NEW smart #1 first UK drive! | 2023 smart #1 Pro+ electric SUV review

[@LandLAutomotive]

***KEY INFO*** smart #1 Launch Edition is available to reserve in the UK from today. All other models will become available to reserve and order in the coming weeks before full UK market launch at the end of summer 2023. Apologies for the mixup and slight jumping of the gun in the pricing and specification section of the video.

[@harmony3138]

I reserved smart #1 Launch Edition back in December. So when you say “available to reserve in the UK from today”, that too is confusing 😕

[@GoksCarLounge]

Love it! I think Smart will sell a s**t tonne of these!

[@LandLAutomotive]

I think this would look good on your channel as well 👀

[@GoksCarLounge]

@@LandLAutomotive I strongly agree.

[@lisadefries6718]

Thanks for review. Love this car I have had 3 smart cars (3 generations) love classic smarts due to size, turning circle and obvious parking benefits etc but I have always wanted an EV . This is maybe a tweak large for my particular needs . Would love a two seater version like the smart although appreciate it would need to be longer to accommodate a sensible size battery and have better comfort levels than previous smart cars. Although the hashtag 1 seems perfect if you want a car the size of a modern mini. I also love the fox on 12 inch screen gives it a friendly feel. The exterior looks great too. Hard to find fault in it appearance and it sounds like it is a refined car that will take you on longish trips if you charge it at rest point every 140 miles or so although it may in certain conditions have a range of 250 ish Thanks detailed analysis

[@vap57]

I wish they would bring Smart back to Canada. I would consider one if they did. This is a great looking vehicle.

[@garrycroft4215]

I have been following this car since the concept. I have been waiting to order the Brabus in that colour. Can I order it now? Or is it still June with delivery in December?

[@LandLAutomotive]

So it's possible to reserve one through the smart UK website and we (along with lots of other dealers from what I've heard) are taking deposits which will be firmed up when the order books open at the end of July. Our first demonstrators - including a Brabus in atom grey matte with a red roof - will be coming in a matter of weeks! We'd love to get you behind the wheel.

[@garrycroft4215]

@@LandLAutomotive I have a pre order deposit with Mercedes-Benz Stockport. I saw a Smart #1 at the Fully Charged Show Live North Harrogate.

[@ЧингизУсанов]

Great review!

[@smarte.r.1450]

I adore it. I have a 453 currently and owned all the previous ones. Currently have a Hyundai Kona EV and I also have a new PHEV X1 the Kona is next to go and if these are on Lease… it will be another notch in my Smart Car company love affair. Thanks for the video.

[@krizndzone]

Will pro+ get the dark interior like what you used in the video?

[@just4therecord]

yes most of them are dark interior, but it also depends on the exterior color. If you choose yellow exterior, you dont get the dark interior.

[@krizndzone]

@@just4therecord aha I see. It would be nice if the yellow colour has got dark interior as well. 😔

[@keithbarrett9882]

Great review

[@mattjcordery150]

It's the BRABUS for me! I've sent so many emails showing my keen interest and the wait is so long! Lemme know when!

[@choshun8]

Did you find it particularly noisy. A German reviewer tested the brabus and said it was not only tyre noise but sounded like motor noise too(without artificial noise turned on)

[@LandLAutomotive]

I benchmark refinement against my C-Class and I think it is right up there in terms of refinement. The motor noise is present, yes, but I think that's a good thing to give the driver an audible idea of what the powertrain is doing - and to gauge how much speed they're building.

[@choshun8]

@@LandLAutomotive hopefully a pre production model trait! Don’t hear any motor noise from my Zoe and one of the benefits of driving electric, for me, is no engine noise! Will be very interested in the Brabus but I suspect after test drives, the Premium would be sufficient

[@markmilligan6616]

No mention of heated windscreen or heated steering wheel, at these price points they should be standard for northern Europe, which would be a pity.

