Feature

Smart #5 long-term test: report 3

Our subeditor needs a practical, comfortable electric SUV with enough range to cope with a long motorway commute and an active lifestyle

Smart #5 long-term test driver assist shh small

The car Smart #5 Premium Run by Chris Haining, Subeditor

Why it’s here To find out if Smart's flagship makes sense as a do-everything electric family SUV

scroll for more

Needs to Be relaxing on the commute, fun at the weekend, and effortlessly practical – with a good range

Mileage 2783 List price £47,300 Best Price £45,300 Price as tested £47,300 Official range 366 miles Test range 325 miles

23 September 2026 – Having a little chat

There’s a honeymoon period in every relationship – it’s just a case of how long it’ll last. You do what you can to brush a partner’s habits aside and pretend they’re not an issue. Before long, though, niggles – whether it’s their failure to close kitchen cupboards after reaching for teabags, or consistently leaving shoes on the stairs – begin to grate somewhat. In the case of me and my Smart #5, well… we’re doing pretty well. But we have had words.

Chris Haining

Updated: 23 September 2026

Car reviews

Smart #5 driving

Smart #5

Star Rating Red

View all new car reviews

In the #5’s case, I go through a pre-flight checklist before pulling off my drive every morning, disabling numerous driver assistance features that routinely annoy me. First on the list is the speed limit warning, which occasionally shouts about speed limits that either used to be in place or maybe will do at some point soon – but not right now. Then there’s the lane departure prevention, which – as is often the case with such systems – seems over-eager to make steering corrections that really aren’t necessary. I also deactivate the driver fatigue and driver distraction warnings (the latter beeps urgently when I should have the temerity to look in the door mirror for a few seconds).

scroll for more

Smart #5 long-term test steering wheel button

As part of the checklist, I also select Eco mode to help eke out range, and the whole procedure involves quite a few icon presses – a bit of a chore. But then, one day, I pressed a steering wheel button that I’d hitherto not explored.Turns out that if you visit the driver assistance menu and tick the requisite boxes, you can assign your settings to automatically be recalled at the press of that one steering wheel button (plus a confirmatory touch of the screen when it asks, incredulously, “Are you sure?").

Smart #5 long-term test settings menu

This represents a breakthrough in our relationship. All the little things the #5 does to annoy me are eradicated through nothing more complicated than my saying “Stop it” and pressing a button. Bliss restored, honeymoon back on.

Until one morning…“Bong, bong, bong, bong” went the sound of the speed limit warning – which that multi-function button press, swiftly administered before journey’s start, should have silenced. I gave the dashboard a look which, I'm pretty sure, said “Ahem, didn’t we have a little chat about that?”

scroll for more

To be fair to the #5, when I press that magical button, my wishes are usually granted without question. Occasionally, though, the car makes its own rules. But I guess I’m one to talk. I do my best to stay in line at home, but I will admit to leaving the toilet seat up every now and again.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here