New Smart #3 2024 review: a quirky and fun electric car

Verdict

The Smart #3 is an interesting new choice in the electric car market. It stands out visually, the driving experience is a treat and it should cater to most families' needs. We’re looking forward to seeing more cars from Smart – especially on this architecture – but we have our concerns over build quality inside, and the infotainment system remains nonsensical. 

Say the words ‘Smart Car’ and most people will think of the cleverly-packaged, tiny two seaters that Smart made for over two decades – up until the ForTwo’s demise earlier this year. Now, the company has shifted onto bigger, and what it hopes will be better, things. 

The brand’s new focus on all-electric cars started with the #1, and that’s now been joined by the #3. We drove the maker’s second model in Majorca last year and we were pretty impressed, after the slightly disappointing #1. 

One thing which is always difficult to grasp is how cars will look back on British roads, let alone drive. Whether you like the #3’s curvy, somewhat blobby design, is down to personal preference, but there’s no arguing this latest car really stands out. 

The Smart #3 gets the same Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) as the #1, but also the Volvo EX30, because both companies are partly owned by Chinese firm Geely. The Smart gets a different battery set-up to its Swedish cousin, however, with the basic Pro offered with a 49kWh battery, and the Pro+, Premium and hot Brabus versions all receiving a 62kWh unit. Aside from the dual-motor Brabus, every #3 has a single-motor on the rear axle with 268bhp and 343Nm of torque. 

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Despite weighing in at a not insignificant 1,810kg, the #3 can accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds – not mind-bogglingly quick for an EV these days, but plenty fast enough. The initial punch is super impressive; you get the feeling none of the power is going to waste through the rear tyres, which are pretty wide for a mainstream electric car. This power tails off at higher speeds, but overall the acceleration is smooth and mostly linear throughout. 

Our first experience on Spanish roads showed the #3 to be a genuinely fun car, and it’s the same story in the UK. There’s a little bit of guesswork to be done, because while the steering is quick, it doesn’t deliver much feedback. But squeeze the throttle and the #3 feels decidedly rear-driven in the bends. 

It doesn’t feel overworked when you do decide to throw it around either; body roll is well contained, and while the initial bite from the brakes could be sharper, there’s a rhythm to be found with the Smart. In a lot of ways it reminds us of the MG4, which is no bad thing.

The selection of driving modes (Eco, Comfort and Sport) don’t drastically change the driving experience, and we’re still not fans of the brake regeneration system, which feels laboured between accelerator-pedal lift-off and the recuperation kicking in. The ‘E-Pedal’ mode is meant to provide a stronger sensation, but it’s still not quite one-pedal driving. The 283-mile range is decent, but if you delve into the car’s performance too much it’ll drop drastically. 

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Comfort levels are generally decent. One thing that didn’t show up during our drive on silky smooth Spanish roads was the tyre roar, which is more noticeable in the UK than we’d like. Wind noise is kept to a minimum, but on rough roads the suspension seemed to clatter around – although it was strange to find big speed bumps smothered pretty effectively. Either way, we don’t think it’s enough of a dealbreaker to steer you away from the fabulous-looking 19-inch monobloc-style alloy wheels.

Indeed, these only add to the wow factor. But the small design details such as the flush-fitting door handles, floating roofline, frameless windows and clamshell bonnet all add up to make the #3 feels like a premium offering. 

Yet this all feels a little superficial once you prod around inside. A rattle from the centre console was fixable by having the storage lid in the up position, and the plastics dotted around the cabin felt flimsy. The 12.8-inch central screen and 9.2-inch instrument cluster (standard on all models) were slow to respond, and in a couple of instances froze completely while driving. That infotainment system is a real chore to navigate, too, with a main menu overburdened with menus and apps. 

On the flipside, we were impressed with the #3’s spaciousness inside, especially with our car’s panoramic roof which creates a bright, welcoming interior. Despite that coupe-like roofline, there’s loads of headroom in the back thanks to seats that have been positioned lower (visibility is still excellent, might we add). The boot capacity of 370 litres is also pretty good considering there’s an electric motor beneath it.