All You Need to Know about the Smart #1 EV: From Features to Price

The Smart #1 EV (electric vehicle) was just revealed in Malaysia and is now available for booking. As far as EVs go, the #1 offers a unique option for the Malaysian market especially since it’s designed with input from Mercedes-Benz. So should you consider this Smart EV? We have all the details you need to know below.

What Is Smart – The EV Car Brand

Smart is a vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Ningbo, China, though it was originally founded in 1994 by Micro Compact Car AG (MCC), a joint venture between SMH (the maker of Swatch watches) and Daimler-Benz. In 2019, it came under the ownership of a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz AG and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Interestingly, the name Smart is derived from ‘Swatch Mercedes ART’. 

Before Geely came into the picture, Smart produced mostly two-seater microcars such as the Fortwo and compact hatchbacks like the Forfour. It produces both internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and EVs, though it has started to introduce more full-sized EV vehicles like the Smart #1. Unlike most other EV manufacturers, Smart incorporates a lot of cute styling in its cars, which you can see in all its vehicles, and that is also evident in its newer, larger vehicles.

Read More: Budget-Friendly EV Alternatives for Teslas in Malaysia

Smart #1 EV Specs

The Smart #1, pronounced ‘hashtag one’ is part of Smart’s new generation electric passenger vehicle family. Announced in 2022, it’s a five-seater SUV (sports utility vehicle) co-developed by Mercedes-Benz and Geely with Mercedes handling the design and Geely handling the engineering. As a result, the #1 is built on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture, which also underpins Volvo’s EX30 electric SUV. In Malaysia, the Smart #1 is sold by Proton New Energy Technology (Pro-Net), which is a subsidiary of Proton and the official distributor of Smart vehicles in Malaysia.

For comparison, the Smart #1 is similarly sized to the Ora Good Cat and Mini Countryman, making it a compact city SUV. It’s available in three variants; the Smart #1 Pro, Premium, and Brabus versions. Here are the specs for the Smart #1 EV.

Read More: All You Need to Know About Charging Your EV at Home

Smart #1 Price

Below are the prices for Smart #1 EV, showcasing a range of options tailored to meet diverse preferences and needs.

Smart #1 Interior

The Smart #1’s interior sports a two-tone color scheme with a white dashboard in Pro and Premium, while the Brabus version gets a full black interior with red accents. There’s a 9.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment display in all variants. Additionally, the Premium and Brabus variants get a 10-inch head-up display (HUD). There’s also a 64-color ambient lighting system, a 13-speaker Beats sound system, along with a full suite of ADAS (advanced driver assistance system). 

Smart #1 Exterior

On the exterior, it has a rather cute design with curves all around. The design carries close similarities to Mercedes’ design language, especially on the tail lights and overall body design. In fact, you can also see it on the center console and front armrest on the interior. Standout exterior design features of the #1 include the CyberSparks LED+ Matrix headlights, an illuminated front grille, ‘Rotor’ or ‘Dynamo’-design wheels, a powered, hands-free tailgate, and a low, flat bonnet for excellent forward visibility.

Extras on The Smart #1 Brabus

The Brabus version gets exclusive styling upgrades including red brake calipers, Brabus badging, a rear spoiler, a vented bonnet, and the option for a Radiant Red roof. In the interior, the Smart Brabus gets Alcantara leather seats with Brabus badging and interior red accents around the cabin.

The Smart #1 price for Malaysia has not yet been officially revealed but Smart says it’ll range from RM200,000 to RM250,000. That said, you can book the vehicle on the Hello smart app (available on Android, iOS, and Huawei devices) with a deposit of RM1,000. The price list of the Smart #1 is expected to be released soon when it’s officially launched later in 2023.

Other Smart Cars

Besides the #1, Smart still produces the Fortwo, its electric version, the EQ Fortwo, and the Smart #3 which will be announced later in 2023. 

Smart Fortwo

The Smart Fortwo is a two-seater car introduced in 1998. Now in its third generation, the Fortwo retains its original rear-engine rear-wheel drive layout, with the electric version also running on rear-wheel drive. 

The Smart Fortwo is very compact, measuring just 2,695 mm long, 1,663 mm wide, and 1,555 mm tall. That’s around 1,000 mm shorter and 100 mm narrower than the 2023 Perodua Axia, so you can imagine how easy it would be to drive and park this car in the city. Its small size gives it a 1+1 seating arrangement with the driver in the front and one passenger in the rear. 

Performance-wise, the Fortwo comes with three powertrain options:

• 1.0 L naturally aspirated engine producing 76 PS and 94 Nm
• 0.9 L turbocharged engine producing 89 PS and 135 Nm
• An electric motor producing 80 PS and 160 Nm

Smart #3

The Smart #3 is the #1’s larger sibling that’s reported to be fully revealed in November 2023. Not much is known about the Smart #3 as of now except that it’s a larger SUV with a sleeker coupe-like silhouette than the #1. It will also come with a 12.8-inch infotainment display and a 13-speaker Beats sound system. Being a larger SUV, it’ll likely get larger batteries to maintain a decent driving range.

The Smart #1 looks like an enticing option for buyers looking to buy a stylish EV in Malaysia but can it compete with more well-known offerings such as from Tesla? It all may come down to pricing, features, and build quality. Stay tuned for more information on the pricing if you’re interested in this car.

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This article was originally published on 23/10/2023. It has been updated on 22/11/2023 for freshness and accuracy.