Smart #3 review: Fast, fun and fashionable, this electric SUV is a little more extrovert than the norm

If you need a car to transport your brood but still want to be project a youthful aura, this EV is a little more extrovert than the norm

4/5
It was pointed out by one reader of my last review of a Smart product, the #1, that I demonstrated a complete lack of “rizz” in that review. “Rizz”, if you’re wondering (an abbreviation of charisma), refers to an ability to charm someone, to attract people’s attention in a way that would appeal to the youth of today. Well, guilty as charged. 
But all is not lost, because the new Smart on the block might just be a little more geared toward my demographic. The #3 is a slightly more grown-up Smart; a fastback-style SUV with more space in the back and the boot, the idea being to make it not only more stylish but more palatable to family buyers.
So is this the car to bestow “rizz” upon this balding, nearing-40 family man? Or will I merely end up looking like mutton dressed as lamb? Time to find out.
It will not escape the attention of more erudite readers that the #3 (pronounced Hashtag Three, in case you were in any doubt) has plenty in common with the #1. In fact, you could be convinced they are simply different versions of the same car, so similar is their frontal styling. 
But while the #3 has the same SEA2 platform as the #1, it’s longer, lower and wider, with a little more space between the axles.
It does share the same range of powertrains, however. That means the entry-level, rear-wheel-drive Pro has 47kWh of usable battery capacity with 130kW peak rapid charging, while the rest of the range has a usable capacity of 62kWh and 150kW peak charging. 
A hot Brabus model takes the standard, not inconsiderable, 268bhp power output up to a whopping 422bhp, along with all-wheel-drive.
I tested the Premium model, one rung down from the Brabus, which is probably the one you want. That’s because the lower-spec Pro and Pro+ don’t have a heat pump as standard; in the depths of the British winter, that’s going to have a deleterious effect on their ranges. 
You might think with its fashion-conscious image it would be hideously expensive, but in fact that #3 is decent value; at £39,950 this posher model compares well with the £43,095 Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate, while looking an outright bargain next to the £51,000-odd Volvo EX40 Plus. 
And while the Volvo will go slightly further on a full charge, the Smart doesn’t disgrace itself, with an official range figure of 283 miles. That means you can expect to see about 200 to 225 in the real world, depending on how hard you drive it and the ambient temperature. 
Official figures put its energy usage at 3.8mpkWh, which isn’t going to break records, but is pretty consistent with the rivals. The same goes for the charging speeds; on a charger capable of delivering the car’s maximum, it will get from 10 to 80 per cent in 27 minutes. 
Inside, you’ll find a similarly swoopy dashboard to the #1, finished in materials that are a bit rattly to the touch but look the part, with an aesthetic that’s far more individual than most other cars at this price point. 
There’s a letterbox slot of rather small instruments in front of the driver but the whole dashboard is dominated by the vast touchscreen. This has the same software as the #1 and the whole interior is dominated by the same button-less ideology.
If that’s enough to send a shudder down your spine, you’ve obviously been paying attention, for the Smart #1 features one of the most egregious examples of touchscreen dogma – and the #3 is no different. 
The system itself is pretty snappy, but the trouble is that there are just so many functions loaded into it that finding your way around its menus is an art. 
Behind the cutesy graphics (an animated fox in the #1, which responds slightly jarringly to your prods and pokes, has turned into a leopard for the #3) you have to negotiate a labyrinthine menu just to adjust the climate control, set the mirrors or even switch on the rear fog light.
Naturally, this is highly distracting to use on the move, which could make it a somewhat irresponsible bit of design. The shame of it is that the #3’s lovely interior wouldn’t be spoiled by only a few more buttons integrated into the sweeping centre console, allowing quick access to many of the functions that are buried in the menus, thus reducing the necessity for more swipes, strokes and pokes of the screen – and reducing the burden on the software. 
The high, floating centre console is a clever touch, though, giving you a sense of being snugly enclosed despite the fact that the #3 is in fact really roomy. There’s an array of huge bins and smaller cubbies for storage of odds and ends, while the seats are widely adjustable. In the back, there are acres of leg room and even a surprisingly decent amount of head room, given the curvy roofline.
