While this new Smart is a lot different from what they used to be, and the Smart of today no longer makes stunningly tiny city cars that could easily fit inside your bathroom, that bold, imaginative quirkiness is still there, as strong as ever.
As a new entrant to the EV market, the Smart cars you see today are even bigger, making them more practical, with good design, luxury, refinement, and tech. Even more tantalising is the prospect of having Brabus, just like the silly old days of Smart, add some of their signature Germanic oomph under the bonnet. So, is the new Smart #1 Brabus really worth it, or is it merely a shell of a generic EV, simply riding on nostalgia alone?
What Is The Smart #1 Brabus About?
If appearances are anything to go by, this revival of the Smart brand doesn’t really carry over many of the styling features that defined the old Smart, besides the badge. Granted, I reckon that most people may actually see this as a good thing. Besides, those old Smart cars were cutesy and interesting to look at, but they’re not exactly that great-looking necessarily, at least to my eyes, but it is, of course, a highly subjective take.
The new Smart, however, does at least look rather neat from some angles, and it certainly has a unique vibe that allows it to stand out compared to other brands on the market. The Smart #1, their smallest model today, has a distinctively boxy shape, especially around the back, which almost gives it a Mini Cooper-esque silhouette. Now, personally, I’m not too sure about that odd floating roof design, as it almost looks like the car’s wearing a hat!
Nevertheless, beyond that slight quirk, there’s not too much not to like with the styling, and it looks exceptionally handsome with this two-tone black-over-red paintwork. Speaking of, when you compare it side-by-side with the regular, non-Brabus Smart #1 models, you’re really able to immediately notice the aggressive, aerodynamic, and sporty bodykit, available with 8 different heritage colours that reflect Brabus’ and Smart’s history.
They contrast beautifully against the bold, bright red accents that are typical of many Brabus cars. Additionally, you can’t not love just how out-there the Smart #1 Brabus looks, with that sharp front splitter and winglets on the side, not to mention the sporty side skirts. Aerodynamics are clearly an important part of the design drafts, as you’ll notice several more Brabus-specific changes here over the normal Smart #1.
There’s now a redesigned front apron around the Smart #1’s side intakes, which helps to reduce lift on the front axle when you’re going at high speeds. Meanwhile, there’s also the rear roof spoiler, another Brabus accessory, and coupled with the rear apron inserts, you get a bit more downforce for extra stability when you’re hammering it down the Autobahn! That’s not to say that Brabus alone were solely responsible for all that aero.
Smart themselves had some rather neat and clever aerodynamic designs too, which you can find on the regular, cheaper Smart #1 variants. Most noteworthy here is the active front grille shutters, which aid in making it just that tiny bit more slippery when cooling isn’t needed. Even fairly small styling touches, like the flush door handles, surely make the Smart #1 cut through the air with greater ease, as well.
How Does It Drive?
Besides its looks, the other most notable upgrade between the regular Smart #1 and the Brabus edition that I’ve got here is what’s under the hood. While the normal, non-Brabus models come with a singular motor mounted on the rear axle (thus, it’s rear-wheel drive), the spicier Brabus version features an additional electric motor on the front. Not only is it not all-wheel drive, but it also gains you an abundance of performance to go with it.
Altogether, between those two potent electric motors, this twin-motor setup cranks out a mightily impressive 428 hp and 543 Nm of torque. That’s an eye-wateringly insane figure for what is otherwise quite a compact electric car. This alone is enough to get you from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, and onto a top speed of 112 mph. While the non-Brabus Smart #1 models might be speedy enough, this takes it to a whole other level!
Besides, you could further tweak the Smart #1 Brabus’ performance via one of four drive modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport, and my personal favourite, Brabus. That last drive mode massively sharpens up the entire car, ready and waiting to take on the track! Look around underneath, and you’ll find a lot of other nice, welcomed add-ons and upgrades over the regular Smart #1, and Brabus’ usual attention to detail when tuning practically anything.
This includes a newly developed steering set-up for the Smart #1 Brabus, made to ensure sharper and way more precise handling, in addition to the inclusion of sports suspension, and a recalibrated ride to match. For those of you who are looking to squeeze out even more speed out of your new Smart #1 Brabus, you could also upgrade from the standard 19-inch wheels to either one of two supremely lightweight forged alloy wheels.
These bespoke 19-inch and 21-inch wheel options respectively don’t just look cool, but they’re much lighter than the stock wheels, and they’re way stronger too, on the off-chance that you want to track your Smart car! Getting behind the wheel of the Smart #1 Brabus, then, it really does feel like a pocket rocket, with way more than ample torque and power kicking you in the back of the head as you punch the accelerator pedal.
It feels nimble, agile, and light on its feet, despite the deceptively high kerb weight of this thing. To keep you nice and safe on the road, the Smart #1 Brabus comes bundled with a variety of ADAS systems too, such as blind-spot detection, a parking assist function, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, a 360-degree camera system, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, traffic sign recognition, and more.
What Is It Like Inside?
Take a step inside, and the Smart #1 Brabus wows you with just how big of an improvement it is over the Smart cars of yesteryear, in more ways than one. It feels properly premium inside, and it almost feels like you’re sitting inside a mini Mercedes, with Alcantara, leather, and microfibre suede aplenty on the seats, dashboard, and door trim. Then, grip that sports steering wheel, and the car dazzles you with its ambient lighting.
