UK prices for the new all-electric Smart EQ range has been confirmed – and its postion as the one of the cheapest usable electric cars on sale right now has been confirmed. The two-seater Fortwo starts at £16,850, and the more useful Forfour comes in from £17,285.
These prices include the government’s £3,500 Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG), which is offered on all new electric cars sold in the UK. The Smart Fortwo, Fortwo Cabriolet and Forfour are offered in three trims: Passion Advanced, Premium, Prime Exclusive and Edition 1, and are aimed at city drivers who who appreciate a tiny turning circle for nifty city U-turns and the Smart’s compact dimensions.
It’s a good job, too – as all Smart EQ models have a range of around 70 miles, rendering the limited maximum speed of 81mph largely academic. Smart says that when using a rapid public charger, its 22kW on-board charger will top up the car’s battery pack from 10 to 80% charge in around 40 minutes. This rises to around six hours using a home chargepoint.
What tech do you get for the money?
The new Smart EQ range gets a lightly redesigned front end as well as new front and rear lights. All models are generously equipped for the money come with rear parking sensors, alloy wheels, a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, charging station finder, and Android Auto
Climbing up the range adds bigger wheels, a panoramic roof, heated seats, and leather upholstery. For a short time after the launch, Smart is offering the Fortwo EQ Edition 1, which features Asphalt Grey paint and black details, a Brabus spoiler and side sills and 16-inch Brabus alloy wheels. They are priced at £23,790 for the Fortwo Coupe and £26,210 for the Cabriolet (incl. PICG).
You can order a new Smart EQ now, with deliveries in March. PCP deals have yet to be confirmed but you can lease an EQ Fortwo now from £216 per month…
What this means for you
After dropping all of its petrol and diesel models last year and running out of stock, Smart is now genuinely an all-electric car brand. Although they’re cheap, the Smart EQ Fortwo and Forfour are packed with up-to date tech and are perfectly sized for city drivers – although the Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii offer stern competition for the money.
They all attract zero-rated car tax (Road Fund Licence and Benefit-in-Kind), and thanks to their relatively small battery packs, won’t cost a lot to fill up – even on pricey public chargepoints. You can expect stronger resale values for these 2020 models in line with the overall improvement of electric cars in line with increased demand.
>> Read more: Visit the Parkers electric car information hub
>> Read more: Best electric cars in the UK 2020
