Smart #2: The Best Lightweight Electric City Car for Most Urban Drivers
The Smart #2 electric car is a two-seat, ultra-compact urban commuter car that combines a 2,751 mm footprint, a 1,130 kg kerb weight, and an estimated 300 km WLTP range to deliver efficient, space-saving electric mobility for drivers who prioritise easy parking and low running costs over passenger capacity. This is the car most city dwellers should buy if they want a practical, affordable EV range in the smallest possible package. Certification filings confirm its final design and powertrain ahead of the Paris Motor Show reveal, including a 60 kW motor and lithium iron phosphate battery from CATL. With a claimed DC fast charge from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes and a tiny 6.95 m turning circle, the Smart #2 is built to live in dense, congested streets where every metre of space and every minute of charging time matters.
Compact City Car Specs: Dimensions, Weight and Urban Maneuverability
If you care most about compact city car specs, the Smart #2 is the clear winner. Initial data shows it measures 2,751 mm long, 1,669 mm wide and 1,555 mm tall, on a 1,875 mm wheelbase. That means the whole car is just one millimetre longer than the wheelbase of the larger Smart #1, highlighting how tightly packaged this lightweight electric vehicle is. Filings also mention some variants stretching to 2,764 mm with sportier bumpers, but width and height stay the same. More important for daily use is its 1,130 kg kerb weight, unusually low for an EV and a key reason it should feel agile and efficient in stop‑start traffic. The quoted 6.95 m curb‑to‑curb turning circle makes U‑turns and tight car park ramps less stressful, while its short length helps you exploit parking spaces other compact cars cannot use.
| Key Spec | Smart #2 |
|---|---|
| Length | 2,751–2,764 mm |
| Width | 1,669 mm |
| Height | 1,555 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,875 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 1,130 kg |
| Turning Circle | 6.95 m curb-to-curb |
| Top Speed | 140 km/h |
Battery, Range and Charging: Everyday EV Use Without Constant Plug-Ins
For urban commuters worried about affordable EV range, the Smart #2’s battery and charging package is its biggest selling point. Under the floor sits a 35.7 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack from CATL, paired with a 60 kW rear motor. Target WLTP range is around 300 km, which is more than enough to cover a typical week of city driving without needing to charge every night. One quotable figure sums it up: "Smart targets a WLTP-rated range of around 300 km from a 35.7 kWh battery in the #2." DC fast charging from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes means you can top up during a coffee stop rather than planning long charging sessions. Compared with the older Fortwo EQ, which managed about 135 km WLTP from 17.6 kWh, the #2 offers more than double the usable range while remaining lighter by around 40 kg. That combination is rare in a small, lightweight electric vehicle and exactly why it suits frequent city use.
Design, Two-Seat Layout and Options: Built for Efficient Urban Living
The Smart #2 is unapologetically a two-seat electric city car, trading rear passenger space for efficiency and a lower entry point into EV ownership. Its silhouette and proportions echo earlier Fortwo models and the Concept #2, with a short body, frameless windows, and a roofline that gives a baseball cap‑like look thanks to the protruding rear spoiler. The front uses teardrop headlights around a compact grille, while the rear features round lamps and a simple tailgate. Inside, Smart confirms an S‑shaped dashboard reminiscent of the original Fortwo and a bench seat that integrates storage and window controls in the centre. Wheel choices range from 15‑inch steel with hubcaps to 16‑inch alloys with aero fairings, plus optional bodykits, colour‑coded or champagne roofs, and decorative grille inserts that reference premium luggage patterns. Regulatory filings with China’s industry ministry lock in these design and power specs ahead of the Paris Motor Show debut, so buyers can decide based on confirmed data rather than early concept promises.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Smart #2 if you want the smallest practical urban commuter car with a 2,751 mm footprint and easy parking in tight city spaces.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you regularly carry more than one passenger and need four or five seats instead of a dedicated two-seat layout.
- Buy the Smart #2 if a targeted 300 km WLTP range on electric power is enough to remove daily charging anxiety from your city routine.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you often drive long intercity distances where a larger battery and more powerful motor would be a better fit.
- Buy the Smart #2 if you value a lightweight electric vehicle at 1,130 kg for efficiency, nimble handling and reduced energy use in stop-start traffic.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you prefer a traditional compact car with a larger body and more cargo space over extreme compact dimensions.
- Buy the Smart #2 if you want an affordable entry point to EV ownership with confirmed specs from regulatory filings before its Paris Motor Show reveal.
