Smart #5 Brabus review: fast but not furious

The Smart brand, once synonymous with tiny quirky city cars, has been busy reinventing itself as of late. First came the #1 and #3 siblings in the small SUV segment (which, while small, were still a step or two above anything to have worn the Smart name), and now we have the company’s push out of the small segment - the #5.

The latest and largest expression of this transformation, the #5 is a mid-size SUV that stretches the brand's dimensions and ambitions further than ever before, and represents a significant step for the marque, which operates as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely.

The #5 Concept was revealed in April 2024, promising "off-road capabilities and cutting-edge technology" and boasting an 800-volt architecture for rapid charging.

While those “off-road capabilities” sound interesting, that’s not something we get to experience with our test car, as it is the most mental version of the #5 - the thoroughly unnecessary Brabus version that packs 475kW and will rocket to 100km/h from a standing start in just 3.8 seconds.

While no one actually needs a medium SUV that punches its way to the open road speed limit in the time it takes a startled cat to go from a deep sleep to bouncing sideways off the wall because you dropped a piece of tinfoil, but want is a totally different story. Which is why the Smart #5 Brabus exists.

Being the Brabus it is also the highest spec and, say it with me kids, most excitingly expensive version of the #5, clocking in at $99,990, which may seem horrifying at first, but start comparing competitors specs and performance and the Smart actually comes across as something of a bargain. So to speak.

On the outside: what are the Smart #5 Brabus's main design features?

Visually, the #5 is a handsome and substantial machine. It adopts a squarer, more traditional SUV silhouette than its smaller #1 and #3 siblings, but cleverly rounds off the edges to maintain a clear stylistic link to the rest of the modern Smart family.

Smart has long borrowed from the Mercedes design book, but with the #5, they've gone all-in.

It's a design that carries hints of many other vehicles without ever feeling derivative, while unique touches provide a key point of difference, like the sheer number of lights integrated across the front and rear fascias. While they aren't all illuminated simultaneously, they create a distinctive signature that certainly makes people look, and they look good doing it.

Of course this Brabus version adds a generous helping of shouty bright red highlights both inside and out that are arguably unnecessary, but do inject a sense of fun and performance intent that suits the car's character.

Overall, the #5 a genuinely good-looking vehicle, and a rare example of a Chinese-sourced electric SUV that does something to stand out from the crowd, rather than disappear into it.

OVERVIEW

On the inside: what's the Smart #5 Brabus's cabin like?

Stepping inside, Smart’s strong link to Mercedes-Benz becomes immediately apparent. Smart has long borrowed from the Mercedes design book, but with the #5, they've gone all-in.

Being a Brabus, the #5 is, to put it mildly, stupidly fast.

The cabin feels like a slightly more flamboyant take on a modern Mercedes, dominated by a massive dual-screen setup that stretches across the width of the dash, incorporating a dedicated display for the front passenger.

While visually impressive, the passenger screen's functionality is limited; it won't play videos while the car is moving, a safety measure that feels like a missed opportunity given that other brands have found ways to shield the display from the driver's view.

Elsewhere, the material quality is simply excellent, easily on par with its premium German part-owner, and the #5 is beautifully assembled, with a sensible layout that places a good smattering of physical controls within easy reach.

A particular highlight are the seats, which are wonderfully comfortable and supportive, while the cabin is also exceptionally spacious, with heaps of rear legroom and a large boot, complete with an underfloor storage bin.

If you appreciate the high-tech, high-quality interiors of current Mercedes-Benz models, you'll feel right at home here.

INTERIOR

On the road: what's the Smart #5 Brabus like to drive?

Being a Brabus, the #5 is, to put it mildly, stupidly fast.

Select Brabus mode, and it launches off the line with moderate aggression, but builds with a sort of measured but unyielding belligerence in a way that sees you achieving serious velocity before you realise it. It's seriously quick, but it doesn't feel the need to shout about it with unsettlingly brutal starts off the line. And while it handles well, it occasionally feels like it might have too much power for its own good.

It shares the competent, efficient cornering characteristics of the smaller Smarts, but you can't escape the physics of its larger mass and higher centre of gravity.

That said, the ride quality is superb. Even in its sportier settings, the suspension remains remarkably compliant and comfortable, soaking up imperfections with ease. 

The driver-assistance systems are also a highlight, operating gently and effectively in the background without ever becoming intrusive. They can be easily tailored to you liking thanks to Smart’s driver profile settings, but honestly, they are so subtle and well calibrated that even that is barely worth the effort.

All said, the #5 Brabus is a fun and thrilling car to pilot, though one suspects a lower-spec model, without the Brabus's brutal speed but retaining the comfort and quality, might represent the sweet spot in the range.

SPECIFICATIONS

On ownership: what's the Smart #5 Brabus's warranty and servicing situation?

The #5 Brabus, like all Smart vehicles, comes standard with an eight-year/200,000 km warranty for the high-voltage battery and a five-year/unlimited km vehicle warranty. Additionally, owners also receive five years of Roadside Assistance. Service intervals are every 12 months or 20,000 kilometres.

On the whole: what do we think of the Smart #5 Brabus?

The #5 Brabus is a vehicle that I really liked but, strangely, struggled to love.

The Brabus is an interesting paradox: a really, really good car that just might be a little too perfect, but a really good car nonetheless.

It does everything brilliantly well, looks fantastic, and its interior is a high-quality and comfortable space, while the performance is breath-taking. It's technically impressive and cheaper than an equivalent Mercedes-Benz model.

However, despite all its strengths, I found it difficult to form a real emotional connection with the #5. It executes its mission with such clinical efficiency that it can come across as slightly bland, lacking in the cheeky character of the smaller Smarts, which feels like a harsh criticism for a car so competent.

Perhaps it's just a matter of personal taste. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience - the acceleration, the comfort, the style - but I walked away feeling impressed rather than truly engaged.

Drop the silly acceleration for one of the cheaper non-Brabus versions and kit it up for some of that promised off-road adventuring and you would probably have a car that pushed more buttons for me, but as it stands the Brabus is an interesting paradox: a really, really good car that just might be a little too perfect, but a really good car nonetheless.

Smart #5 Brabus FAQs

What kind of car is the Smart #5 Brabus?

A medium-sized performance SUV.

Does the Smart #5 Brabus have hybrid or EV technology?

It is a pure electric vehicle.

What’s the energy economy of the Smart #5 Brabus?

19.9kWh/100km.

Is the Smart #5 Brabus safe?

The Smart #5 Brabus has a 5 Star ANCAP rating and 7 airbags.

What safety and assistance features does the Smart #5 Brabus have?

What are the Smart #5 Brabus main rivals?

• Tesla Model Y Performance ($100,900): Slightly quicker, but considerably more common these days.
• Zeekr 7X AWD Performance ($94,990): Similar performance, sharp looks. Looks a bit more grown up.
• BYD Sealion 7 Performance ($80,990): Slower and less showy, but considerably cheaper and still quick.
• IM6 Performance ($89,900): Faster and cheaper, but not as polished or capable.
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 N ($149,990): Hilariously entertaining, savagely fast, but considerably more expensive.