Efficiency & Charging
7/10
Performance & Driving Dynamics
7/10
Interior & Technology
8/10
Practicality & Usability
6/10
Value & Running Costs
8.5/10
Overall
7.5/10
Overview
The smart #2 is a return to the brand's roots: a proper, motorway-capable electric car that measures just 2,746mm from bumper to bumper. Revealed at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, it reaches pre-order in spring 2027, with deliveries starting in the summer. It targets city drivers and second-car households for tight parking spaces, and lines up against the Renault Twingo E-Tech, Dacia Spring and Nissan Pixo. Its strengths are remarkable agility, a cabin that feels a class above its size and a surprisingly generous boot, while the two-seat layout and relaxed performance will narrow its audience.
Design
Styled by the Mercedes global design team, the #2 was briefed to look like a direct descendant of the original smart two-seater without looking retro. It keeps the stubby, upright two-door silhouette, pronounced wheelarches and wheels pushed right out to the corners, then adds sharper creases in the short bonnet, a floating roofline and huge circular taillights. A closed capsule-patterned grille, LED daytime running lights and projector headlamps complete the face. Two-tone paint remains a signature, and the limited Couture Edition wears matt Atelier White with a platinum gold roof and gold-accented 16-inch alloys to mirror the concept. Wheels start at 15 inches, while the 16-inch option uses staggered tyres, 185/50 at the front and 205/45 at the rear, on a body just 1,669mm wide and 1,555mm tall. An evolution of the Tridion safety cell, a high-strength steel cage around the occupants, remains central to its identity.
Interior
Every #2 gets the same flowing, S-shaped dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen and an 8.8-inch digital driver display. Quality is the headline, helped by turbine-style air vents, oversized door grab handles and nods to the car's German and Chinese heritage. A slot across the dashboard, the Smart Pillar, allows accessories to be attached rather than acting as a vent. The central screen sits low enough to keep the view ahead clear, and the three-spoke steering wheel still carries physical buttons, although climate controls live on the touchscreen. Seating takes the form of a bench-style arrangement that lets occupants slide across to exit when the car is parked tight. Higher trims lift the atmosphere further with a glass roof and a bespoke Sennheiser sound system.
Performance & Powertrains
A single rear-mounted motor drives the rear wheels, producing 60 kW and 130Nm. It is paired with a 35.8kWh LFP battery, good for up to 180 miles of range. The top speed is 87mph, so the 0-62mph time of 11.6 seconds is respectable rather than rapid. Peak DC charging is 65kW, enough for a 10-80% top-up in about 20 minutes, modest on paper but well suited to such a small pack. The car sits on a new architecture designed for compact EVs, with five-link independent rear suspension and wider rear tyres to aid stability. The 6.95-metre turning circle is the standout dynamic claim, tighter than the latest Fiat 500 Electric or MINI Cooper Electric.
Practicality
This is a strict two-seater, so the space behind the seats goes entirely to luggage: 305 litres, which is only around 20 litres short of the far larger Renault 5. A split tailgate with a pop-out glass section makes dropping in shopping bags easy, and underfloor storage keeps the charging cable out of the way. There are also moulded cupholders. With no rear bench to fold, loading versatility is limited to that one space, and anyone regularly carrying more than one passenger will need a different car. The payoff is a footprint that slots into gaps most hatchbacks cannot.
Buying
Smart says the Pure will start from under £20,000. It will be available in Pure and Premium trims with the Couture Edition being limited to 999 cars across Europe. Pure is far from stripped out, bringing both screens, 15-inch wheels, fabric seats, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, all-round LED lighting, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, Highway Assist, Pilot Assist and vehicle-to-load. Premium adds the glass roof, Sennheiser audio, heated seats with artificial leather, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and extra personalisation including two-tone paint, while the Couture Edition adds an exclusive finish and numbered interior badge. EV Hub recommends the Pure, which keeps the same powertrain, both screens and the core driver aids while saving an estimated £4,000 over the Premium model.