Smart #3 Brabus v's MINI Countryman SE - Does Brabus out-Smart John Cooper Works?

[@garrycroft4215]

I’ve paused the video at the opening statement about having to grow up in our later years. I have the Smart #1 Brabus in that mini colour combo.❤ they said that the Smart will suit the younger generation with its sometimes childlike tech. Well I bought it last year when I was 73 and have loved every one of the 7,250 covered so far. It’s my forever car I will never sell it it’s flipping amazing.❤

[@elmojito]

Funny, I feel the same and 73 in 2 weeks and 4 months ago bought the Smart #3 but in the Premium version as it has more than enough power, just as fast as that mini in the review but 2 wheel drive and lots of fun. After many years of large and practical cars felt it was time for impractical but fun to drive. BTW, RHD as I am in Spain.

[@andrewmeikle5527]

I’ve had multiple MINIs in the past, but I would go for the #3. It’s on my list for my next car, but I won’t commit to anything until I’ve tried the Xpeng G6, because I think that’s going to be phenomenal

[@AutoEV]

Had a passenger ride up the hill at Goodwood FoS in one. I can’t tell much about how it drove from the passenger seat, but it was quick, seemed well built and should offer a lot for the money.

[@andrewmeikle5527]

@@AutoEV that’s very good to know! I can’t wait for it to go on sale here, in October I think 🤞

[@padraicoshea9644]

Glad you liked the 3. I agree it’s currently a hidden gem in the market. We got our Barbus at the start of August. To replace our leased ID3 Max like for like would have been £51k, for 201bhp and a crap interior. It’s also a much smaller car than the competition you mentioned, we looked at the Mini and it is enormous by comparison, same for the ix1/2, EV6 etc. The #3 sits at least a size class below but even has ventilated seats. The real value is the Premium with 272bhp, RWD, more range and all the same kit bar the vented seats for £40k. Shame about the alloys which look like cheap hubcaps and ruin it. The infotainment issues are always solved by CarPlay so I’m never too bothered about the native stuff once set up. Anyway an enjoyable video that reaffirmed my opinion which is always nice 😂 , thank you!

[@nealy2815]

Excellent review as expected.

[@legaulois6012]

Smart #3 is a great car whether Brabus or Premium. Both are smart to drive. I've heard -now that Smart is becoming more visible - that leasing a Brabus is almost as the same price as leasing a more basic version. If you like the Brabus styling; you still can order a 25th Anniversary Edition. Good value.

[@antonbanulski1262]

Nice review. #3 bit of a ‘sleeper’. Have a #1 which is great. Constantly updating software which is good.

[@mgremont]

Thank you very much for the in depth review of the cars, I'm currently hesitating between the Smart #3 Premium (I dislike the black/red interior of the Brabus) and the xpeng G6 that just came out here in France (even if it's not the same car size it's around the same price).

[@tommyolsen8224]

LOVE THE SMART #3 ❤

[@karlInSanDiego]

Great comparison to do. Smart doesn't make me get sick all over my shoes, which I can't say about the MINI. In fact, the Smart looks, well...smart. Why did MINI sew red stitched knobs on all the seats? Is that a gag, Bryan? Smart's got buttons on the seats to snag and pull out. Again, is that a gag? Are they playing you? Then you sit in the MINI in front and more sick again, this time puking on the giant pizza screen. There's the knobs again. What are they thinking with that garish red pattern? Did the designer get fired from designing transit seats in the 90's? At this point, if I won the MINI on a gameshow, I'd have it listed for sale before I left the set. MINI aren't yet importing the Cooper SE to the USA, so this Countryman ALLfUL 4 SE offering is what MINI Cooper buyers are offered today if they want to go electric. Good way to lose customers.

[@AB-mk9tb]

I’ve just ordered a mini countryman se sport looked at all the other brands none of them equal the minis quality or shear fun to drive

[@davidatkinson2167]

Strange that you mentioned the Smart car feeling better because of a lighter interior. I am in the market for a new vehicle and quite a few were rejected for having dark interiors.

[@silverghini2629]

At 1.25 speed this is perfect.

[@martinwebb4549]

Brilliant review as always, thank you Auto EV, Most of your comments on both cars I would agree with, although not driven the Mini Countryman SE I have the new Cooper JC SE although obviously different size wise the inside finish are very similar, I can comment however on the SMART as I've driven the #1 BRABUS & bought the #1 Limited Edition which I've had for three weeks it makes me smile every morning I get in it to drive, what a car. Couple of things you mentioned on the #3 which also relate to the #1, not just particular to this review all reviewers mention this & that's putting down the front frunk, agreed not the largest but it's become very handy for me to store the charging cable, It fits just fine out of the way I will very rarely use it, The entertainment system once get used to it's like any electronics is fine, I agree the warning systems with audible alarm can be a pain hopefully will find away around switching some of these off permanently, One thing that I'm surprised most car reviewers do not touch on & that is to mention car insurance, that was why I didn't get a BRABUS my insurance broker best he could offer was £200 a month which was the deciding factor for me, & no I'm not a youngster starting off, I'm 69 clean licence with fully comprehensive insurance. Keep up the very informative reviews incidentally that's what persuaded me to look at the SMART #1.

