SMART is moving up in the world. At 4,270mm long, the new Smart #1 is almost as long as a pair of ForTwo city cars if one was parked perpendicular to the kerb - and it's the company's first entry in the compact premium electric SUV sector.
It lives up to the notion that new cars keep getting larger, but more significantly the #1, driven here for the first time on UK roads, is a change of direction for the firm.
It's the first all-new model to be released since Smart became a joint venture between Mercedes and Chinese company Geely, and it turns its back on the dinky but cleverly designed city cars of old.
Instead, Smart is aiming for a posh-ish take on the mainstream EV segment populated by the likes of the Renault Megane E-Tech, Kia Niro EV and the recently launched BYD Atto 3.
The #1 is a few millimetres shorter than a Volkswagen Golf, so it's still hardly a giant. And within that modest footprint is a car designed to be an EV from the outset, with some promising statistics.
Energy is supplied by a 62kWh battery, which provides a WLTP range of 273 miles, putting the Smart very much on a par with those aforementioned rivals. With 150kW charging and a 268bhp rear-mounted motor, it pulls clear of any of them - not bad when you consider that, starting from £35,950, its price sneaks a few hundred quid under all three.
Step inside, and first impressions leave little doubt that the Smart #1 is designed to be a premium product. You're presented with a minimalist yet modern dashboard, which is dominated by a vast 12.8-inch touchscreen display.
Denne historien er fra May 24, 2023-utgaven av Auto Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 24, 2023-utgaven av Auto Express.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PEUGEOT E-2008 GT
Our Peugeot EV and classic BMW may be the perfect two-car garage
SHOW 'N' TELL
Our 2024 Performance Car of the Year, Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N EV, takes on the revamped Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
F1 EXHIBITION IS GO GO GO
Former F1 World Champion Damon Hill shows us around a celebration of the greatest sport on Earth
BYD Dolphin Active
Lower power means a more affordable price, but the new entry-level Dolphin is left wanting in other areas
Mercedes-AMG CLE Coupé
FIRST DRIVE We get behind the wheel of new CLE that aims to offer both comfort and a scincillating driving experience
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Ergonomic improvements are a welcome enhancement to VW's iconic hot hatch, but there's still no manual version
Toyota Prius
FIRST UK DRIVE Toyota's hybrid pioneer finally returns to these shores in fifth-generation guise and exclusively as a plug-in hybrid
INSURANCE SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
INSURANCE FRAUD BUREAU EXPERT GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON THE LATEST SWINDLES
Honda's updated HR-V sports sharp new look
Brand's best-selling model in Europe has also received some interior revisions and extra safety kit
Audi sets £70k start price for new A6 EV
ORDER books for the new Audi A6 e-tron are open now, with prices from just under £70,000 and deliveries starting next February.