The smart brand widens its EV portfolio with this #3 Coupe-SUV. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

The smart #3 is the more affordable trendy all-electric Coupe-SUV you didn't know existed. Think small Mercedes EV crossover with a bit of extra youthful flair and you're somewhere close to what this car is trying to be. It turns heads, feels quite sporty and has a younger outlook on life. There's lots to like.

Background

We're all having to readjust our perceptions of what the smart brand stands for. Once a maker of tiny microcars, it's now realigning itself as a purveyor of much bigger, pricier and more profitable lifestyle-orientated compact electric models. A shift confirmed by this contender, the smart #3. In essence, this is a Coupe-SUV version of the smart #1 hatch that began the brand's new era of joint ownership between Mercedes and the Chinese Geely conglomerate. But a lot more's been done here than just adding a slinkier shape. This #3 model's stretched wheelbase allows it to be an even larger interpretation of what a smart car can be. Plus lowered suspension aims to make it sportier to drive too. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

The days of feebly-performing smart models that struggled outside the city limits are long behind us. The mid-range 'Premium' version of this smart #3 that most will choose develops a useful 268bhp and 343Nm of torque from its single rear-mounted e-motor. Which propels the car with satisfying urgency, 62mph from rest dispatched in just 5.8s en route to 112mph. The 62kWh battery gives 283 miles of range - 10 miles more than the equivalent smart #1 thanks to sleeker aerodynamics. If you don't need quite that much, there's an entry-level 'Pro' model with a smaller 49kWh battery, but that's limited to 202 miles of range. As with the #1, there's an AWD BRABUS version at the top of the range, which gains an extra motor at the front axle, boosting power output to 422bhp. With the provided 'Rocket Start' launch control system engaged, 62mph here flashes by in just 3.7s and the range figure is 258 miles. Whatever #3 variant you choose, it'll immediately feel sportier than the equivalent #1 thanks to the lower, more focused driving position, stiffer springs and dampers and marginally wider tyres. The car also gets its own steering configuration and stability control tuning. There are the same drive modes though - 'Eco', 'Comfort' and 'Sport', plus an extra 'BRABUS' mode on the top version. The prodigious kerb weight is familiar from the #1 too - the 'Premium' version tips the scales at 1,810kg, which makes it about 60kg heavier than a #1. There are two brake regeneration settings which you alter via the centre touchscreen - 'standard' and 'strong'. The latter isn't quite fierce enough to facilitate 'one pedal' driving.

Design and Build

If you happen to be familiar with the smart #1, you'd recognise this #3 model because quite a bit of the design language is shared. Especially at the front with its rounded nose section, A-shaped lower grille and slimline LED headlights. But the #3 sits on a much longer version of the SEA Geely platform that smart currently builds its cars upon (shared with the Volvo EX30). That means a 4.4m body length that's around 130mm longer than the #1 and a sleek silhouette that's lower and wider too. Whether it's any kind of 'coupe' is debatable (it sits no lower than a boxy VW ID.3 hatch), but there's certainly nothing that looks quite like it in its crowded segment. The interior isn't much different to that of the #1, though you'll find yourself sitting much lower in the car than you do in one of those. There are sportier-looking seats with integrated headrests too. As with this model's hatch stablemate, physical switchgear is scarce, with almost everything controlled through the freestanding 12.8-inch central touchscreen. Also common is the narrow letterbox-shaped digital instrument display you view through the three- spoke wheel. All variants get a panoramic glass roof as standard and there's a decent amount of cabin storage space, with nice touches like an air conditioned cubby under the central armrest keep your chocolate cool. The back seat feels more spacious than the swept-back roofline suggests it might be - for heads and legs. But the bench doesn't slide like it does in a #1 and you wouldn't want to have to cram in a centre-seated adult. Boot space is on the small side, rated at 370-litres, though that's actually 47-litres more than you get in a #1.

Market and Model

Expect to pay a premium of around £1,000 over a smart #1, which will see the mid-level 'Premium' version of this #3 - the variant most will choose - pitched at around £40,000. You'll need around £45,000 for the high performance BRABUS version. If you'd rather set your budget in the £36,000-£38,000 bracket, the range kicks off with a 'Pro' model with a smaller 49kWh battery, then the 62kWh 'Pro+' version. Smart doesn't have any solus UK dealerships. There are currently around 35 Mercedes-Benz franchises in the UK that also sell smart models, where the brand occupies its own separate space in the showroom with a dedicated smart sales person on hand. As standard, there's lots of media connectivity, courtesy of a central 12.8-inch touchscreen which is fully customisable and provides an interface for an avatar that responds to speech commands - from launch a fox, but other characters will be added. There's also a 9.2-inch full HD digital instrument binnacle. Top models get a Head-up display; and all versions get an innovative glass 'Halo roof' which makes the interior feel airy and spacious. Safety provision include seven airbags. And you can also specify an 'Advanced Driver Assistance' system package, which gives Adaptive Cruise Control with stop and go, Lane keep assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, Highway and Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive High Beam headlights and automatic parking.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you some of the battery mileage figures in our 'Driving' section - 202 miles for the entry-level 49kWh 'Pro' version, then 270 miles for the 'Pro+', 283 miles for the 'Premium' and 258 miles for the BRABUS. Thanks to the 62kWh (usable capacity) #3 model's 150kW rapid charge capability, the battery can be topped up from 10 to 80% in under 30 minutes. Connect up to a 22kW AC charger and a 10-80% charge takes around three hours. The base 49kWh 'Pro' model can only charge at up to 130kW. Range is maximised by the car's slippery shape and aided by features like an active grille shutter and concealed door handles. The other things you need to know are exactly the same as is the case with any other smart model. There's a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, plus you get 'smart move assist', an included twelve-month international roadside assistance package that can be renewed annually following a smart dealer service.

Summary

This doesn't feel like a car from a brand that's been around for three decades. The pretty styling is fresh; so is the cabin design. Which is more what you'd expect from a company new to the market. But then so also is the need for a bit more fine-tuning with regard to the usability of the multimedia software and the driver assistance tech. If you can look past that, there's lots to like with this #3. It's excellent value and the appealing shape doesn't compromise cabin practicality or boot space too much. Build quality from the Chinese factory seems good and both performance and driving range are well up to scratch. In short, the #3 is a decent step forward from the #1, a mark of smart's upward trajectory. Don't saddle the marque with preconceptions based on its past. This is really a new Chinese brand and if it continues making cars like this, there's definitely a place for it.