[@nathanwolf5547]

Why did you suddenly say armadillo while you were talking about the Smart steering wheel?😂

[@garrycroft4215]

Me again I’m up to the Cheetah 🐆 I asked smart if I could get it in the #1 and guess what it came in the latest OTA update together with V2L and much more. Back to the video 😂

[@richardpiper4828]

I’m afraid neither the Countryman nor the #3 do it for me and they are so different that I don’t really understand the purpose of the comparison test. TBH the video was a lot longer than I would normally watch and I only did so because I like the AutoEV reviews. I would have preferred to have been able to choose two separate reviews and perhaps a third comparison review. I think the range of both is rather disappointing and the performance of both more than most driver’s are realistically going to use. As a family car the Countryman is perhaps better in the lower performance and trim variant. Great BMW engineering but the price takes it into a different category. I am not sure that the #3 has enough premium feel and desirability with its rather generic design. For value for money coupled with quite a special feel I would still choose a Megane E-Tech iconic at less than £40k.

[@robbiewiliams1974]

He offers a separate review for the Countryman. There may even be one for the Smart, but as it’s not a car in which I am interested, I did not search the channel for a separate review.

[@Professor-Jack]

good afternoon, are we going to know about your trip over to Wales? take it easy have a nice weekend 👍

[@AutoEV]

You can find out about it on my other channel, House of Cars. It’s where I drove the new Hyundai Santa Fe.

[@garrycroft4215]

Back again. I can turn off the speed limit warning and it stays off. Driver attention doesn’t stay off but it rarely chirps in so no problem. I’ve turned off all the annoying beeps. So the only one left is lane departure which is in the left bottom quick menu so two clicks disables it. I have asked smart if they can put it in the profiles

[@Alex-fu1jj]

The speed warning does not stay off on my #3, I suppose it depends on country and legislation, in France we are hoping to get a shortcut to switch it off without going through 4 menus. Otherwise the car is brilliant, I’ve done 18000kms in 6 months, love to take it on long trips

[@garrycroft4215]

@@Alex-fu1jj I got my #1 in October 2023. I think the speed warning came into effect in January 2024 here in the UK?

[@Alex-fu1jj]

@@garrycroft4215 I didn’t have it in the beginning, it came with a software update. They didn’t exclude cars sold previously. But it’s not such a big deal to be fair, a couple of buttons to press

[@timscott3027]

I disagree about having to "grow up" meaning you can't have a fun small car. Unless you have 3+ kids and need the extra space a small hatchback is fine.

[@AutoEV]

You do know it’s just a bit of poetic licence to introduce the cars?

[@karlInSanDiego]

One bonus for the MINI. Built in Leipzig, Germany, vs. SMART built in Xi'an, Shannxi China

[@jameschapman4824]

Not Mini in size and not mini in price.Good review though.

[@Richard-io9xe]

Bloody size of that "mini"! I remember when they were, er, mini.

[@patricepnc]

if you do some browsing you shoull see smart geely factory is net zero and claim highest carbon footprint print

[@AutoEV]

I’ve no doubt about it, but my point is, it should be something the company shouts about, but it doesn’t. Why should I have to Google it? Tell us about it Smart! Make a big song and dance about it. It’s what attracts younger buyers into your brand. Polestar do, Volvo do, and they are Geely owned. So why doesn’t Smart?

[@glideman]

Was this video dubbed from German? Looks like he’s trying to sync with the sound 😂

[@richardstamper5630]

No Smart badged Geely will find itself on my drive

[@PortfolioPL]

I am in this video and I don't like it :)

[@AutoEV]

The life of a celebrity isn't for everyone.

[@PortfolioPL]

@@AutoEV I just sat in a purple Xiaomi SU 7 and wished you were here to test it. It even has a refrigerator :)

[@AutoEV]

Would love to test this car.

[@milosone]

Wanted to watch, but just tooooo long....

[@AutoEV]

Thank you for your comment. This is something we hear a lot and I know that our reviews are longer than most. And there is a reason for this. The automotive KZbin space is a big pond and we are a small fish. So how do we stand out? How do we make a mark when the likes of Carwow and Electrifying.com are out there? By appealing to a different audience; the actual car buyers. We go into much more detail and offer far greater opinions than the others to help people with their buying decisions. I want to to put the viewer in the driving seat and make you feel part of the experience with the car, so that if you are in the market to buy a car such as one of these, you have as much information as you need to be informed about the car, warts and all. I know it costs us views and subscribers, but it’s what we do to stand apart from the others. We have no interest in drag racing to 60mph on a runway, or not having an opinion or verdict at the end for fear of not being invited to a press launch. We have details and opinions for people looking to buy cars. It’s harder on a twin test as a single car review is roughly 40 minutes long, so double it on a twin test. One of our viewers summed it up very nicely the other day; they said the other channels give a snippet like a quarter page first drive article in a magazine: we give the full Autocar Road Test that you sit and absorb. That’s our aim. But genuinely, thank you for starting to watch and for taking the time to give some feedback. It’s all appreciated. I just felt it was important to let you know why it is so. Thanks Bryan

[@robbiewiliams1974]

One does not need to watch the review in one viewing. One also has the ability to fast forward through sections. Some of us appreciate the time Brian takes to put together a thorough review.