Smart Review #5: How the new electric suv is made

In the Smart range, the latest model to come onto the market undoubtedly stands out, namely Smart #5, the largest and most high-tech 100% electric SUV ever made by the brand. And to test it properly, the company chose to let us drive along the Milan-Padua section of the A4 motorway, one of the busiest in Italy. But it is in this context that Smart #5 is at its best: suburban roads and motorways, where what counts above all is autonomy, recharging times and driver assistance.

The chosen route from Milan to Padua, some 245 kilometres along the always crowded A4 motorway, represents a typical route in north-eastern Italy, which, not yet served by high-speed trains, is part of a productive area that is often poorly served by public transport. In this context, characterised by heavy traffic and sometimes difficult weather conditions, the car remains the fastest solution for a day trip.

Despite its full-size SUV dimensions (it is an impressive 470 cm long, with a wheelbase of 2.90 m), the Smart #5 proved to be very manoeuvrable and perfect even in traffic. This is also thanks to its turning radius of just 11.2 metres.

The cockpit is very spacious indeed, and driver and passengers enjoy excellent comfort. And the front passenger also has a dedicated screen from which he can watch his favourite series or the match of his favourite team. Perhaps this is distracting for the driver, since the screen is not obscured from the driver's view. Rear passengers, on the other hand, find reclining seats, integrated heating, a panoramic sunroof with electric blind and 60W charging sockets.

Although without a particularly aggressive look, the new Smart #5 reveals a surprisingly sporty character. Already in the rear-wheel-drive Pro and Pro+ entry versions, we find a 267 kW (363 hp) motor combined with 76 or 100 kWh batteries: a combination that enables 0 to 100 km/h to be sprinted in less than 7 seconds and up to 590 km to be covered on a single charge.