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New Smart #1 vs used Tesla Model Y: costs
You might be tempted by a brand new Smart #1, but a year-old Tesla Model Y for sub-£40k is hard to refuse. So, which of these electric SUVs should you choose?...
Buying and owning
Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security
In Premium trim, the Smart #1 costs £38,950, while our year-old, used Tesla Model Y Long Range comes in at around £39,000 – for that you can expect a car in great condition that's done less than 20,000 miles.
Alternatively, if you'd rather buy on PCP finance, the #1 will set you back £591 per month as part of a 36-month contract that also involves a £4000 deposit and an 8000-mile annual limit. If you'd like to keep the car at the end of the contract, that'll be an extra £21,935.
For the Model Y, we were quoted £670 per month as part of a 36-month contract. The deposit was also £4000 and the mileage was the same, too. At £17,862, though, the optional final payment was less, because it's expected to depreciate more slowly.
The #1 sits in insurance group 31, which led to us being quoted £835. The Model Y will be significantly more expensive; it's in group 48 and we were quoted £1154.
As for servicing, every #1 comes with a free package that covers inspection and maintenance work for the first year. The model also gets a three-year/1,000,000-mile warranty and an eight-year/125,000-mile warranty for the battery. Tesla doesn't offer service packages for any of its vehicles, but we've seen independent companies charging around £180 for an interim service and £235 for a major. Every new Model Y comes with a four-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, so you'll have what's left of this with a used example.
The #1 hasn't been around long enough to appear in our annual Reliability Survey, and the Smart brand also proved too niche to feature last year. However the Model Y placed third out of nine cars in the electric SUV class, while Tesla came 10th out of 32 manufacturers.
Both of these cars are generously equipped, getting adaptive cruise control, climate control and electric, heated front seats. The Model Y adds a heated steering wheel, while the #1 has a head-up display.
The #1 can charge at a maximum rate of 150kW, which is good in the grand scheme of things. However, the Model Y can charge at 210kW and it gets full access to Tesla's impressive charger network, meaning you're less likely to have to queue for a top-up.
It's also worth noting that during safety testing conducted by the independent experts at Euro NCAP, both cars received the maximum five-star rating.
Alternatives
New rivals, used rivals
The Kia Niro EV is a compelling alternative to a new #1. It'll cost you similar money to buy and will go a similar distance on a single change. It's not quite as quick, plus its interior isn't as plush, but the Niro EV has a larger boot.
Believe it or not, £39,000 grants you access to quite a few great used electric SUVs. A used BMW iX3 is an easy one to recommend, because it's great to drive, luxurious inside and can manage a respectable 253 (in summer) between charges.
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