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Smart #1 vs Smart #3
Selected trimProChange trim202 mi · 66 kWh · £33,960
At a glance
These cars are very closely matched - the right choice comes down to your priorities and budget.
Best value
Too close to call
Range & charging
Too close to call
Practicality
Too close to call
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
These cars are very evenly matched - your choice depends on priorities.
Value
#1
5.9
#3
6.1
Too close to call
Family
#1
5.4
#3
5.7
Too close to call
City Driving
#1
6
#3
6
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
Size Comparison
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Smart #1
Smart #3
Length
Smart #14,270mm-130mm
Smart #34,400mm
Width
Smart #11,822mm-22mm
Smart #31,844mm
Height
Smart #11,636mm
Smart #31,556mm-80mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Smart #1
- At 4,270 mm, shorter than 90% of SUVs in our UK catalogue.
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
Smart #3
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Smart #1 Pure |  Smart #3 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.27m | 4.40m+130mm |
| Width | 1.82m | 1.84m+22mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.02m | Not available |
| Height | 1.64m | 1.56m-80mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.75m | 2.79m+35mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 313L | 370L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 976L | 1160L (better) |
| Frunk | 15L | 15L |
| Seats | Not available | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11m | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 49kWh | 66kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 193 mi | 202 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 130kW | 150kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £29,960 (better) | £33,960 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | Coupe |
| Available | 2023+ | 2024+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Smart #1Pure | Smart #3Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 193 miles | 202 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 133 miles | 189 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | 30 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 130 kW | 150 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | 7.4 kW | 7.4 kW |
| Energy consumption | 181 Wh/km | 172 Wh/km (better) |
| Usable battery capacity | 49 kWh | 66 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests.
Smart #1
Pure
7.5/10
average across 4 reviews
- Electrifying.com9/10
- Autocar3.5/5
- DrivingElectric3.5/5
Smart #3
Pro
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Smart #1
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | Smart #1Pure | Smart #3Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £22,900 | £27,300 |
| Average used price | £23,771 | £27,300 |
| Active used listings trackedIndependent UK dealer listings seen in the last 90 days. | 10 listings (better) | 3 listings |
| Saving vs RRP | £6,189 below new | £6,660 below new |
| Recent used-price trend | Up 4.3% over ~6 months | Broadly flat |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Smart #1 Pure
Tested 2022
Adult Occupant96%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users71%
Safety Assist88%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - Smart #3 Pro
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag infotainment & software. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
Smart #1
Pure
Owners love
- Owners describe a comfortable, quiet and planted drive, with a premium, well-built interior.
- Generous standard equipment for the money, including a glass roof, 360-degree cameras and, on Premium and BRABUS, a clear head-up display and Beats audio.
- The BRABUS is very fast, and even the single-motor car feels quick.
Watch out for
- Early cars often had sticky or faulty pop-out door handles, fixed under warranty.
- Some early cars developed a hum from the rear axle bearings or motor mounts, fixed with new parts under warranty.
- The Hello Smart app is widely criticised as unreliable, asking for repeated log-ins and showing wrong data.
Owner tips
- Check every door handle works properly on a test drive.
- Listen for humming from the rear at speed and ask whether bushes or bearings have been replaced.
Smart #3
Pro
Owners love
- Smart Pilot Assist lane-centering and adaptive cruise control significantly reduce driver fatigue on motorway journeys
- Quiet, refined driving experience with comfortable ride quality and Mercedes-quality interior materials
- Excellent value proposition with competitive pricing, extensive standard features, and strong performance in Brabus mode
Watch out for
- Infotainment system poorly designed with busy interface and excessive menu navigation required
- Quality control issues reported on delivery including scratches, sand in door handles, and defective components
- Range falls significantly short of claimed figures, especially when using Brabus performance mode
Owner tips
- Request detailed pre-delivery inspection to catch transport damage; arrange home charger and Charge Place Scotland card before taking delivery
- Budget for extended warranty coverage to match 4-year PCP payment terms and mitigate servicing uncertainties
Buying options
Get a quote
Smart #1
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Smart #3
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Smart #1
- £23,9992024Car360View
- £23,7712024Car360View
- £22,9002024EV ExpertsView
Smart #3
- £27,3002025EV ExpertsView
Frequently asked questions
Is the Smart #3 worth the extra £4,000 over the Smart #1?
The Smart #3 costs £4,000 more than the Smart #1. For that premium it adds 57 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Smart #1 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Smart #1 or the Smart #3?
The Smart #1 is £4,000 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £192 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Smart #1 comes out roughly £3,960 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Smart #1 and Smart #3 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 133 miles for the Smart #1 and 189 miles for the Smart #3 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Smart #3 goes roughly 56 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 30-30 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Smart #1 or the Smart #3?
The two are within 22 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 578 mm of total clearance for the Smart #1 and about 556 mm of total clearance for the Smart #3.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Smart #1 or the Smart #3?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the Smart #1 and 84% for the Smart #3. That gives the Smart #1 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The Smart #1's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the Smart #3's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Smart #1 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Smart #1 and Smart #3 rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Smart #1 and Smart #3 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Smart #1 and Smart #3 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Smart #1 and Smart #3 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Smart #1 and Smart #3 rank among EVs with the biggest bootsWhere the Smart #1 and Smart #3 rank among Best Used Electric Cars Under £10,000 (UK)
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .