Smart #5
Biggest SUV yet from the chameleonic brand has designs on the Tesla Model Y On sale October Price from £40,000 (est)
DAN JONESdan.jones@haymarket.com
AFTER STARTING OUT selling only physical books, Amazon’s reinvention as an online retailer of virtually anything must be one of the most successful business evolutions in history.
Smart’s reinvention, too, has been near-total; from being a maker of tiny petrol-powered city cars, it has become a purveyor of upmarket electric SUVs. And now, the 4.7-metre-long #5 family SUV is the biggest departure yet from the cars with which Smart made its name.
The #5 line-up starts with the entry-level Pro. With 335bhp, 0-62mph takes it 6.9sec; that’s slower than the Tesla Model Y RWD but more than quick enough for everyday driving. The Pro also has the smallest battery in the range, and its 74.4kWh usable capacity brings an underwhelming 288-mile official range; the Model Y and Skoda Enyaq 85 promise more.