There was a time when the word “smart” meant tiny city cars you could practically park sideways between two wheelie bins. Fast forward to 2026 and the brand has gone completely crazy. Meet the all-new smart #5 — a big, bold, luxury electric SUV that’s arrived in New Zealand packing up to 590km of range, an 18-minute fast charge and, in BRABUS form, enough grunt to embarrass plenty of sports cars.
Welcome to the new era of smart.
The smart #5 has officially landed in Kiwi dealerships, joining the already-established #1 and #3 models, but make no mistake, this is the brand’s biggest and most ambitious move yet. Positioned squarely in the premium electric SUV segment, the #5 is targeting buyers who want long-range practicality, luxury-car tech and serious performance without wandering into six-figure European EV territory.
Bigger, bolder and finally grown-up
The #5 is the largest smart ever produced and it’s a genuine medium-to-large SUV rather than an urban runabout pretending to be adventurous. It has presence too. The styling is clean and modern, with a strong stance, flush surfaces and just enough futuristic detail to remind you it’s electric without trying too hard.
More importantly, it looks expensive. Inside is where smart appears to have gone all-in. The cabin feels aimed directly at premium European rivals, with large OLED displays, high-end materials and a proper technology-first approach. Even the entry-level PRO+ comes loaded with gear, while the Premium and BRABUS variants push things even further into luxury territory. The result is an EV that feels far more mature than anything previously associated with the smart badge.
Long-range EV touring finally gets easy
One of the biggest talking points is range, because Kiwi buyers still care about it. A lot. The smart #5 Premium delivers up to 590km WLTP from its 100kWh battery pack, putting it firmly into proper long-distance road trip territory. Auckland to Wellington? No problem with strategic charging. Christchurch to Queenstown? Entirely realistic.
And when you do need to stop, smart’s new 800V electrical architecture means DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent can happen in as little as 18 minutes under ideal conditions. That’s coffee-and-bathroom-break fast.
The entry-level PRO+ still offers an impressive 540km WLTP range, meaning there’s no “cheap” version with compromised usability. Plus, every #5 variant includes Vehicle-to-Load capability, allowing owners to power tools, appliances or camping gear directly from the vehicle itself. That’ll appeal to plenty of Kiwi lifestyles.
The Premium sounds seriously premium
While the PRO+ opens the door to the range at $79,990 plus ORC, the Premium variant is likely where many buyers will gravitate. Why? Because it piles on the luxury kit without tipping into ultra-performance pricing.
The cabin features dual 13-inch OLED displays, a Head-Up Display and a 20-speaker Sennheiser sound system complete with Dolby Atmos. That’s home-theatre-level audio inside an SUV.
There’s also a huge panoramic roof, wireless smartphone charging, remote parking functions, over-the-air software updates and a full suite of driver assistance tech including smart Pilot Assist, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system and 12 parking sensors. It’s the sort of specification list that would have sounded outrageous in a smart just a few years ago.
Practicality hasn’t been forgotten either. The #5 offers generous cabin space, clever storage solutions and up to 1,600kg towing capacity, making it far more versatile than many electric SUVs currently on the market.
Then there’s the BRABUS…
And this is where things get genuinely wild. The smart #5 BRABUS turns the sensible family EV formula on its head with dual-motor all-wheel drive producing a monstrous 475kW. That’s enough to launch this SUV from 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds. In a smart!
Let that sink in for a moment. Performance EVs are no longer reserved for exotic brands and eye-watering price tags. At $99,990 plus ORC, the #5 BRABUS enters the market offering supercar-rivalling acceleration while still delivering SUV practicality, luxury features and everyday usability.
It’s also visually more aggressive, with BRABUS styling enhancements adding a sharper, sportier character to the already confident design. According to smart New Zealand General Manager Arek Zywot, the BRABUS model shows premium EV ownership doesn’t have to be boring. And he’s probably right.
There’s a growing number of buyers who want their EV to do more than simply save fuel money. They want excitement, personality and a bit of theatre too. The #5 BRABUS appears ready to deliver all three.
Safety matters too
Beyond the performance and flashy tech, smart has clearly worked hard to ensure the #5 feels reassuringly safe. All variants carry a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, with the vehicle also recognised as Euro NCAP’s Safest Large SUV of 2025. That’s a major achievement considering how fiercely contested the segment has become.
Advanced driver assistance systems are standard across the range and the #5 has also picked up international recognition elsewhere, including Family Electric SUV of the Year at the 2026 What Car? Awards along with multiple Red Dot design awards. In other words, it’s not just fast and flashy — it’s properly credentialled.
smart is growing up in New Zealand
The arrival of the #5 also signals a broader expansion for the brand locally. smart’s dealer network now stretches across Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Christchurch, giving the company a far stronger national footprint than before.
For a brand once pigeonholed as niche urban transport, this feels like a major transformation. The smart #5 isn’t trying to be quirky anymore. It’s trying to be desirable.
And judging by the specification sheet, the range figures, the charging speed and that frankly ridiculous BRABUS acceleration time, it might just succeed.
Smart #5 pricing in New Zealand
smart #5 PRO+ – $79,990 + ORC
- 540km WLTP range
- 100kWh battery
- 13-inch OLED display
- Five-star Euro NCAP safety
- smart Pilot Assist
- OTA updates
Smart #5 Premium – $89,990 + ORC
- 590km WLTP range
- Dual 13-inch OLED displays
- Head-Up Display
- 20-speaker Sennheiser Dolby Atmos audio
- 18-minute DC fast charging
- 1,600kg towing capacity
Smart #5 BRABUS – $99,990 + ORC
- 475kW AWD powertrain
- 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds
- Performance-focused BRABUS styling
- Premium luxury specification
