2025 Smart #5: electric family SUV gets rugged outdoors kit and a luxury interior
The Smart #5 is the electric car brand's first family SUV. It combines a tech-filled interior with off-road looks and equipment...
On sale 2025 | Price from £35,000 (est)
The number five is considered significant in many fields, including mathematics, science and religions. In numerology it stands for enjoyment, freedom and adventure, and these are certainly attributes that may have been on the minds of the Smart #5’s designers when they were creating the brand's first family-sized SUV.
Not only is the the first family-sized SUV from the EV specialist, it’s also its first model to be offered with a suite of off-road focussed kit, including underbody protection, a roof carrier, side steps and a side ladder.
This and its rugged, boxy exterior styling set the #5 apart from its smaller siblings, the Smart #1 and Smart #3, which both have curvier exteriors that make them look more at home in urban environments.
At 4705mm long, 1920mm wide and 1705mm tall, the #5 is far bigger than the #1 or #3, though. It is similar in size to the new Peugeot 5008 - but it will come with five rather than seven seats. It does have some of the smart brand’s signature exterior design elements, though, including the panoramic halo roof, frameless doors, and short front and rear overhangs.
However, for many drivers the most eye-catching feature of the #5 will be the 637bhp output of the range-topping dual-motor model. It not only produces more than 200bhp more than the #1 and #3, but it’s also more potent than hot SUV rivals, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Kia EV6 GT. Performance figures haven’t been released yet, but this version of the #5 is expected to do the 0-62mph dash in less than 3sec.
For those who don’t need quite such an adrenaline rush every time they press the accelerator, there will be a lower-powered dual-motor option with 579bhp, and two single-motor versions with 335bhp and 358bhp. There will be a number of different driving modes, including Adaptive, Sand, Snow, Mud, and Rock.
The most efficient #5 variant has a claimed range of up to 460 miles, according to Smart. In comparison, the Kia EV6 can officially only eke 328 miles from its 77.4kWh battery.
The battery capacities for the #5 line-up haven’t yet been announced, but Smart has confirmed that the longest-range model will have 100kWh, and it will be the first Smart vehicle to use an 800-volt electrical system (rather than the more conventional 400-volt systems used in the #1 and #3), allowing for faster charging. This will mean a 10-80% charge of the #5’s battery – with a suitably powerful public charger – could take just 15 minutes.
The #5’s flat-bottomed steering wheel (similar to those on its smaller siblings) does give it a familiar feel. However, the dashboard has three screens, including a 10.3in driver display (larger than the 9.2in screen in the #1 and #3), plus two 13in OLED infotainment screens – one mounted centrally, the other in front of the front passenger seat so they can access the sat-nav and climate controls. The infotainment system has a built-in projector paired with a Sennheiser Signature Sound System with 20 speakers and a portable speaker.
The #5 also comes with a 25.6in head-up display so the driver can have useful information in their line of sight.
The tech-savvy interior features zero-gravity, heated leather seats with 121deg of recline. The rear seats are also heated and have reclinable seat backs and electronic controls to slide them backwards to increase legroom. Comfort features include ambient lighting with 256 colour options and the ability to reposition all the seats to create a king-size, queen-size, or single sleeping space.
Practicality hasn’t been forgotten: the #5 has 34 storage compartments, a 72-litre space under the bonnet with a 220-volt power socket, and a spacious boot.
Two trim levels will be offered at launch: Summit Edition and Premium+. All #5 models come with a roof light bar and electric trailer hitch, and the optional Adventurers’ Collection pack adds underbody protection, a roof carrier, side steps, a side bag, and a side ladder. If the #5 has off-roading abilities to match this kit, it will be the first serious pure electric 4x4, and an affordable alternative to the upcoming ultra-premium, ultra-pricey Range Rover Electric.
The Smart #5 is unlikely to appear on UK roads before 2025. Pricing is expected to start from around £45,000, putting the #5 in line with electric SUVs such as the Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y.
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