What you don’t get is the sliding rear seat of the #1, which is a shame. And while the boot is larger, it can’t match the #3’s best rivals; at 370 litres, for example, it’s almost 100 litres down on the luggage space of the Kona EV. 
All specifications include 19-inch wheels, While that beefs up the looks, it has an effect on ride quality. In town, there’s a lumpen, jarring sense to the way the suspension processes bumps; you don’t get the softness of a Citroën ë-C4 or the fluidity of a Kona EV and if you clout a particularly sharp pothole the result is a nasty thud through the whole car. 
It’s not all bad news, though. As the speed rises, the #3’s ability to deal with bumps improves, to the point that on a motorway it’s not at all bad. Granted, there’s still a bit of road noise from the beefy tyres, but a long-distance journey in this car is relatively easy. 
The tyres at least offer plenty of grip, which helps to make the #3 quite fun to drive. What’s more, the stiff suspension controls the body well, while the steering is direct and well-weighted. 
The nose turns in deftly, too, lending the whole car a sense of agility and up-on-its-toes keenness, so you find yourself relishing those moments when a challenging road demands deft responses. 
There’s plenty of power to haul out of turns, too. Where most electric rivals at this price offer fairly ordinary performance, even the most basic Smart will hit 62mph in under six seconds. On the road, the result is effortless power – not so much that it’ll snap your head back and make your stomach sink, but more than enough to make driving fun – and grabbing a gap in traffic a doddle. 
If only it had a few more buttons and less adherence to the dogma that everything must be controlled through the touchscreen, the Smart #3 would have scored even better. A more resolved low-speed ride would have helped, too, while the boot could do with being a little larger. 
Those failings aside, you’re left with a fast, fun, fashionable and yet also family-friendly electric SUV at a price that isn’t absurd (by current standards). 
For that reason, you come away from the #3 with a sense of a neat, satisfying car that hits its brief pretty well. I don’t think that fits the definition of “rizz” – although admittedly I’m still not entirely certain I know what that means. 
Never mind that; if you require a sensibly-sized electric family car that’s a little more extrovert than the norm, you’ve probably found it. 
On test: Smart #3 Premium
Body style: five-door SUV
On sale: now
How much? £39,950 on the road (range from £32,950)
How fast? 112mph, 0-62mph in 5.8sec
How economical? 3.8mpkWh (WLTP Combined)
Electric powertrain: AC permanent magnet synchronous motor with 62kWh (usable), 150kW on-board charger, Type 2/CCS charging socket
Electric range: 283 miles (WLTP Combined)
Maximum power/torque: 268bhp/253lb ft
CO2 emissions: 26g/km (well-to-wheel)
VED: £0 (VED chargeable from 1 April 2025)
Warranty: 3 years / unlimited miles
Spare wheel as standard: no (not available)
215bhp, 282 miles, £43,095 on the road
This is probably our favourite among the current EV crop, simply because of its dedication to common sense. Comfort is a priority here, with a soft but relatively sophisticated suspension setup, and usability has clearly been thought through inside. The Kona Electric is a practical family car, too – spacious in the back, and with a decent-sized boot. It won’t really excite you, but it nails the fundamentals. 
201bhp, 260 miles, £39,695 on the road
Another SUV with its origins in China, the Atto 3 appears on the face of it to be a good-value alternative. Trouble is, like the Smart, it relies too heavily on its touchscreen – and for the same price you get less range and much less power. The interior is an acquired taste, too, while the Atto 3 can feel a little rough around the edges to drive.
154bhp, 258 miles, £36,905 on the road
An EV that’s often unfairly overlooked, the ë-C4 isn’t quite as fashionable as the #3, but neither does it fade into the background, thanks to its quirky looks. Where the ë-C4 really excels, though, is on the road, where its softness over bumps and comfy seats make it one of the most relaxing EVs. It’s good value, too, though keep in mind the lower price gets you barely any more than half the power of the #3.