Smart Malaysia through PRO-Net recently opened registration for interest for the Smart #5 and at the Malaysia Auto Show, they showcased the Smart #5 Summit Edition, which is a Smart #5 developed for recreational use. If you think about it, since the Smart #1 electric car was first introduced last year, this Smart #5 will be their flagship electric car for this year, which is definitely awaited by many.
This is because the electric car market in Malaysia is getting hotter and demand is also increasing, along with various new product introductions. This week I had the opportunity to attend the Smart #5 Brabus test drive event in Portugal, and was taken to explore the beautiful and challenging roads of Portugal.
Interior Exterior Design
Starting with the exterior, the design of the Smart #5 can be said to be very different from the Smart #1 and Smart #3. The similarities between #1 and #3 can be clearly seen through the design of the headlights which are not much different, the taillights are also not much different and the overall shape which is seen with many curves, not boxy like #5. Design #5 can be said to continue to move away from the design elements of #1 and #3, but it can also be said that this design #5 again resembles the same elements on the previous Smart cars, namely the smart forTwo and Smart forFour.
Its CyberSparks LED headlights look different from the previous version and are equipped with automatic high beams. There are lights that look like broken lines, which are also placed at the rear of the vehicle, for the daytime running lights function. And for this Brabus version, there is a Brabus badge on the lower part of the front bumper on the left side of the driver with a touch of red to distinguish this version from others.
The tires used are Continental 255/40 R21 with the EV label indicating that these tires were created for EV use. The stylish 21-inch Monoblock Z Alloy rims also highlight the red brake calipers. Continued with the door section that has the Brabus label at the bottom, and also at the back. It has a bonnet that can be opened automatically and this function is available for all variants.
The Smart #5 was announced in up to 6 variants, namely Pro, Pro+, Pulse, Summit Edition, Premium and also Brabus. The most notable difference is that the Pro version only has a 76 kWh battery with a travel range of 465km WLTP and does not have a 400V charging architecture causing a fast charge of 10-80% in 30 minutes and 11kW AC charging, compared to other models that have a 100kWh battery with a travel range of at least 500 KM WLTP and also an 800V charging architecture allowing a fast charge of 10-80% in 15 minutes and 22 kW AC charging. Then, it is also differentiated by drive options, with the Pulse, Summit Edition, and Brabus versions having all-wheel drive (AWD), while the Pro/Pro+ and Premium only have rear-wheel drive (RWD).
This drive option also somewhat affects the front boot storage space (frunk) because all models using rear-wheel drive have a larger frunk size of 72L, compared to the Smart #5 all-wheel drive which makes the electric motor take up space in the front, making the frunk size 47L.
However, the large rear storage space of 630L with a convertible floor makes us easily store 4 cabin luggage, and still have more space. If that is not enough, there is a switch that can recline the rear seats to create a larger storage space of 1530L, capable of placing various items or creating space to sleep 'on a picnic' with this electric car.
For the Premium and Brabus versions, the Smart #5 is equipped with 20 Sennheiser speakers that are very impressive, and are able to liven up the atmosphere of your possible picnic with this electric vehicle. Of course, with a dual-sized OLED screen display that will provide entertainment for users, especially for the front passengers.
Front passengers are free to watch entertainment shows such as Amazon Prime, play games, and switching applications can be done with a three-finger touch, and dragging to different displays. There is a panel under the center console that shows the AMD logo, which is the chip that powers the inforia system, along with two USB-C and 12V plugs.
The center console also still maintains air conditioning for a large storage compartment, capable of placing water bottles. If you store water or snacks, the cold temperature can be maintained in this storage compartment. This compartment can be opened via a button and specifically for the Smart #5 Summit Edition, there is a special label that says 'Summit Edition' which is not available in other versions. There is also a wireless charger for 2 smartphones.
In terms of interior decoration, no matter which version the Smart #5 features an expensive-looking design and uses high-quality materials such as Alcantara leather for the steering wheel, DINAMICA seats, microfiber material on the pillars and roof which also houses the translucent roof. On the doors there is also a wood-like finish that houses the Sennheiser speakers, but on the door handles using plastic material, which feels a little different from the others.
The rear passenger compartment is also seen to provide comfort. Throughout the review process, I also sat in the back while other media friends took turns driving. The translucent roof gives a spacious feeling, just like the legroom. There are two USB-C charging plugs, one of which provides 60W of power, and this allows for fast charging for smartphones, as well as small laptops such as MacBook Air that do not require high power.
