In a comparative test we pit the Smart #1 against the Cupra Born.
Familiar name, new content
In collaboration with Geely, Smart has reinvented itself. The #1 no longer has anything to do with the ‘old’ Smart, just as a Cupra Born in fact no longer has anything to do with the lightning-fast Seat Cupras of yesteryear. This inevitably raises questions, but the specifications of the Smart #1 are promising.
But isn’t a Smart still just a Smart?
Yes and no. Forget the Smart that you thought you knew so well, forget about parking straight into the lane and forget about that characteristic rattle of a three-cylinder engine hidden in the rear bumper. That petrol engine had secretly been missing for a while, but also compared to the most recent, electric ‘ForTwo’, the new Smart #1 takes a completely different path. The ‘hashtag one’ is not a city car, but a serious EV of a ditto size. A size that places it squarely in the so-called C-segment, with which the new Smart will find cars such as the Volkswagen ID.3, Renault Megane E-Tech and therefore the Cupra Born in its path.
Geely, so the Smart is related to Volvo?
Actually yes. The Smart is extra interesting because its SEA2 platform is also used for the upcoming Volvo EX30, among others. After all, Volvo is also a brand from the portfolio of the Chinese Geely, Smart for half. The other half still belongs to Mercedes, so Smart suddenly functions as a bridge between two old European brand names.
Are the specs of these two somewhat similar?
On paper, the Smart is a very interesting thing. The rear-wheel drive basic version already has 272 hp and thus wipes the floor with its competitors, almost all of which deliver 150 kW or 204 hp in this segment. It also trumps them at the fast charger, with a promised peak of a very decent 150 kW. The battery of the #1 is also larger than usual in this class at 62 kWh, and larger than the net 58 kWh battery of the Born. However, this does not lead to a greater range, because with 420 versus 427 kilometers, the Born comes just further according to the well-known WLTP test.
And how does that drive?
The Smart is comfortable and smoothes out bumps in a pleasant way despite its large, 19-inch wheels. Anyone who really sits down for it can tempt him to oversteer, but he is certainly not a sportsman. Fine, of course, because the compact crossover buyer is usually not looking for that either. It is remarkable that the electric motor is quite loud. Especially for rear passengers, the high buzz from 80 km/h makes it seem as if a gear needs to be made, which is of course not possible. The Cupra maintains the image of a sportier Volkswagen ID.3 while driving. It is considerably stiffer than the Smart and that is not always nice in residential areas and on thresholds, but it offers more dynamics. The remarkably small turning circle is very pleasant, which makes turning around the street or entering and exiting a parking space very easy. On the highway, the Smart has the advantage again, because its ‘autopilot’ system works confidently and well. The Cupra is less sharp in that area, and does not have ‘Travel Assist’ on board as standard at all. This applies to more things, but on the other hand, with the Smart we are much more bothered by strange choices in the field of software and operation.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl