Car of the Year Awards 2026: Family Electric SUV of the Year
This class embraces a useable driving range and fast charging tech, but the best must also be hugely practical and loaded with great tech...
Smart #5 Pro+
Sometimes, change is good, and the Smart #5 electric SUV is a perfect example of that. In fact, it’s the biggest model that the brand has ever made and the antithesis of the tiny, toy-like cars with which the brand originally set out its stall.
The thing is, though, those were terrible, whereas the #5 is superb – especially if you go for our favourite Pro+ version. This gets an upgraded battery compared with lower trim levels, with a hefty 94kWh usable capacity and an impressive 366-mile official range. That’s more than the Skoda Enyaq 85 and Volkswagen ID 4 can manage and not far shy of the Renault Scenic Long Range.
And when you need to top up the battery, the #5 will have you back on the road quicker than all of its rivals, accepting a maximum rate of up to 400kW (if you go for the Pro+ or above) and going from 10-80% in as little as 18 minutes.
The #5 also packs a solid punch. As a Pro+, it puts out 358bhp, so it feels effortlessly swift and responsive from a standstill all the way up to motorway speeds.
More impressive than its pace, though, is the way the #5 rides. You see, its suspension is on the softer side, allowing the car to smooth out potholes with greater ease than most other rivals, but it isn’t so soft that you’re bounced around in your seat along undulating roads. So, it’s comfortable regardless of whether you’re pootling around town or tackling a back road.
Interior quality is another area in which the #5 shines. From its soft materials and faux-leather finishes to the plastic surrounds on the infotainment screen, everything feels more substantial than what you’ll find in the Enyaq and Volkswagen ID 4. What’s more, it looks classier and more upmarket than those rivals inside.
Infotainment is taken care of by a large, 13.0in touchscreen with sharp graphics, quick responses and loads of standard features. It’s a shame that you have to operate it entirely by touch or voice commands, but that’s no different from the set-ups in the Enyaq, ID 4 and Volvo EX40, and at least the #5’s large icons help to make its system easier to use on the move than those of its rivals.
The #5’s boxy shape ensures that six-footers will fit comfortably; there’s loads of head room in the back, and even more leg room. The #5 makes the generously proportioned Enyaq look slightly meagre.
With a sizeable, 630-litre capacity, the #5’s boot is larger than those of the Enyaq and EX40. Furthermore, the Enyaq doesn’t come with any additional storage space under its bonnet, whereas the #5 has a 72-litre ‘frunk’ (larger than the EX40’s) that’s useful for storing charging cables and other small items.
As a cash purchase, you’ll pay slightly less for the #5 Pro+ than for our recommended Enyaq 85 Edition, and much less than for an EX40, despite the #5 getting more equipment and a longer range than those rivals and being a better all-rounder.
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