On June 1, Smart #3 was officially launched in China with a price range of 209,900 – 289,900 yuan (29,700 – 41,100 USD). Smart is a joint venture between Chinese Geely and German Mercedes-Benz. The #3 is Smart’s second EV after #1, which hit the market last September.
If you wonder how to pronounce the new Smart EV’s name, it’s hashtag three. The coupe SUV offers four trim options: Pro+, Pulse AWD, Premium, and Brabus Performance. The Brabus edition is limited only to 1,999 units in 2023.
| Smart model’s name | Range CLTC | Price yuan | Price USD |
| Pro+ | 555 km | 209,900 | 29,700 |
| Pulse 4AWD | 520 km | 239,000 | 34,000 |
| Premium | 580 km | 255,900 | 36,000 |
| Brabus Performance | 520 km | 289,900 | 41,100 |
The Pro+ base model is a standard 200k yuan segment EV. It has a single front motor with 200 kW (268 HP) power and a 66 kWh battery, suitable for the 555 km CLTC range.
The Pulse 4AWD model is the best bargain. Only for 239k yuan, you get 315 kW (422 HP) of power, 543 Nm peak torque, and a 520 km CLTC range. The car has dual motors, front with 200 kW and rear with an additional 115 kW.
The Premium is an FWD again with a 200 kW motor and offers the best range of 580 km.
The limited edition Brabus features the same dual motors setup as Pulse with 422 HP, sporty bodywork, and lavish wheels. It can accelerate 0-100km in 3.6 seconds, and also, it can make a 0 – 400 m straight-line sprint in 11.97 seconds, according to Smart.
All trims are equipped with a 66 kWh battery supplied by CALB and Sunwoda. The Smart #3 aerodynamics looks excellent on paper, showing a drag coefficient of 0.27 Cd. The EV presents a selection of nine body colors and an array of 15 exterior color combinations. Maximum speed is limited to 180 km/h.
Geely manufactures Smart #3 in their new Xi’an plant, which started production in 2021. Mercedes-Benz took care of the design, and Smart led the R&D and technical aspects of construction.
As its predecessor #1, Smart #3 is based on Geely’s SEA platform, which also underpins Lotus Eletre, Zeekr X, Volvo EX30, and Polestar 4.
“This year marks an exciting new phase of full-speed operation for Smart,” stated Tong Xiangbei, Smart CEO, during the launch conference.
Joel Baek, Director of Mercedes-Benz China Design Center, added: “The all-new smart Elf #3, created with the complete collaboration of the Mercedes-Benz Global Design Team, perfectly captures a dynamic and vibrant new luxury sports aesthetic.”
The #3 is the biggest Smart ever made. It is a 5-doors 5-seater with size 4400/1844/1556mm (L/H/W), respectively, and the wheelbase is 2785mm. The EV can be equipped with 19″ and 20″ wheels and has a frunk.
Inside the car, you find a nice interior dominated by a 12.8″ central control screen. The LCD has vast bezels, a reminiscence of the 2010s – Smart could invest more into that. The software is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, and #3 also features in-house developed ADAS called Smart Pilot Assist with L2+ self-driving capability.
Deliveries and Europe
According to recently released data, Smart’s vehicle deliveries in China experienced a decline in May, with 2,624 units delivered. This figure represents a decrease of 40.23% compared to the 4,390 units delivered in April. Since its launch in September of last year, Smart has successfully produced 28,923 electric vehicles in China, all being the #1, as mentioned above.
Smart #3 will compete in China with ID.4 and Mercedes-Benz EQB. Deliveries will start in June in China, and Smart confirmed the EV will launch in Europe in 2024.
