Smart has long left behind the days of cute and dinky little city cars like the Fortwo and Forfour, now embracing larger, fully electric models such as the #1 and #3. Their latest model, the #5, is now their biggest model yet, and Eu Jin headed to Portugal to give it a proper test drive.
The Smart #5 carries a boxy yet rugged look, a stark contrast to its smaller #1 and #3 brothers. Its oblong-shaped headlights and taillights are joined together by a light bar decorated with four individual light pods.
Like its smaller siblings, the #5 features Smart logos on the sides and flush door handles. A cool detail here is the wheelcap logos stay upright, Rolls-Royce-style, enhancing its premium feel.
Inside, the design philosophy once again deviates from the simplistic nature of its smaller siblings to a tech-filled cockpit that looks like the control panel of a spaceship. The dashboard flaunts its dual 13-inch infotainment displays (one for the centre and the other for the passenger side) paired with a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
Along with this, there is also a massive 25.6-inch AR-HUD (Augmented Reality Head-Up Display) displaying driving information directly to the windscreen and tonnes of interior lighting to remind you that you’re in a car full of tech.
In China, the base Smart #5 comes with a rear-wheel drive (RWD) setup powered by a single electric motor delivering 340 hp and 373 Nm. It’s paired with a 76 kWh battery that offers a CLTC-rated range of 570 km. A more powerful RWD variant increases outputs to 363 hp and 373 Nm, while a larger 100 kWh battery extends its range to 740 km (CLTC).
Moving on to the all-wheel drive (AWD) variants, they feature a dual motor setup that makes a combined output of 587 hp, translating to a 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. Power is supplied from the same 100 kWh battery, although due to its AWD drivetrain, range has been cut short to 580 km (CLTC).
READ MORE: Smart #5 previewed in Malaysia – Largest Smart model to launch in Malaysia soon?
Finally, there’s the range-topping Brabus variant, as shown in the video. This AWD version of the Smart #5 delivers a staggering 646 hp and 710 Nm of torque, launching itself from 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds – basically supercar speeds. It shares the same 100 kWh battery pack but offers a WLTP range of 540 km. Built on an 800V architecture, it also supports ultra-fast DC charging at up to 400 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% recharge in just 18 minutes.
Since its initial preview at the Malaysia Autoshow 2025, there’s been no official update on whether the car will be launched in Malaysia, or if it’s even coming at all. With its cutting-edge tech, striking design, impressive range, and standout performance, wouldn’t you want to see it on Malaysian roads too?
ALSO READ: Gallery: smart #3 BRABUS, RM255k – 428hp, 0-100 in 3.7 secs
