smart #1

Model Overview

The smart #1 marks the first all-electric model under the completely rejuvenated smart brand. Designed by the Mercedes-Benz global design team and underpinned by Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), it is positioned as an all-electric B-segment SUV. The EV made its global debut in April 2022, with customer deliveries kicking off in China in September of the same year.

In May 2025, the smart #1 Classic Refresh Edition was officially launched at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show, offering 3 variant options priced between RM154,900 and RM199,900, bringing down the entry price by RM44,000 compared to the 2024 model. The high-performance 2026 smart #1 BRABUS Performance Edition debuted at the Chengdu Motor Show in August 2025, retailing at RM249,900 with 219 comprehensive upgrades. Serving as the brand's revitalisation flagship, the smart #1 has surpassed 100,000 global owners, with its footprint spanning nearly 40 countries and regions worldwide.

Design Language

Styled by Mercedes-Benz's global design team, the smart #1 embodies the "Sensual Purity" design philosophy. The front end is characterised by a full-width LED light bar linking the triangular headlamps, a closed-off grille, and a wide lower bumper intake, giving it a sleek and rounded aesthetic. Its profile highlights a floating dual-tone roof, frameless doors, flush pop-out door handles, and an illuminated starry emblem on the D-pillars. Around the back, it gets a neat roof spoiler and full-width LED tail lights. Dimension-wise, it measures 4,270 mm long, 1,822 mm wide, and 1,636 mm tall, with a 2,750 mm wheelbase and 181 mm of ground clearance. The 2026 Classic Refresh Edition offers 9 exterior shades, 5 interior colourways, and 3 contrasting roof finishes, yielding up to 40 customisation combos. Meanwhile, the BRABUS Performance Edition stands out with an exclusive Matte Black body and contrasting Red roof combo, 19-inch BRABUS MONOBLOCK Z 10-spoke alloy wheels, and a bespoke sporty aero kit. Inside, the cabin is swathed in generous leather upholstery (spanning 3 m²) and gains a 256-colour dual-zone intelligent ambient lighting setup akin to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, alongside fresh interior themes such as Celestial Green and Night Black.

Powertrain and Performance

The smart #1 Classic Refresh Edition is exclusively powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor (RWD) setup. The Smart Upgraded and Smart Long Range variants output 175 kW and 300 Nm of torque, clocking 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds. The Smart Premium variant adopts an all-new silicon carbide (SiC) permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 250 kW and 373 Nm, completing the century sprint in just 5.1 seconds. The BRABUS Performance Edition gets a much more potent dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) powertrain: pairing an upgraded rear permanent magnet synchronous motor with a 150 kW front asynchronous induction motor to churn out a combined torque of 543 Nm, hitting 0-100 km/h in a blistering 3.6 seconds. Riding on Michelin Pilot Sport 4 high-performance tyres, its 100-0 km/h braking distance drops to just 34.38 m. In terms of range, two battery options are available: a 49 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack and a 66 kWh ternary lithium (NMC) pack, delivering CLTC electric ranges of 410 km, 545 km, and 570 km respectively. DC fast charging is supported across the board, juicing up from 10% to 80% SOC in under 30 minutes.

Chassis and Handling

Built upon the SEA platform, the smart #1 features a front MacPherson strut and rear five-link independent suspension setup. Working in tandem with the Bosch 9.3 Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), the chassis delivers a well-judged balance between sportiness and comfort—planted and composed at highway speeds, yet pliant and forgiving over rough urban patches. Steering weight can be linked to three drive modes (ECO, Standard, and Sport) or customised independently, offering sharp precision and effortless feel in Standard mode. The BRABUS Performance Edition features smart’s intelligent AWD system, which switches seamlessly between 2WD and 4WD in just 0.4 seconds, and adds Launch Control along with 4 all-speed dynamic acoustic sound profiles, boasting a turning radius of 5.5 m. Regenerative braking intensity is multi-stage adjustable to suit individual driving styles. With a turning circle under 11 m and a 100-0 km/h braking distance of under 37 m, the crossover proves exceptionally nimble in tight city traffic.