[@微微-m3h]

方向盘加热、座椅通风加热都是有的，我已经开上它了，现在都不想开别的车了😅😅

[@markmilligan6616]

@@微微-m3h does it have heated windscreen in addition to the steering wheel and ventilated seats you mention?

[@lucipan01]

isnt a smart suv kinda the oposite of what smart used to stand for?

[@danielrichards8472]

For me Smart is all about being a compact city car that can turn on a dime and be king of parallel parking. This is just yet another crossover SUV thing. I like it but I wish Smart just continued their Fortwo and Forfour line up

[@canercolak2026]

omg its awsomeee

[@user-me1sx7gf9s]

What is the Mercedes mini that is being spoken about in this video?

[@LandLAutomotive]

The car reminds me of a mixture of the EQB from Mercedes-Benz and a lot of Minis that I've driven over the last few years - quite a good mix I think!

[@chrispnw2547]

As a MINI owner, I a keenly interested in this vehicle over the Volvo EX30

[@cameronashton7150]

Nice.

[@michalklucz6907]

Since when #1 has lidars?

[@just4therecord]

Was excited to see this video and then deeply disappointed to find it’s still the LHR version after a year of waiting

[@LandLAutomotive]

Right hand drive production is underway and I believe the first cars are on their way now! Transit times are rather long as they are coming from China but we are expecting our first demonstrators and customer cars in late summer.

[@just4therecord]

@@LandLAutomotive ok good to know. Can UK actually order one today? Or still have to wait? UK site still says “reserve my seat” with no configurator. Btw the Pro+ now comes with 22kW charging according to EU sites.

[@LandLAutomotive]

@@just4therecord From today the Launch Edition can be reserved and the order books for the other variants will follow in a couple of months - I've just had confirmation myself. So, kind of yes, kind of no, still - I'll be leaving a pinned comment to make this clear to everyone for now! Expect quite a few updates to come to the UK website over the coming hours and days. You may be keen to have a look at the full UK press release from smart too - here it is: media.smart.com/uk/the-new-smart-1--uk-specification-and-pricing-revealed/ I had read about the 22 kW update for EU Pro+ models - my best educated guess is that this will change in the future, maybe for the next model year.

[@just4therecord]

Is the RHD version available yet for viewing or a test drive?

[@01theloneranger]

With a real world driving range of only 200 miles and the very high price, I cant see the market for a car this small.

[@badboy250984]

Starting from 35k is very expensive for this size of EV.

[@cjoe6908]

This inside space is actually quite big, even the back seats are very comfortable. I sat in one a few days ago but there wasn't enough time for me to test drive. The boot isn't big at all then. My wife seemed quite enthusiastic about it

[@garywilson4132]

Have Smart any plans to launch a “Fortwo” version.

[@LandLAutomotive]

I keep on asking the question! Never say never is the official unofficial line about that. Think of this model as rebuilding/restarting the brand - core models will need to hit the mark and perform well before more niche models like a fortwo successor could become a reality.

[@syedabedi5780]

clippy thing is dark dude

[@evolv.e]

Why #1? If they wanted to give it a 1 designation, should’ve been named EQ1 to continue the EQ name lineage previous smarts had, but as this is a four door/four passenger, EQ4 would’ve been an even better name. Then followed by an EQ2, EQ2 Cabrio, etc.

[@evolv.e]

*ok, fine.. three smaller people/children can fit rear on the rear bench, or two average sized adults, for four/five passengers. Aside from the curious name, good upgrades all around. Only other nitpicks are I wish it looked a little less like a mini Mercedes and more like the previous ForTwo, and I wish the price was less expensive. (If we want Mercedes-like (A/B) features, we’ll buy a Mercedes EQ A/B, thank you) That said, I’ll be more excited when a shorter two door version, hopefully in a 20-25k price range, where people expect smart cars to be priced at. After that, an appropriately priced two seat cabrio version would be most welcome. (I currently drive a ForTwo electric drive cabrio that i love). And most importantly, bring smart back to North America so we can actually buy one. 🇺🇸 🇨🇦. Europe gets so many great mini cars that don’t make it to our shores: ID.3, Honda e, the new 500e, the 2020+ smart EQ’s, etc.

