Smart 3 review
At a glance
| Price new | £32,950 - £45,450 |
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| Used prices | £23,082 - £35,090 |
| Road tax cost | £0 |
| Insurance group | 33 - 41 |
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| Fuel economy | 2.2 - 2.4 miles/kWh |
| Range | 202 - 283 miles |
| Miles per pound | 3.5 - 7.1 |
| View full specs for a specific version | |
Available fuel types
Fully electric
Pros & cons
- Quiet and comfortable at speed
- Well-built, spacious interior
- Quick charging
- Driver assistance technology is frustrating to use
- Infotainment is complicated
- No coasting function included
Smart 3 SUV rivals
Overview
Smart has returned to Europe with a very different plan for its models than before. While it was known for clever, very small and efficient city runabouts, the brand has been transformed into one that sells only electric cars and, for now, only sells conventionally-sized SUVs.
This #3 is the second car the brand has launched, following on from the taller-but-smaller #1. It’s designed to be a different proposition to the #1 and appeal to different people, but the two are largely identical below the bodywork. We’ve driven several versions, both here in the UK and overseas on its international launch – the following review reflects the views of our wider test team.
Rivals include the similarly priced and slopingly-roofed Tesla Model Y, a regular feature on the UK’s best sellers list. At this price, there’s also the related Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV, although they are more conventionally shaped. While bigger, you might also consider the keenly priced Skoda Enyaq Coupe, too.
The #3 comes in a range of specifications, some of which are very competitive on price with rivals. The range starts with Pro, and rising through Pro+, Premium and topping out with the high-performance Brabus model (pictured in orange) that tops off the range.
All are well-equipped, with basic Pro models featuring like automatic LED lights, auto climate control, powered tailgate, panoramic glass roof and a large suite of driver assistance and parking aids included. Premium adds very useful heat pump (which improves battery efficiency and range), a Beats audio system, two-zone climate control, adaptive headlights, a more sophisticated parking assistance system and different wheel designs. Brabus is the sporty, high-performance offering.
In this review, we’re going to thoroughly assess all aspects of the Smart #3 and give them a rating in our verdict. Areas we’re covering include how practical and easy to live with it is, what it’s like to drive and how much it costs to own. Read about how we test cars at Parkers to understand how we reach our conclusions.
