Does the Smart #5 make sense as a family EV?
The Smart #5 is worth considering if you want a distinctive family electric SUV with substantial luggage space. It has a very different role from the tiny Smarts of the past. Choose the version around range, equipment and charging needs rather than assuming the most powerful one is best.
The name may take a moment to get used to, but the buying brief is straightforward. This is a car for people, bags and longer journeys. The useful question is whether it does those jobs convincingly at the price you are offered.
I would not reject it for being large simply because older Smarts were small. Equally, the badge's history does not earn it any special allowance. It needs to stand up against the family EVs around it.
Which range figure applies to which version?
Smart's UK figures list 288 miles WLTP for Pro, 366 for Pro+ and Premium, and 335 for Pulse, Summit Edition and BRABUS. The longest range and the highest performance are therefore different choices.
That is useful information before you start specifying the car. I would put the longer-range rear-drive versions near the top of the comparison if regular travel is the priority. Extra performance can be enjoyable, but it is not a benefit you need to buy automatically.
Leave a margin when planning journeys. A WLTP figure helps compare cars tested in the same way; it does not promise the same distance in winter, at motorway speeds or with every seat occupied.
How useful is the larger body?
Smart quotes 630 litres of boot space in its international model information. I would still check the UK car's actual floor arrangement and the space left with your usual passengers aboard.
The boxier shape has an obvious practical appeal. The test is whether your awkward belongings fit and whether the opening is easy to use. Try the child seats, rear doors and parking view as well. A generous cabin is welcome; a car that feels too large for its regular parking places is less convenient.
Is all that screen technology helpful?
Smart promotes a cabin built around large digital displays. That can give passengers useful entertainment and make navigation clear, but display size is not the same thing as good operation.
I would set a destination, pair a phone and change the temperature without guidance. Then check the settings you are likely to adjust each journey. A feature-rich interior should make those simple jobs easier, not ask you to become its system administrator.
Also establish which features come with the chosen trim. A photograph of the most expensive interior is not an equipment list for an entry-level car.
What should you ask about charging and ownership?
Compare the battery and charging specification for the exact version. Do not transfer a headline from a higher-powered derivative to every car in the range. The charger available on your route and the battery's condition will affect any rapid-charge result.
For everyday use, work out where the car will charge while parked. Then locate servicing support, obtain an insurance quote and compare the full purchase or finance cost. A distinctive new model is easier to enjoy when the ordinary ownership arrangements are already clear.
Which rivals would I compare?
The Kia EV5 is a useful family-focused comparison. Look at the Škoda Elroq if you can manage with a smaller footprint, and the XPENG G6 for another technology-led approach.
What is my verdict?
The #5 has a clearer case when judged as a family SUV in its own right. Its shape, luggage capacity and choice of range-focused versions are more relevant to that job than a spectacular performance claim.
I would shortlist a version that provides the range and equipment I need, then spend proper time with the controls and parking checks. If those work, Smart's move into a larger class need not be a problem. If you mainly want a compact city car, this is simply a different brief.
Sources and author
By Ben Freakley. Editorial assessment using Smart UK's model and WLTP information and Smart's official model overview, checked 21 October 2026. Official manufacturer image shows a BRABUS; equipment varies. More Smart coverage.
