In some ways the smart #1 Pro+ takes the EV back to its origins, offering a compact and eco-friendly way to get around urban areas. Cute and curvy hatchback styling lends it immediate road presence, while its roadrunner performance, generous standard equipment list and Mercedes-backed design (it’s built in China by co-owner Geely) go a long way to justifying its asking price. But it’s not the most practical car on the road, and with an ever-increasing list of affordable and spacious EVs available in Australia, could it find itself limited to a niche market?

How much does the smart #1 Pro+ cost?

The smart #1 Pro+ retails for $54,900 before on-road costs. This puts it right on price parity with the Tesla Model 3 RWD, but means it’s substantially more expensive than the Kia Niro ($45,000) and budget EVs from Chinese brands such BYD and MG. It’s the base model in the smart #1 range, sitting below the Premium ($58,900) and Brabus ($67,900).

What equipment does the smart #1 Pro+ come with?

While its asking price is far from affordable for a hatchback, the Pro+ certainly doesn’t feel sparsely equipped.

Standard-issue kit includes 19-inch alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, 12.8-inch infotainment screen, 9.2-inch driver display, dual-zone climate control, a wireless phone charger, Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, digital radio, five-speaker sound system, satellite navigation, cooled storage box, man-made leather upholstery, and heating for the front seats and steering wheel.

Like most EVs, it has no spare wheel, only a tyre repair kit.

What is the smart #1 Pro+ like inside?

Interior space accounts for a good deal of the smart #1’s 4270mm length, so leg room both front and back is excellent. The car is also quite tall for a passenger vehicle at 1636mm, and this added height means plenty of window glass and a light and airy cabin.

The ‘After Dark’ colour palette is black and satin chrome which, coupled with the all-curves styling common across the smart range, makes for an elegant if somewhat muted interior. The chrome door handles, window switches and head restraint inlays lend a premium touch. The artificial leather on the seats and steering wheel looks good and feels thick and durable.

The smart #1 is 300mm shorter than its bigger brother, the smart #3, and this is most noticeable in the cargo area. With the rear seats up and slid all the way back it’s only 700mm deep, the seat-back angle further limiting space. There is, however, a second storage compartment below the main floor, while the door aperture, at 700mm high, admits quite bulky objects. The second row also folds almost flat, further aiding versatility. The second row offers both ISOFIX and traditional anchor points for child restraints.

Customisation is a point of difference for this new generation of smart vehicles and the #1 Pro+ is no exception. ‘Hard button adjustment’ lets you program mute, media source, driving mode, parking assistance camera, or navigation into the ‘favourite’ button on the steering wheel.

The infotainment screen’s adorable ‘Lucy the fox’ avatar can’t be changed as it can on higher grade models, but there are several levels of brake regeneration to choose from (including one-pedal driving), power steering weight can be set to auto, light, standard or heavy, and it has eco, sport and comfort driving modes.

How safe is the smart #1 Pro+?

All variants of the smart #1 were awarded a five-star ANCAP rating in 2024. It scored very highly for adult occupant protection and is fitted with myriad safety assistance technologies, including autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, and ‘junction assistance’, where the vehicle will brake autonomously if it detects an imminent collision while turning across the path of an oncoming vehicle.

What powers the smart #1 Pro+?

A 66kWh lithium-ion battery powers a 200kW/343Nm motor on the rear axle. Claimed range is 420km and it is compatible with DC fast-chargers up to 150kW.

Its single-phase AC is only rated to 7.2kW, however, which means a 10 to 80 per cent charging time in excess of 7.5 hours when plugged in at home.

During March 2025, smart is offering complimentary 7.4kW wall box charger (not installed) and portable 10-amp charger with any car purchase.

What is the smart #1 Pro+ like to drive?

The smart #1 makes a cheerful ‘popping bubble’ noise when you lock it and that’s really an apt metaphor for the rest of the car. The exterior has a cute and sporty silhouette (imagine a Suzuki Swift with taller windows), and when the flush door handles pop out they reveal the word ‘Smart’ written on them. The exterior paint comes in solid black or can be customised with various two-tone options. Some are free, others cost between $670 and $1100. The ‘Digital White’ two-tone paint pictured on our press vehicle is a no-cost option.

The electric driver’s seat slides back on entry and exit, a luxury touch sure to please motorists of ample frame – although it’s a bit annoying if you have a rear seat passenger, as there’s almost no foot room until the seat moves forward. Front and back, the seats are well sculpted with a good amount of bolstering and are suitable for longer drives. The steering wheel offers pleasing tactility and ergonomics (such as the position of switchgear and the touchscreen’s large iconography) are sound, the large windows and a high driving position ensure clear vision in all directions and easy parking.

With electric vehicles upping expectations in power and torque, it’s easy to forget 200kW/343Nm is plenty outside the performance arena. The smart #1’s single RWD motor provides all the acceleration anyone could possibly want for everyday driving, whether exploiting a gap in traffic or overtaking on the motorway, and 0 to 100km/h is dealt with in 6.7 seconds.

While its handling isn’t what you’d call sporty, the steering is direct and behaves predictably in corners – the smart #1 has road manners as good as anything in its class, including agreeable bump absorption. The cabin remains fairly quiet even on coarse bitumen, and the standard audio system provides a good quality aural experience.

During our week in the smart #1 we recorded energy consumption of 16.3kW/100km, putting its range pretty much dead-on the 420km WLTP figure.

Open Road’s take on the smart #1 Pro+

As mentioned in our smart #3 review, Geely’s infotainment and active safety technology isn’t without its peccadilloes, but on the whole the smart #1 Pro+ is an excellent all-round EV.

Well-built, comfortable, customisable and delivering plenty of get up and go, you could look at it as a Chinese EV without the quality concerns, or a Mercedes EV without the sky-high asking price.

Either way, it’s a compelling package for someone seeking an urban-focused car with a dash of fun and luxury.

What we liked

• Delivers the cute factor in spades
• Plenty of zip and competent handling
• Standard inclusions help justify its price

What could be better

• Cargo space isn’t enormous
• Interior styling a little staid
• Tech has a few bugs