Smart #1 Review: The Electric City SUV That Finally Feels Like the Future (Without Feeling Complicated)
07.02.2026 - 00:50:44
You know that creeping feeling every time you enter a crowded city center: tight parking spots, stressed drivers, stop?and?go traffic, and fuel prices that make every mile feel like a guilty pleasure. You want something small enough to slip into any space, quiet enough to make commuting feel less exhausting, but grown?up enough that it doesn’t feel like a compromise.
For years, city cars have asked you to choose: size or comfort, agility or range, fun or practicality. Most of the time, you ended up settling.
Smart #1 is the car that’s designed to stop you from settling.
Built on a modern electric platform and developed under the umbrella of Mercedes?Benz Group AG (ISIN: DE0007100000), the Smart #1 takes the original Smart City Car idea and upgrades it into a fully fledged compact electric SUV — with real range, real space, and real tech.
Why Smart #1 Feels Like a Solution, Not Just Another EV
Smart #1 is pitched as an all?electric compact SUV that aims to solve three core problems many drivers face today:
- Urban stress: Traditional SUVs feel oversized and clumsy in cities. Tiny cars feel too compromised for road trips or family use.
- Range anxiety: Older city EVs had limited battery capacity, making longer journeys a constant calculation.
- Tech overload: Many new EVs bury basic functions in screens and menus, creating frustration instead of ease.
Smart #1 tackles this head?on with a compact footprint, generous interior space, serious usable range for daily life, and a cleaner, more intuitive interface than many rivals.
Why this specific model?
On paper, the Smart #1 is a modern EV built for people who want the benefits of electrification without driving something that feels like a science experiment. According to Smart7s official specs on the German site, the Smart #1 range offers:
- Battery & Range: A usable battery capacity of around 62 kWh (model dependent) with WLTP ranges listed in the 310 660 km ballpark, depending on trim and wheel size. In real life, owners on forums and Reddit report that it7s more than enough for commuting, shopping, weekend escapes, and even moderate highway trips.
- Charging: DC fast charging capability that (in supported trims) can bring the battery from low to around 80% in well under an hour at a high?power charger, making en?route top?ups practical on longer journeys.
- Power & Performance: A compact EV motor with brisk acceleration and a smooth, quiet driving experience. Higher?performance versions (like the BRABUS variant) add notably stronger power for those who want hot?hatch levels of punch.
- Size & Space: A city?friendly length paired with a surprisingly spacious cabin and flexible rear seating. It7s designed to carry adults comfortably, not just kids or luggage.
- Design & Tech: A futuristic interior with a central touchscreen infotainment system, digital driver display, and a playful UI design that still aims to keep daily controls accessible and understandable.
What makes all of this matter is the way Smart #1 translates numbers into real?world benefits:
- Range you don7t have to obsess over: For typical European or urban?focused global drivers, you can do your weekly routine — commuting, errands, nights out — and charge a couple of times a week instead of every night if you don7t want to micromanage.
- Compact without feeling cramped: The wheelbase and interior layout mean rear passengers aren7t being punished for your parking convenience. It feels more like a practical family compact than a strict city microcar.
- Quiet, clean, and smooth: Electric torque off the line, no gear shifts, and low cabin noise turn grim traffic into something more like a glide than a grind.
- Style that7s not anonymous: The rounded, slightly playful exterior and light signature help the Smart #1 stand out against the growing wave of generic crossovers.
At a Glance: The Facts
| Feature | User Benefit |
|---|---|
| All?electric compact SUV format | Easy to park and maneuver in tight city streets while still offering real family?car space. |
| WLTP range around 310 660 km (model dependent) | Comfortable daily usage without constant range anxiety; longer trips become realistic with planned charging stops. |
| Fast DC charging capability | Quick top?ups on road trips or busy days so you spend more time driving and less time waiting. |
| Modern infotainment with central touchscreen | Navigation, media, and vehicle settings in one place, with a contemporary UI that feels future?ready. |
| Spacious interior with flexible seating | Enough room for friends, family, and luggage while keeping the exterior compact. |
| Distinctive Smart design | Stands out visually in a crowded EV market instead of blending into anonymous crossover shapes. |
| Developed under Mercedes?Benz Group AG | Backed by an established automotive group with deep experience in safety, engineering, and premium features. |
What Users Are Saying
Scouring recent Reddit threads and EV forums about the Smart #1 reveals an overall positive sentiment, with some nuanced criticism that7s worth factoring into your decision.
