2024 Smart #3 Brabus Review

Nowadays, competition in Malaysia's pure electric C-Segment market is becoming increasingly intense. Family users and young consumers are starting to pay more attention to balancing a vehicle's performance, features, and practicality—after all, no one wants to choose between "speed" and "comfort." As the high-performance pure electric model of the brand, the Smart #3 Brabus entered the market in July with dual motors delivering 422PS, an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds, and fully equipped intelligent safety configurations. In this test drive, we will explore not only its impressive specifications on paper but also its practicality and driving experience in everyday use.

Starting with the exterior, the Smart #3 Brabus follows a sporty coupe-SUV style with streamlined lines. Its fastback rear design makes it highly recognizable in the same segment. The front features a smoked honeycomb grille paired with sharp LED headlights on both sides. The daytime running lights boast a slim stripe design, providing great visibility when illuminated. The side profile displays a waistline extending from the front to the rear, complemented by 20-inch large wheels fitted with 245/40 R20 tires, maximizing its sporty appeal. At the rear, the full-width LED tail lights come as standard, with a Brabus-exclusive logo below the tail lights. The diffuser-like rear bumper design further enhances its performance feel. The entire design avoids unnecessary flashy elements, presenting a straightforward sporty look.

Inside, the interior features predominantly dark tones with red stitching accents. The air vents and door panels incorporate metallic trims. The dashboard uses soft-touch materials over a large area, offering a comfortable tactile experience. The center console layout is very simple, with most functions integrated into the 12.8-inch touchscreen. The screen is highly responsive, and the operating logic is clear. The 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel provides comprehensive information, and the HUD (Head-Up Display) projects crucial details like speed and navigation onto the windshield, allowing driving without the need to look down at the dashboard for information—a convenient and safe feature. The steering wheel is electrically adjustable and supports multi-function controls with clear button feedback. The seats are made of faux leather, with both front seats offering electric adjustments and good support, ensuring comfort even during long drives. The rear seats can be split 60:40 and folded down, extending the trunk capacity to 1277L—suitable for daily needs like carrying a stroller or large luggage. In terms of storage space, the front center armrest box and door storage compartments provide ample room for everyday items. A wireless charging pad for mobile phones also comes standard.

In terms of space, the car measures 4400mm in length, 1844mm in width, and 1556mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2785mm. After adjusting the front seat to a suitable driving position, a 175cm tall passenger would still have a headroom of about one fist and two fingers. In the rear, with a 175cm passenger seated, there are two fists of legroom and one fist of headroom due to the fastback design; it doesn’t feel claustrophobic. Rear air vents and USB charging ports are standard, and the almost flat floor in the middle means three people can sit comfortably without feeling cramped. It’s entirely sufficient for daily family use.

In dynamic driving performance, the Smart #3 Brabus is equipped with dual permanent magnet synchronous motors, providing a combined power of 310kW (422PS) and 543N·m of torque, with an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 3.7 seconds. In practice, the response during start-up is extremely quick, and a deep press on the accelerator delivers an obvious push-back sensation. The power reserve is sufficient for overtaking, and speeding up on highways is a breeze. Driving modes include Eco, Comfort, and Sport. In Sport mode, power output becomes more immediate, and steering feels slightly heavier. The chassis utilizes a front MacPherson strut and a rear multi-link independent suspension, with a tuning bias toward sportiness but not overly rigid. When crossing speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension effectively filters out most minor vibrations without excessive body bounce. During cornering, the suspension offers good support, controlling body roll effectively and ensuring high overall stability.

In terms of range and charging, the battery capacity is 66kWh, with an official range of 415km. During our test drive, which mainly alternated between city roads and fast roads, with the air conditioning on and music playing, the average speed was about 50km/h and the range achieved was around 85% of the official figure, capable of running approximately 350km in real-world conditions. For daily commuting, charging once a week is no issue. Fast charging from 30% to 80% takes about 30 minutes, while slow charging takes about 3 hours to fully charge. The charging speed is considered mainstream within its class. As for braking, it features ventilated discs in the front and solid discs in the rear, with responsive braking and short stopping distances, which inspire confidence during daily driving.

Regarding comfort details, sound insulation is well-done, and external noise is almost inaudible below 60km/h. At higher speeds, some tire noise and wind noise can be heard, but it does not affect normal conversations. The energy recovery system has three adjustable levels, and even the highest level does not feel overly abrupt, making it possible to drive with a single pedal after getting used to it. The seat cushioning is moderately soft, with good lumbar support, ensuring comfort even during long periods of sitting.

In summary, the core advantages of the Smart #3 Brabus are evident: strong performance, with 3.7-second acceleration being rare in the same class of electric vehicles; high configuration, with features like Level 2 autonomous driving, 13 Beats speakers, HUD, and more as standard; and practical space, with a long wheelbase offering sufficient rear seat and trunk space for family use. Compared to similar models like the rear-wheel drive version of the Model Y or the ID.4 CROZZ, the Smart #3 Brabus stands out with better acceleration performance and higher configuration. The price of 255,000 MYR is also relatively reasonable.

The target audience is clear: young consumers who enjoy sporty performance but also need a family car, or users who value features and a sense of technology. It satisfies the practicality of daily commuting while occasionally providing the excitement of a performance car. If you're looking for a fast-accelerating, well-equipped, and spacious electric SUV, the Smart #3 Brabus is worth considering.