There is a seat position lever on the door, and specifically for the seat behind the front passenger, there is a switch to allow the front passenger seat to be moved, and folded to provide more legroom for the rear passengers. This is seen as an executive function if you buy this vehicle to be 'driven' by someone else.
Performance & Driving
The Smart #5 Brabus is the flagship version of the #5 series, equipped with two electric drives front and rear with a maximum power of 475 kW and a maximum torque of 710 Nm. This allows acceleration from 0-100 km/h to be achieved in 3.8 seconds, and has a maximum speed of 210 km/h. Since it uses all-wheel drive, although it has a 100 kWh battery with a travel distance of around 540 KM WLTP, this figure can be said to be reasonable if calculated from the ratio of the car's size and weight, to the number of batteries.
With the 800V charging architecture, I believe that the owner of this vehicle will not have to worry about charging time because with a maximum charging speed of 400 kW, it allows charging from 10-80% to be achieved in as fast as 18 minutes. Currently in Malaysia, there are not many 400 kW charging options available, but I believe this is only a matter of time, and we may see more 400 kW charging options offered from time to time.
During the demonstration to charge the Smart #5 Premium, charging from 7% – 79% only took 15 minutes and it can be seen that the highest charging power achieved was 426 kW, before it decreased.
Driving this 2-ton class D-SUV electric car along the road in the Duoro Valley, Portugal was an exciting experience. This is because the entire 241 km journey covered both main roads and highways, and these two types of roads also gave me the opportunity to experience the difference in driving and performance.
Exploring the N222 road, which is also said to be the best road in the world, there are many sharp bends and here the speed is around 60-80 km/h. With all-wheel drive and the Comfort driving mode selected, controlling this car is very easy and convenient, and does not feel heavy, but it may feel large in size and I feel a little large in size because I am still getting used to driving on the left. It can be said that this road is like exploring the sharp bends around Fraser's Hill, with the difference being the vast green hilly area without any bush.
Further helping the driving experience is the augmented reality display that is only offered for the Premium, Summit Edition and Brabus versions that provides direct direction information according to the topography and also the road, unlike the regular augmented display that only displays directions, and has no direct animation to provide information to the driver. There is also a 10.25-inch driving display that can display a full map and various current information.
When entering the highway, I quickly change the driving mode to Brabus to start overtaking slower vehicles. Rapid acceleration is achieved even when the vehicle is moving fast, and from a speed of 110 km/h I was able to accelerate to a speed of 150 km/h in a few seconds, enough to overtake the vehicle in front before returning to the middle row. There is an artificial sound that can be selected according to taste, and is different from the Smart 3.
During the trip in this hilly area, I also saw a 1% increase in battery capacity thanks to regenerative braking, so I am confident that the regenerative braking function on the Smart is very good. In fact, through driving data, we have regenerated 18.7 kWh compared to the total energy consumption of 55.1 kWh. A total of 50.8 kWh was used for driving, and 4.3 kWh was used when parking because we were not allowed to turn off the vehicle.
At this value, it can be said that the energy consumption of this car is quite efficient and we used 21.6 kWh / 100km, and this is a figure that I think is appropriate for its size and weight.
As a passenger, throughout this trip I also felt comfortable sitting in the back, and this translucent roof certainly provides a wide view and feeling. Although there are many corners, there is no feeling of being too sharp or 'throwing', and this should reduce the risk of dizziness that electric car passengers can potentially experience.
Smart #5 is clearly a bold innovation by Smart in their electric car series, especially in terms of design which is clearly separated from #1 and #3. In terms of function and performance, Smart #5 also seems to show maturity in terms of technology. If during the first drive of #1 I mentioned that its driver monitoring function was very aggressive and overly sensitive, often giving warnings about drivers who were not focused.
Smart #3 did not give such warnings, and so did Smart #5. This is coupled with the offering of 800V charging architecture which shortens charging time despite having a battery of 100 kW. However, it may be slightly different in terms of software or the Smart #5 that will be sold in Malaysia will be retuned for suitability for driving on local roads.
Now of course we have to wait for the announcement of the price of Smart #5 when it goes on sale in Malaysia soon. With pre-orders already open, I think this model will be sold starting at RM 240,000 for the Pro version, and perhaps the version I drove, the Smart #5 Brabus, will be sold at a price of over RM 300,000. Let's all look forward to the entry of this model into the market and what is certain is that this model will compete with other luxury electric SUVs.