Smart expands: Globally, the Chinese-German manufacturer unveiled its first sedan, the #6, and next year a new generation of the small Smart, the #2, will be launched. In Israel, the third crossover model, the #5, is beginning to be sold, larger than the #1 and #3.
The original Smart was launched by Mercedes in 1998 after a long gestation. After several iterations and failing to reach the expected commercial success, it became in 2019 a joint venture between Mercedes and Geely, with 50% each, while development remained in Europe and production moved to China.
The Smart 5 has a square and “tougher” design compared to the rounded lines of the other models. It is the largest Smart to arrive in Israel, measuring 4.70 meters long, 1.92 meters wide, 1.70 meters high, with a 2.9-meter wheelbase, yet still about 10 cm shorter than the Tesla Model Y and the Zeekr 7X. The trunk has a volume of 630 liters, plus a front trunk of 72 liters. The weight accordingly: From 2,275 kg.
There are four powertrain versions:
The base Pro (from NIS 230,000) comes with 340 hp, 37.3 kg·m torque, and rear-wheel drive. Performance: 0–100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, top speed 200 km/h. Combined range: 465 km.
Pro+ (from NIS 260,000): Upgrades to 363 hp, 0–100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, range of 590 km.
Premium (from NIS 280,000): Identical technical specifications.
Brabus (from NIS 300,000): Adds a front motor, raising combined output to 646 hp and 71 kg·m, with all-wheel drive. Acceleration drops to 3.8 seconds and top speed rises to 210 km/h.
There are also four equipment versions:
The base Pro and Pro+ come with 19-inch alloy wheels, a 13-inch multimedia screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a panoramic roof with electric operation, synthetic leather upholstery, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, electric trunk door, a 9-speaker audio system, wireless charging pad, and 4 USB-C ports.
Pro Premium upgrades to 20-inch wheels, matrix LED headlights, an additional 13-inch screen for the front passenger, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heads-up display, and a Sennheiser 20-speaker audio system.
Brabus upgrades to 20-inch wheels, sporty design elements, artificial engine sound, and off-road driving modes.
Electricity: A 76 kWh battery in Pro, 11 kW slow charging, 150 kW fast charging. In Pro+, Premium, and Brabus: 22 kW and 400 kW, respectively.
Safety: 5 out of 5 stars in the European crash test, 7 airbags. Active safety: Autonomous emergency braking forward, backward, and for crossing traffic at intersections, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and deviation correction, blind spot monitoring, warning for opening doors into occupied lanes and driver distraction alert, automatic high beams.
Warranty: 3 years with unlimited mileage for the vehicle, 8 years or 200,000 km for the battery. Maintenance: Every two years or 30,000 km.
Until the end of December, the #5 will be sold with a NIS 10,000 discount. The launch follows a price reduction move, which lowered the Smart 1 to start at 196,000 NIS and the #3 to NIS 212,000. However, the #5 faces competition from the renewed ExPang G6, Zeekr 7X, and Tesla Model Y, which is expected to launch a standard version in Israel soon at a price NIS 20,000 lower than the current one.
To offset declining demand for electric vehicles, the company will introduce a long-range plug-in version already unveiled in China, although it is not yet clear when it will arrive in Europe—or here. One thing is certain: Smart will remain the only (partially) European brand in this category and price range, after imports of electric vehicles from Volkswagen, Škoda, and even Kia for this market were halted.