What people love:
- Comfort & quietness: Many owners praise the ride quality and sound insulation for a car this size, calling it a relaxed and refined place to spend time.
- Size vs. space balance: Drivers appreciate being able to park like they7re in a small car while enjoying space more typical of a compact crossover inside.
- Design & presence: The exterior and interior design get frequent compliments. Users say it feels more premium and futuristic than they expected from the Smart badge.
- Real?world range: Most owners report that range expectations are realistic if you drive sensibly, with enough buffer for daily use even in colder climates.
Common complaints:
- Software polish: Some early adopters mention that the infotainment system and app experience can feel a bit buggy or unfinished at times, with updates improving things over time but not fixing everything instantly.
- Menu depth: A few drivers find that some settings are buried in touchscreen menus, leading to mild frustration when trying to adjust simple things on the move.
- Price vs. competition: Depending on your market, some commenters feel that the Smart #1 can run close in price to larger or more established EVs, raising questions about value for money if you don7t prioritize its compact footprint.
The overarching tone, though, is that people who actually own the Smart #1 generally like living with it — especially in urban and suburban settings — and consider its compromises manageable in light of its strengths.
Alternatives vs. Smart #1
The compact electric SUV segment is now one of the most hotly contested corners of the EV market. So how does the Smart #1 stack up?
- Versus small hatchback EVs (like Renault Zoe, older Nissan Leaf, or similar): The Smart #1 typically offers a more SUV?like stance, fresher tech, and a more premium, airy cabin. In return, it can be pricier, and some hatchbacks may still be easier to thread through ultra?tight old?town streets.
- Versus mainstream compact EV crossovers (like VW ID.3/ID.4 region?dependent rivals): Smart #1 fights back with more distinctive design and a genuinely city?centric footprint, plus the halo of Mercedes?linked development. Competitors may offer slightly more cargo space or broader charging ecosystems in some regions.
- Versus budget EVs from newer brands: There are cheaper electric crossovers, especially from newer Chinese manufacturers. However, the Smart #1 leverages the reputation and engineering heritage of Mercedes?Benz Group AG and a brand that has long been associated with city living.
In short, if you want maximum interior volume per dollar, there may be better picks. If what you truly care about is a car that feels purpose?built for urban realities while maintaining a premium feel, the Smart #1 starts to look very compelling.
Who the Smart #1 Is Really For
The Smart #1 hits a sweet spot for a very particular kind of driver:
- City dwellers and close?in suburbanites who want to ditch internal combustion without driving something that feels toy?like.
- Couples or small families who need one versatile car that can handle school runs, commutes, weekend trips, and tight parking garages.
- Design?conscious buyers who care about aesthetics and brand image and like the idea of a modern Smart shaped by Mercedes?Benz engineering.
- Tech?curious drivers who want a modern digital cockpit but aren7t chasing bleeding?edge autonomy features at all costs.
Final Verdict
The Smart #1 is not a nostalgia play. It7s not just the old two?seater with a battery swap. It7s a ground?up reinvention of what the Smart name stands for: intelligent use of space, city?first thinking, and a refusal to accept that small must mean stripped?down or compromised.
If you routinely drive long cross?country distances, a larger EV with an even bigger battery and more cargo space may fit your life better. If you don7t care about city maneuverability, you might find more metal for your money elsewhere.
But if your daily reality looks like dense traffic, parallel?parking competitions, tight parking garages, and weekend escapes just beyond city limits, the Smart #1 feels like one of the most thoughtfully targeted electric cars on the market right now. It takes the pain out of city driving, eases you into the EV world with predictable range and fast charging, and wraps it all in a package that actually makes you smile when you walk up to it.
In a market crowded with anonymous crossovers, the Smart #1 stands out as a confident, urban?ready electric SUV with real personality. And that might be the smartest thing about it.
