Smart #2: The Tiny EV That Makes the Most Sense
The Smart #2 is an ultra compact EV city car that combines a 2.75‑metre two‑seater body, around 300 km of electric range, and a turning circle tighter than a traditional taxi, making it the most compelling smallest electric car for urban drivers who prioritise easy parking, low running costs, and practical daily commuting within crowded city streets. The Smart #2 is the top pick in the micro EV segment because it does something larger budget EVs cannot: it shrinks the car to the absolute minimum size while still keeping meaningful range and proper car-like safety and comfort. With a dedicated electric architecture developed around its diminutive footprint and a focus on "uncompromised urban capability", it is the best choice for most people who want a city car electric model rather than a full-size compact or crossover.
Design, Size and Driving: Why the Smart #2 Owns the City
If your daily life happens in tight streets and dense parking, the Smart #2 is made for you. At just 2.75 m long and configured as a 2‑seater, it is the smallest EV on sale, visually closer to quadricycles like the Fiat Topolino and Micro Microlino than to conventional compact cars such as the Dacia Spring and Fiat 500e. Smart claims a turning circle of 6.95 m, which is smaller than that required of London’s black cabs, so U‑turns, multi‑storey car parks and cramped side streets become far easier. Despite the tiny footprint, the #2 uses a bench seat to improve interior space, and its proportions echo the much‑loved Fortwo while updating the look with more assertive front and rear lighting. This is the car that treats congestion more as a playground than a problem.
Powertrain, Range and Charging: Enough for Real Daily Use
Ultra compact does not mean underpowered. Regulatory filings show the Smart #2 uses a 60 kW motor, equivalent to 80 bhp, paired with a lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery pack and a quoted 35.7 kWh capacity in earlier reports. This combination gives a headline 300 km range on the NEDC test, with Smart also confirming a figure of 186 miles and the ability to charge the battery from 10–80% in under 20 minutes. For city‑centre driving and typical commuting distances, that is more than enough to cover several days between charges. The car weighs 1,130 kg, so efficiency remains a strong point compared with larger budget EVs whose extra size and mass blunt real‑world consumption. Vehicle‑to‑load capability adds extra usefulness, letting you power external devices from the battery when parked. In practice, the Smart #2 delivers the range you need without the bulk you do not.
| Spec | Smart #2 | Typical Larger Budget EV |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 2.75 m | Significantly longer compact or crossover body |
| Seats | 2‑seater bench | 4–5 seats |
| Motor Output | 60 kW / 80 bhp | Higher power, more weight |
| Battery Type | Lithium‑iron‑phosphate | Varies by model |
| Quoted Range | 300 km NEDC / 186 miles claimed | Often higher, but with bigger, heavier cars |
| Weight | 1,130 kg | Heavier by comparison |
Smart’s Return to Its Roots and the Micro EV Segment
The #2 marks Smart’s return to city cars after several years focused on electric crossovers, including the larger #5. From this latest model, it appears Smart is going back to its roots with the original Smart City Coupe and the successful Fortwo city car that made tiny urban motoring a recognisable niche. The new car has been co‑developed by Mercedes‑Benz and Geely, with Mercedes leading design and Geely providing a bespoke architecture sized specifically for this micro EV segment. According to Smart’s global chief marketing officer Kang Yi, "The smart #2 is the evolution of a revolution" and was designed to bring playfulness, premium sophistication and agility back to the modern urban jungle. For buyers who care more about efficient movement than carrying five adults, the #2 positions itself as a distinctive city car electric option rather than a downsized version of a family EV.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Smart #2 if you want the smallest electric car available and prioritise easy parking in dense urban areas.
- Buy the Smart #2 if you mainly drive short to medium city distances and a 300 km quoted range comfortably covers your weekly commuting.
- Buy the Smart #2 if you value a dedicated city car electric design with tight manoeuvrability, including a 6.95 m turning circle.
- Buy the Smart #2 if you like the idea of a micro EV segment model that revives the spirit of the original Smart Fortwo.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you regularly carry more than one passenger and need four or five doors instead of a 2‑seater bench layout.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you often take long highway trips where larger budget EVs with bigger cabins and range might suit you better.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you prefer the higher seating position and cargo space of compact crossovers rather than an ultra compact EV footprint.