Cabin and Equipment

The cabin features a dual-screen digital cockpit comprising a 9.2-inch full LCD instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch floating infotainment touchscreen. It runs the "Inspiration Planet" smart OS digital ecosystem powered by a 7nm octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset with 5G connectivity. The system introduces features like Amap traffic light countdown, QQ Music, and Carlink smartphone mirroring, alongside an integrated Doubao AI large language model that supports 4-zone voice command activation. In terms of comfort, standard kit across the range includes a 13-speaker Sennheiser Signature Sound System (640 W), heated and ventilated front seats (on higher trims), a 10-inch full-colour Head-Up Display (HUD), 50 W air-cooled wireless smartphone charging pad, smart fragrance dispenser, and an Air Quality System (AQS). The rear seats offer a 3-step recline adjustment, while boot space starts at 323 litres and expands to 986 litres with the rear seats folded. The BRABUS Performance Edition elevates interior luxury further with Artisyn microfibre suede trimming across the headliner, A-pillars, and sun visors, complemented by bespoke BRABUS sports seats.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Safety is a standout highlight for the smart #1, having secured dual five-star crash ratings from both China C-NCAP and European Euro NCAP. Passive safety kit comprises dual front airbags, front side airbags, and front/rear curtain airbags (6 airbags total), plus a front-centre far-side airbag. The shell utilises a high-strength cage structure, laying a robust foundation for occupant protection. On the active safety and ADAS front, the smart Pilot Assist suite harnesses up to 23 high-precision sensors to deliver 23 Level 2+ advanced driver assistance features, including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with stop & go, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB, with full stopping threshold raised from 30 km/h to 55 km/h), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), and Automatic Lane Change (ALC, functional between 45-130 km/h). Parking aids include Automatic Parking Assist (APA) and Remote Parking Assist (RPA, supporting perpendicular, parallel, and diagonal bays); the camera has been upgraded to a 3-megapixel sensor, with ultrasonic sensor detection range increased by 82% and parking precision improved by 80%. High-spec models also offer an optional upgraded Navigation Pilot Assist package. Other safety additions include a Sentry Mode that sips just around 1 kWh over 4 hours to monitor the vehicle’s perimeter in real time.

Market Performance and Verdict

Since its launch, global cumulative deliveries of the smart #1 have surpassed the 100,000-unit milestone. Early in its market debut, it racked up 30,000 pre-orders within a 40-day pre-sale campaign, with monthly sales crossing 4,600 units in December 2022 and total deliveries reaching 9,212 units within its first 100 days. From January to November 2023, cumulative sales of the smart #1 reached 51,900 units, accounting for over 80% of smart's total brand volume. In international markets, the smart #1 exceeded expectations following its Hong Kong launch, where the BRABUS Performance Edition took over 90% of order books and bagged the Top Gear Hong Kong "Best EV of 2023" accolade. In Germany, it scooped two prestigious awards from auto motor und sport (ams): "Best Cars 2023 Trend Award" and "Best Cars 2023 Best Small New Energy SUV". Additionally, smart products have bagged the German Red Dot Design Award and the iF Design Award.

However, in early 2026, monthly domestic sales for the smart brand softened slightly, recording 2,103 units in January, of which the smart #1 contributed 570 units. Automotive pundits note that by leveraging the unique synergy of "Mercedes-Benz styling and Geely platform engineering", the smart #1 retains strong brand premium appeal in the RM150,000 to RM250,000 electric B-SUV bracket. Its key selling points lie in its chic design, solid ride and handling dynamics, and comprehensive Level 2+ ADAS suite, putting it up against rivals like the Electric MINI, ZEEKR X, and Volvo EX30. Areas for improvement include a slightly snug rear legroom compared to similarly sized front-wheel-drive competitors, alongside a relatively premium price point in its class. As the trailblazer leading smart's leap from the ICE era into full electrification, the smart #1 has not only preserved and elevated brand equity, but also spearheaded the brand's "China-Europe Dual-Hub, Global Footprint" strategy. With smart slated to roll out new models like the smart #2 and smart #6 in 2026, its product portfolio will continue to expand across roughly 40 global markets, accelerating its march towards premium, intelligent mobility.