Being a Brabus-tuned car also meant getting some of that posh Brabus touch, such as bright red stitching, red seat belts, red piping on the seats, and a huge Brabus logo emblazoned on the headrests. I also quite like that raised centre console design, which makes it feel like you’re planted straight inside a cockpit. Aside from that, in this top-spec Brabus model, at least Smart didn’t skimp out on any of the luxury features, either.
You’ll find powered lumbar and seat adjustments for both front passengers, ventilated and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a sporty set of Brabus pedals. That said, I’m not 100% sure about all the hard plastic trim in the cabin, especially around the dash and centre console. They look great now, but it feels to me like the sort of plastic that doesn’t age well, and I reckon it would see scratches and excessive wear pretty easily.
But onto more positives, tech and electronics are clearly a key focal point, as the Smart #1 excels with this, too. Right in the middle, you’ll find a gargantuan 12.8-inch infotainment system, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in satnav. The system itself is quite intuitive, slick, and easy to use, although I’m once again unsure about all the cutesy graphics, icons, and animations that feature prominently on the home screen.
They’re pleasant to look at, but I’ve found that they made the user experience somewhat a bit hectic and busy, given just how many random symbols and icons appear, just by glancing at it. But, who knows, you’ll probably get used to it and manage after some time of fiddling around with it. Additionally, in front of you, there’s a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster, which is quite different from most other gauge clusters that I’ve seen.
First off, it’s letterboxed, but it’s then set quite far inside the dash, though legibility appears quite fine during my testing, and I do like that it’s far enough out of the way. As quirky as it might be, those same graphics that I saw on the infotainment system appear here on your gauges too, and I can’t help but wonder if it might be a tad too distracting! At least in this Brabus version, it also comes paired with a 10-inch heads-up display, which is neat.
Elsewhere in the interior, you’ll find loads of extra paraphernalia that might come in handy, such as over-the-air updates for speedier enhancements to the in-car software, a 13-speaker Beats sound system, generous amounts of USB ports for charging, and even a wireless charging pad for your phone. Moreover, one significant benefit of Smart now going for bigger cars is the interior space, and it’s truly night and day compared to before.
This time around, there’s ample space in the cabin, with decent legroom and kneeroom for rear passengers, even with those front seats moved far back to fit my driving position. Plus, while the boxy shape of the Smart #1 might not be to everyone’s liking, at least the flat roofline won’t compromise your rear passenger’s headroom, either. If that’s not enough, then you’ll be glad to hear that you get an actual boot in the Smart #1, and it’s quite big.
The Experience
What’s an EV review without talking about the battery, eh? So, moving back to the Smart #1 Brabus, you’ll find a 66 kWh NCM battery pack. It’s worth noting that the Smart #1 line-up, as I noted earlier, has a ton of different trim levels and models, each with their distinct variations, which include unique battery capacities. Sticking to the Brabus that I have here for now, the battery is rated for 248 miles (WLTP Combined) or 331 miles (WLTP City).
For context, this is actually a downgrade versus the top-of-the-line, non-Brabus Smart #1 Premium. The latter is able to manage up to 273 miles (WLTP Combined), though that’s not a surprise. I reckon having to carry an extra motor at the front, with the increased weight, as well as a large bump in horsepower and torque, would make the Brabus model here quite power hungry, hence the slightly reduced range.
Still, it’s the compromise you have to make if performance is the be-all and end-all for you. Nevertheless, the all-new Smart #1 Brabus does at least carry over a lot of the same refinement in battery tech from the other models, such as fast-charging. With AC charging, the best it’ll do is 22 kW, which will top up your Smart #1’s battery from 10% to 80% in around 3 or so hours. But not many people will have 22kw at home.
On the other hand, if you could find a DC fast-charger, the Smart #1 Brabus would take in 150 kW charging at its peak, which maxes out charging the battery from 10% to 80% in just 30 or so minutes. Of course, as with any EV, it has brake regen to help extend the range a tiny bit, and the Smart #1 Brabus also comes with a heat pump, so this ought to further maximise your range, especially during the winter and on those chillier days.
Smart #1 Brabus Cost
While the new Smart #1 range starts from a rather reasonable £29,960, particularly for what you’re getting, the mad, range-topping Brabus edition will set you back at least £44,960. Yet, if you want to make yours even more special, Brabus’ bespoke individualisation programme could personalise a Smart #1 Brabus to match your every whim, making it feel truly exclusive, such as bespoke interior and exterior trim, among endless other options.
Verdict
As rare as these new Smart cars are on British roads today, I’d still totally recommend that you check them out when you get the chance! The Smart #1 Brabus is a unique, quirky car that stands out like few others out there, and it is more than eager to blow you away with its outright speed, as it cocoons you in luxury and refinement. So, if you’re shopping around for something a bit more left-field, maybe shortlist a new Smart car, too!
Specification
Smart #1 Brabus Specs
- Price: £44,960
- Engine: Dual-motor EV, 66 kWh battery
- Power: 428 hp
- Torque: 543 Nm
- 0-62mph: 3.9 seconds
- Top speed: 112 mph
- Weight: 1,900 kg
- Economy combined: 248 miles (WLTP)
- CO2: 0 g/km