• Standard car is most efficient
• Maximum official range of 273 miles
• Real-world range is less impressive

What are the running costs?

Smart reckons the #1 Premium (which the optional heat pump) can cover 273 miles on a single charge. However, we found that to be a rather optimistic estimate. We fully charged the car then ran its 66kWh battery down to 11 percent capacity. The Smart covered 173 miles using 89 percent of its electricity, suggesting it’ll only cover a maximum of around 200 miles in the real world.

The Brabus model is less efficient, thanks to its extra electric motor. Officially, it can cover 248 miles – but that depends entirely on how much of the available performance you deploy. In any case, the Smart #1 certainly isn’t one of the most efficient electric cars on sale. The 77kWh Volkswagen ID.3 and Kia Niro EV are more frugal.

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At least charging the Smart #1 isn’t too arduous. Every car supports 150kW DC rapid charging which means, if you can find a public EV charge point that’s capable of suppling that speed, its battery can charge from 10–80 percent capacity in less than 30 minutes.

AC charging speeds are, obviously, much less impressive. Pro+ cars can only charge at up to 7.4kW, which can fully recharge the battery in seven and a half hours. Premium models and up offer support for 22kW AC charging, which slashes wait times down to three hours.

Servicing and warranty

Smart sells an Integrated Service Package which covers the cost of your #1’s maintenance for the first three years or 30,000 miles (whatever comes first). If you get the car serviced at an authorised Smart centre, the firm will also throw in an eight-year/100,000-mile roadside assistance package.

The car is warrantied for three years which looks a little stingy compared to the seven-year warranties offered by Kia and MG. However, as is now customary for electric car manufacturers, the #1’s battery pack is covered under warranty for a period of eight years or 125,000 miles. Its electric motor and control unit is also covered for eight years, but the mileage cap falls to 100,000 miles.