[@ikubarus.6966]

The infotainment tech should be more mature looking. It looks like some kids iPad.

[@fvvf9569]

Hopefully the americans won't ban it FOR the UK hahaha

[@vigneshiyer4736]

I am sorry, but any electric car video that does not mention the range is absolutely useless. That is a key consideration when you are looking to go electric.

[@johnhetherington8830]

Way too expensive a new model 3 costs $6000 less

[@evolv.e]

Agreed. A shame as I too would much rather buy a Model 3 or Y at this price point. Or even a Mercedes EQ A/B. I own a Tesla Model S and two smart electric drive ForTwo’s (one coupe, one cabrio). Each are priced appropriately for what they are designed to do. I’m mixed on the #1.. while there are improvements all around, the uniqueness of previous smarts are a bit lost on this one, and priced so closely to a Mercedes EQ B, I feel like I might as well buy an actual Mercedes. Yes, the #1 has a few unique features that differentiates it from its MB brethren, especially in its Brabus form, but the expectation from the smart brand for 2+ decades has been affordability and simplicity.. I find it too feature packed, which raises cost, and therefore too expensive. If however, if another model was also offered in a more base trim (smaller battery, fewer features) for 10k less, giving buyers the option, I think it would appeal to a larger range of buyers.

[@angrymuffinsb]

Isn’t it the same underneath as the ora cat?

[@LandLAutomotive]

It's unrelated to the Ora - that car is from Great Wall Motors (GWM) whereas the smart sits on the Geely SEA platform which forms the basis of the Polestar 4, Volvo EX30 and the Zeekr 001.

[@angrymuffinsb]

@@LandLAutomotive all Chinese tat? I used to be the biggest MB fan. But they have literally sold their soul on this one. Spoke to one dealer the other day, they’d sold one of the ora monstrosity’s. Doesn’t look good for the brand having this crap on the forecourt

[@alanOHALAN]

@@angrymuffinsb Smart was sold by MB to Geely. If Chinese can make perfect iPhones in the millions, they can make a few cars just as good quality. China is a big country so a lot of good or bad.

[@angrymuffinsb]

@@alanOHALAN I presume you’re Chinese. But no. They can’t. The quality isn’t the same

[@alanOHALAN]

@@angrymuffinsb What makes you think they can't? The Polestars are made in China, they are the best driving EVs out there. I suggest you take a test drive. Here is Shanghai Autoshow: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqu6kmOrerqfbqs

[@tapen678s6]

W205 is rubbish in comparison.. no standard technology on a c class shame on Mercedes

[@karinphua9415]

If they slap in mercedes logo...it will sell like hotcakes regardless of range, etc. Mostly to ladies😂

[@LandLAutomotive]

Chinese market models do have a badge on the B-Pillar that says "Styled by Mercedes-Benz" on them!

[@angrymuffinsb]

Problem with this type of review; it’s in house. It’s a sales pitch, not an independent review

[@alanOHALAN]

the price is decent, looks good to me.

[@kb8570]

This is basically a rebranded Chinese car. This is basically a BYD or an Ora. Both are Chinese brands.

[@LandLAutomotive]

It's on a Geely platform which is shared with the Zeekr X, Polestar 4, Volvo EX30 and some others. I'll be going more in-depth on that in a future video featuring the car.

[@fvvf9569]

Chinese made it better, no question abt it

[@Displays.1234.]

Where do you start with so many bad designs, centre console looks terrible, to high up in the air, with a cheap plastic finish which is guaranteed to scratch very easy, no proper knobs for temperature controls and AC... Terrible looking software looks like a something from a child's tablet with a ridiculous for on it, software engineers are completely clueless just looks like a total mess... And poor range....

[@fnerf0]

awful