2023 Smart #1: Prices, specs and release date

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Thu, 11 May 2023

• Smart #1 small SUV EV is the first in a new era of Smart models
• The largest Smart ever is a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and China’s Geely
• Has a range of up to 273 miles and dual-motor Brabus version does 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds
• Prices from £35,950 with a summer 2023 UK release date

The new Smart #1 electric small SUV is finally arriving in the UK to herald a new era for the famous city car brand. Now a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and China’s Geely (which also owns Volvo, Polestar and Lotus), the new Smart #1 is the first in a series of new Smarts – all of which will be pure electric.

The new Smart #1, although larger than any previous Smart, still follows the firm’s Tardis-like principals. It measures under 4.3 metres long, so is smaller than cars such as the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, but is still billed as a family-friendly compact SUV. It is almost identical in size to today’s MINI Countryman, which itself is soon to go electric, and the Volkswagen T-Roc.

The new Smart #1 will also be a youthful alternative to pricier premium models such as the BMW iX1 and Mercedes-Benz EQA. It will be targeting the future new Volvo EX30 too, and the two cars will actually share a pure electric architecture.

The new Smart #1 will be sold through a network of UK dealers under the no-haggle agency model, but will also be the brand’s first car to be sold entirely online. This direct-to-consumer service will complement the in-person auto retail model. More innovations are promised once the first new Smart #1 arrive in the UK.  

2023 Smart #1 prices and release date

New Smart #1 prices will start from £35,950. This buys the entry-level Pro +, which has a single motor located in the rear. The new Smart #1 Premium brings more equipment and costs £38,950.

There will also be a range-topping new Smart #1 Brabus, with a dual-motor AWD setup. Prices for this start from £43,450. To mark its release, there will also be a new Smart #1 Launch Edition, limited to 100 UK cars, each priced from £39,450.

The new Smart #1 will be released in the UK later this summer. Reservations are open now on the brand’s UK website. Those who sign up will be emailed as soon as it is released for ordering.

2023 Smart #1 styling, interior and technology

The new Smart #1 has been designed by the Mercedes-Benz global design team. It is a clean design, with a floating ‘halo’ roof that’s available in several contrast colours, concealed doorhandles and 19-inch alloy wheels. The new Smart #1 has distinctive ‘frameless’ windows too.

The new Smart #1 has bold, almost exaggerated features. The front lights are connected by a central LED light bar, which stand out within a minimalist front end. The same shape is replicated at the rear. The new Smart #1’s SUV-like stance and beefy lower body cladding contrasts with the purer upper sections.

The new Smart #1 Brabus has more aggressive styling, including bonnet vents, and unique contrast paint options. The 19-inch Dynamo wheels are extra-distinctive as well. The Brabus logos themselves, however, are more discreet, restricted to the front apron, side skirts and rear apron.

The designers of the new Smart #1 have focused on aero efficiency. It doesn’t just look clean, but slips cleanly through the air too, with a Cd drag factor of 0.29. Details such as an active grille shutter help here.

The new Smart #1 has a similarly pure look to its interior, with sculptural door pulls trimmed in modern finishes, and inner sections that contrast with the main trim colour. There is an SUV-like raised centre console, a structural look to the dashboard and plenty of inset ambient lighting that adds to the layered effect. A high-quality premium feel is expected.

The new Smart #1 has a neat floating colour display ahead of the driver, and pleasingly physical buttons on the steering wheel. In the centre, it has a 12.8-inch freestanding infotainment screen, which boasts an ‘Inspiring Planet’ design concept. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, along with Smart’s own fox AI assistant avatar (the little fox sits in the bottom right corner of the screen).

The new Smart #1’s infotainment system runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 intelligent chipset, with an eight-core CPU processor. Developed in partnership with Geely company EcarX (and unrelated to the Mercedes-Benz MBUX system), it is one of the most advanced infotainment platforms on the market, promising a next-generation experience with endless clever functions.

The new Smart #1 has a standard 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, with a one-year trial of the Premium Connectivity Package, which includes unlimited data and over the air updates. Spotify is preinstalled as standard, while other third party apps enhance it further – they even extend to in-car gaming.

The new Smart #1 is the most spacious Smart ever. Aided by a generous 2750mm wheelbase, it has a roomy five-seat interior and boot space of up to 421 litres courtesy of a sliding second row of seats. The boot does shrink slightly in Premium and Brabus models, to 411 litres, due to the standard 640-watt Beats audio system. With the rear seats folded, boot space expands to 986 litres.

There is an additional 15-litre ‘frunk’ at the front.

All new Smart #1 come as standard with heated seats, power tailgate, 360-degree surround camera and a panoramic roof. The Smart #1 Premium adds Matrix LED headlights and a head-up display. It also adds a heat pump and a 22kW three-phase onboard charger.

The new Smart #1 Brabus has an Alcantara steering wheel, microfibre suede seats and headrests with the Brabus logo stitched in. Red seatbelts and metal pedals add to the sporty feel.

2023 Smart #1 electric motor, performance and range

The new Smart #1 is based on Geely’s EV-specific SEA (sustainable experience architecture) platform. All three new Smart #1 variants have the same 62kWh battery, with either single motor rear-wheel drive or dual motor all-wheel drive versions available.

Both the new Smart #1 Pro + and Premium single motor variants produce 272ps. They accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds. Both are able to use 150kW DC rapid chargers, to charge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes. The new Smart #1 Pro + has a range of 260 miles, while the Premium has an improved range of 273 miles, thanks to its standard heat pump.

The new Smart #1 Brabus has a dual motor AWD setup that produces a total of 428ps. This exciting power output serves up similarly vivid acceleration, with 0-62mph taking just 3.9 seconds. Using the same 62kWh battery, it has a WLTP EV range of 248 miles. It has a specifically calibrated Brabus driving mode for maximum performance on demand.

The new Smart #1 Pro + weighs 1788kg, which rises to 1800kg for the Premium, and 1900kg for the Brabus.

Ask HJ

I think my car has been given a fraudulent MoT - what should I do?

I bought a used Smart Fortwo in February. I had intended to place the car into storage for a few weeks around 30 miles away. During the drive, I noticed a pretty horrendous metal grinding noise coming from the rear brakes. I investigated the MoT history, and found that they had originally attempted to MoT the vehicle on the 13th, and it had failed. Rear brake performance being one of the reasons for failure. A second MoT was conducted two days later just prior to me picking the car up and it passed with no advisories. I took the car for a second opinion at a reputable local MoT testing station who performed a brake check. The car is in a dangerous condition and the all round brake performance isn't fit for an MoT. It appears that none of the remedial work has been carried out. The two MoTs were conducted at the same testing station by two seperate testers. A check on companies house shows that the two companies involved are connected to one another. Obviously, I plan to reject the car but I also want to make sure that the relevant authorities are notified of this potential fraud. Whom should I contact? I'd appreciate any help and advice you could provide.

There are a few options here. We think rejecting the car is the right thing to do, but also we would suggest reporting the testing station to Trading Standards, as it would appear that the car should not have been passed in its current state. You also have the option to pursue personal legal proceedings against the MoT testing station, or you could report them to the police, but we would suggest starting with Trading Standards. You can read more about how to proceed with these options on the gov.uk website.

Answered by David Ross

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