New Smart #5: electric SUV arrives with serious off-road kit

• All-new electric SUV
• 100kWh battery
• On sale next year

It’s not unusual for car makers to dabble outside of their usual territory, but few cars represent a bigger change in direction than the new Smart #5. The electric SUV couldn’t be any more different to the teeny city cars that launched the brand to global fame, with space for five passengers, a dual-motor setup with over 600bhp and plenty of kit for off-road adventures. It’s the German-Chinese brand’s largest car to date, and packs the latest EV technology to give it an edge against the Tesla Model Y and Audi Q4 e-tron.

What do I need to know about the new Smart #5?

Forget Smart’s city cars of old – the #5 is a big car. At 4,705mm long, it’s comparable in size to mid-size SUVs such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Mercedes GLC – or over two metres longer than the last Smart ForTwo.

From the outside, the Smart #5 wears a much squarer look to its two siblings, the Smart #1 and Smart #3. There’s still a light bar spanning across the upright front end, but the headlights are oblong in shape – a motif that’s repeated at the rear. There are some shared features, however, including the panoramic sunroof and the frameless doors. The wheels even get a ‘floating’ centre cap, which keeps the Smart logo upright while the wheels are turning.

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Smart has designed the #5 with adventurous customers in mind, as it will launch with the ‘Adventurer’s Collection’, an equipment package for those heading off-road. It includes a roof-mounted light bar, underbody protection, an electric tow hitch, a large roof rack, side steps, side bags and a side-mounted roof ladder. For tackling tricky terrain, drivers will be able to choose between Sand, Snow, Mud and Rock driving modes. You can even fold all of the seats flat to create a king-sized bed, so forget about fiddling with tent pegs and poles.

Elsewhere inside the #5’s cabin, you’ll find a 10.3-inch digital driver’s display alongside two 13-inch screens for infotainment and the front-seat passenger. It’s a vast digital setup, but Smart has still managed to squeeze in some oak trim and ambient lighting. You get heated leather seats all-round, plus a 72-litre front boot and up to 1,530 litres of rear cargo space with the seats folded.

There’s little official information available regarding powertrain specs, but Smart has confirmed that the #5 will use a 100kWh battery and will have “over 340 miles” of range. Charging from 10% to 80% should take as little as 15 minutes if you can find a compatible rapid charger.

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Official performance figures are still under wraps, but online leaks from earlier this year suggest that flagship models will use a dual-motor setup with 637bhp. A less powerful dual-motor model with 579bhp will be offered alongside cheaper single-motor models with 335bhp and 386bhp.

How much does the Smart #5 cost and when can I buy one?

Smart hasn’t revealed official pricing for the #5 yet, but given its size, tech and performance, we doubt you’ll see much change from £45,000. Keen customers in Europe will have to wait until the beginning of 2025 to receive their car.

Read our list of the best electric SUVs currently on sale…