Smart, the small car brand established by Mercedes in 1994 and eventually liquidated by 2005 due to poor sales, is now 50% owned by Chinese automotive powerhouse Geely since 2019. Under new plans, Geely is providing the manufacturing capacity and pretty much everything in between, while Mercedes is providing the pom-poms so they can cheerlead from the sidelines. Geely has reinvented the Smart brand as a pure electric marque, increased the size of its cars, and introduced a more modern and appealing design language.

This restructuring has resulted in over 70,000 sales in 2023, transforming Smart from a struggling entity to a somewhat revitalized brand. The model lineup expands to three with the introduction of the Smart 5, positioned as a competitor to the forgettable Volkswagen ID4 EV-SUV. Details of the Smart 5 were disclosed through a mandatory public filing from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The Smart 5 SUV will be available in four powertrain trim options. For rear-wheel drive (RWD) models, power outputs range from 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS) to 358 hp (267 kW / 363 PS), generated by a single rear-mounted electric motor and powered by a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology.

All-wheel drive (AWD) configurations will feature nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries. They combine a front-mounted electric motor producing 221 hp (165 kW / 224 PS) with rear-mounted units that deliver either 358 hp (267 kW / 363 PS) or 416 hp (310 kW / 422 PS).

Together, the Smart 5 AWD models boast a total output of up to 637 hp (475 kW / 646 PS). The 800-Volt system enables the 100 kWh battery pack to recharge from 10% to 80% in just 15 minutes. The company has also targeted a WLTP range exceeding 341 miles (549 km).

Pricing is yet to be confirmed, UK prices are tipped to start from £35,000 – £40,000. Smart abandoned the U.S. market years ago.