressive. On the one hand, it doesn’t always work properly, and on the other hand, having to control every function digitally quickly becomes annoying. This causes distraction while driving, especially in the beginning. In addition, the fact that the Smart is made in China is (for many European car customers, including some Swiss) an argument against the electric car.

what remains

At Smart #1, for 38,490 francs, you get a lot of cars for little money. In addition to plenty of space, it also has ample equipment and enough power to overtake quickly. You also get plenty of assistants like parking sensors, 360-degree camera, and highway assistant with adaptive cruise control. The question remains whether you’d rather buy the 428 hp (315 kW) all-wheel-drive Brabus version for an additional fee of around 7,000 francs.

Source: Blick