Yes, that’s right, it’s called the “Hashtag One”. And this Smart has Brabus in its name too. Interesting.
Smart, for most of us, means the ForTwo, that tiny urban two-seater that was supposed to revolutionise city mobility. It had a quirky charm, and some people thought it represented the future.
Unfortunately, not enough people thought that way, and it never really became the success story Mercedes hoped for. Yet, for reasons best known to them, they couldn’t let it go, despite losing money on it pretty much the whole time.
a new chapter begins.
Then, in June 2020, Smart Europe GmbH was reborn, this time as a 50:50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Chinese giant Geely. This is the same Geely that owns Lotus and Volvo, so you can bet this Smart is going to have some shared DNA embedded in it.
And their plan was to bid farewell to the ForTwo, abandon the original idea of radical city cars, and jump into the booming crossover market just like everyone else.
it sure looks unique.
The Smart #1 Brabus is a carefully targeted car from a carefully targeted brand. In many ways, Smart has looked at what BMW did with MINI and gone for a similar vibe.
MINI was once all about clever small cars but shifted to retro coolness. Mercedes has taken a page from that playbook, and they have even gone a step further with this Brabus edition.
Yes, this is an official Brabus product, but it’s not quite what you’d expect. No longer just about performance, Brabus is now positioned as the flagship variant. You’ll recognise it by its aero-spec 19-inch wheels, sporty body kit with an extended spoiler, and signature red accents. It even has fake vents in front of the bonnet.
and loaded with tech.
There’s quite a lot going on inside the cabin of the Smart #1, even if at first glance it might look a tad minimalist. Nearly everything is controlled through a central 12.8-inch infotainment screen, which comes standard regardless of trim level.
It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chipset, the kind of hardware usually reserved for gaming systems. Fancy. But the home screen is also a bit overloaded with information, and the graphics can feel a little overwhelming.
On the plus side, the screen is incredibly responsive, and Smart has wisely placed shortcuts to climate controls along the bottom. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available if you so wish, and Smart’s over-the-air updates should make it easy to patch in new features down the line.
But here’s where things get tricky. Some essential functions are buried deep within the system’s submenus. For instance, if you want to silence the enthusiastic fake engine noise, you’ll have to embark on a digital treasure hunt.
And adjusting the side mirrors requires a tap on the screen and a few button presses on the steering wheel; similar to Tesla, and more convoluted than necessary.
The Brabus trim treats you to a quality Beats audio system, and the cabin materials are generally pleasant to the touch. It even gets swathes of Alcantara.
One thing we did appreciate was the high centre console, which hides two cupholders, a large storage bin, and a thoughtfully angled induction charging pad. And in terms of driving position and seat comfort, there’s very little to grumble about.
is it practical? sort of.
If you’re planning to ferry passengers around, the Smart #1 Brabus is a surprisingly good choice. There’s generous head and legroom in the rear seats, and getting in is easy thanks to wide door openings. Plus, you can slide your feet comfortably under the front seats, even when they’re set low.
The rear bench is a 60:40 split and can slide forward to increase boot space at the expense of legroom. But, while the boot offers a claimed 411 litres of space, the actual usable area isn’t great.
The floor is high, and the parcel shelf sits low, making it awkward for cargo ingress. And when you slide the seats forward, there’s an awkward gap between them and the raised boot floor.
There’s a tiny 15-litre frunk, but that’s really only useful for stashing the charging cables. Not much else is going to fit in there.
but what annoyed us the most?
Ah, the driver alert system. You can turn it off via the menus, but it has a stubborn habit of defaulting back to “on” each time the car power cycles.
There’s a camera on the steering wheel that monitors your face, and if it thinks you’re not paying attention, it bongs loudly and flashes the message “Distractive. Drive carefully.” Smart says it’s working on fixing the grammar. We say they should also dial back the sensitivity.
Even if you’re at a junction glancing right to check for traffic (as you do), the car decides you’re distracted. You get scolded for simply trying to drive safely. It’s ironic, really. So many of the car’s functions are buried within that centre screen, and yet if you look at it for too long, it yells at you. After a few rounds of this, you’ll be ready to tear your hair out.
All in all, the Smart #1 has a lot to offer but also has a few quirks that might test your patience.
where’s the fun Brabus bit.
Brabus and Smart have history, though it’s mostly been Brabus dressing up the Smart models with sporty touches while staying hands-off under the hood. This time, however, the Brabus version packs 422bhp, which feels a bit over-the-top for a small family crossover.
This translates to a century sprint time of 3.9 seconds. In a crossover. It’s bonkers, yes, but do you need all that speed? Probably not.
Yet, in this case, the extra power does give the car added character.
The Smart #1 Brabus doesn’t just go faster, it feels more composed. Thanks to the AWD system, it has better traction and body control, which translates into more confident handling, especially in the wet.
Sure, it’s not a hardcore sports car, but it’s more stable than its Pro+ rear-drive sibling. And if you do push it, the rear motor will give you a playful little kick before the traction control reins things in. It’s not bad at all, especially considering the 1,900kg kerbweight.
so it drives well then?
Surprisingly well, actually. The suspension is soft, but the damping is well-judged, meaning the #1 hides its weight better than you’d expect. The wheels are pushed out to the corners, keeping the heft within the wheelbase, so it feels stable and predictable in corners.
There’s no steering feel to speak of (welcome to the world of electric cars) but it’s quiet, composed, and generally well-mannered at higher speeds.
The suspension is tuned on the softer side, and there’s enough tyre sidewall to absorb the bumps, which keeps things relatively cushy on uneven roads. It’s also quiet, with little noise from the tyres or wind, so you can enjoy a peaceful ride.
There’s one annoyance though: the regenerative braking. It’s smooth at higher speeds but becomes grabby and unpredictable at low speeds, making it tricky to drive smoothly in stop-start traffic. The adaptive cruise control doesn’t help either; jerky and not very intelligent. You’re better off just using your right foot.
In terms of drive modes, you’ve got Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Brabus. None of them really transforms the driving experience aside from throttle response, slight steering weight changes, and a more pronounced “faux engine note”.
There’s also a Standard and Strong regenerative braking option, but the difference is minimal. One-pedal driving? Not really. Even with the e-Pedal mode on, the regen isn’t strong enough to bring you to a quick stop, so you’ll still be using the brake pedal more often than not.
what about efficiency?
Smart claims 5.5 km/kWh for the Brabus, which is pretty average for an EV. In real-world conditions, expect around 4.4km/kWh in mixed driving. It’s not the most aerodynamic thing on the road, so efficiency takes a hit.
And I mean, you have the Brabus variant, why not stomp your right foot every now and then?
it’s got character.
The Smart #1 Brabus manages to stand out from the crowd with its playful character and addictive power delivery. The funky styling might not be as bonkers as the Smarts of yesteryears, but the new generation is well-made and practical.
If you’re looking for something more whimsical and fun, the Brabus variant is something you should have on your shopping list.
technical specifications.
Smart #1 electric Brabus
Powertrain: Two Electric Motor, All-Wheel Drive
Power: 315kW (422bhp)
Torque: 543Nm
Gearbox: Single-Speed (A)
0-100km/h: 3.9 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: Unknown
Battery Capacity: 66 kWh
Drive Range: 400 km
Energy Consumption: 5.5 km/kWh (claimed)
Price: S$245,000 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Smart Singapore
Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)
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