Smart #1

All-new electric SUV has a tech-filled interior and promises a 273-mile range On sale Summer 2023 Price from £32,000 (est)

- George Hill

ONE WAY OF catching people's attention is to get a topic trending on social media. So, perhaps that's why the all-new Smart #1 has been given a hashtag-style name. After all, this electric SUV is meant to kick off a new era for the brand, and that's something it wants people talking (or tweeting) about.

Designed by Mercedes-Benz but engineered with the help of Chinese firm Geely, the #1 is the first new Smart to be launched since the Fortwo EQ city car two years ago, and the brand's first SUV. Its closest rival is the Peugeot e-2008, but non-electric small SUVS including the Audi Q2, Mini Countryman and Volkswagen T-Roc are also in its sights.

Beyond the name, another way the #1 is looking to stand out is with its funky design. The production model looks very similar to the Concept #1 that previewed it last year: clean, aerodynamic, and futuristic.

Under the skin, the finished car sits on bespoke electric underpinnings that house a single, rear-mounted electric motor producing 268bhp and 253lb-ft of torque. A 66kWh battery promises to give the #1 an official range of 273 miles. That trumps the 208-mile official range of the e-2008, although the bigger Kia e-Niro can officially manage up to 282 miles.

At its maximum charging speed of 150kW, the #1's battery can be topped up from 10-80% in as little as 30 minutes, if you can find a suitably powerful public charger.

The #1 could be a good option if towing is your thing because it can pull up to 1600kg. The Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.4 - both more expensive electric cars - can tow only 1000kg and 1200kg respectively.

A cheaper version of the #1 with a smaller battery is rumoured to be on the way, and because the underpinnings are scalable, a whole line-up of new electric Smarts could be in the pipeline. The firm hasn't ruled out a faster, dual-motor performance variant, either.