This new electric SUV is almost as fast as a McLaren
April 08, 2025 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
It’ll do 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds thanks to twin electric motors putting out 646hp, and you’ll be able to buy one later this year.
- New Smart #5 Brabus revealed
- 646hp electric SUV with blistering performance
- 0-60mph in just 3.8 seconds
- Up to 335 miles of range
- Minor styling upgrades
- On sale later this year
This is the new Smart #5 Brabus, and it’s the most powerful car the brand has ever made. It’s got 10hp more than a McLaren GTS, and it’s only just over half a second slower to 60mph than that car.
That’s pretty impressive for a big electric SUV with seating for five and a generous boot, and it looks pretty cool as well. Order books will open towards the end of the year, and we expect prices to start from around £55,000.
New Smart #5 Brabus motors, performance and range
Let’s start with the most exciting part of the Smart #5 Brabus: performance.
There’s already a version of the #5 with an impressive 587hp, but this Brabus version has a whopping 646hp. That’s over 200hp more than a Tesla Model 3 Performance.
Despite this, the Smart is around a second slower to 60mph than the Tesla – completing the sprint in 3.8 seconds. That’s still bonkers performance for a big SUV though, it’s around 0.2 of a second quicker than a BMW M2.
The #5 Brabus is fitted with a 100kWh battery pack which gives it 335 miles of range according to official tests, which is almost exactly the same as the dual-motor version of the standard car. It’s also slightly more than a Tesla Model 3 Performance, but only by eight miles.
New Smart #5 Brabus design
The standard Smart #5 is already a funky-looking thing, but this Brabus version has been given some unique design touches to help it stand out.
Up front you have a slightly tweaked bumper with larger air intakes and red accents, and you get more red details on the side skirts, roof and door mirrors. The brake calipers are also painted red and sit behind unique 21-inch wheels.
Changes at the rear are a bit more subtle, with just a red strip across the bumper separating this from the normal #5. Still, Smart has done more with this than it has with the #1 and #3 Brabus models, those cars are quite hard to distinguish from the basic versions.
New Smart #5 Brabus: when can I buy one?
The Smart #5 Brabus will go on sale towards the end of 2025, however there’s no word on UK pricing just yet. It’ll start from around 61,000 Euros in Germany though, so expect a figure of around £55,000 on our shores.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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