Smart #2: The Best City Upgrade for Most Urban Drivers
The Smart #2 is a compact two-seat city car electric model that combines a tiny footprint with meaningful real-world range and ultra-fast EV charging capability, positioning it as a compelling replacement for traditional compact petrol cars in dense urban areas where space, efficiency, and short charging stops matter far more than long-distance cruising comfort or family-hauling capacity.
For most city buyers, the Smart #2 is the right choice. It brings back the classic 2.75‑metre two‑seater layout with around 300 km NEDC range, expected to be closer to 250 km on the WLTP cycle, from a 35.7 kWh battery pack. That is enough compact EV range to cover commuting and errands several days in a row without charging. Its small size makes parking and lane changes far easier than in any crossover. If you are replacing a compact petrol hatch that rarely leaves the city, Smart #2’s focus on agile manoeuvring and efficient short‑hop driving is a better everyday fit than larger electric SUVs or sedans, and its fast‑charging tech means you can top up quickly instead of planning long charging sessions.
How Smart #2’s Ultra-Fast Charging Compares
The key reason to pick Smart #2 over a conventional compact petrol car or slower budget EV is charging time. Smart’s larger #1 model has already moved to an 800V silicon carbide architecture, replacing its older 400V system to deliver 10–80% charging in about 12 minutes when plugged into a suitable high‑output DC charger. This is true ultra-fast EV charging: short enough to slot into a coffee break instead of a dedicated stop. While detailed charging figures for #2 are not yet listed in filings, Smart is clearly standardising on ultra-fast charging technology across its new line‑up, and that direction is what matters for buyers. If you live where high‑power chargers are available, the difference compared with slower 400V budget EVs or any petrol station visit is dramatic: you can recharge most of your daily range in minutes instead of half an hour or more.
The refreshed #1 shows what this looks like in practice: its 61.52 kWh LFP battery supports 6C ultra-fast charging, letting it blast from 10% to 80% in about 12 minutes. That capability proves Smart’s charging hardware is not an afterthought; it is a core feature. Many budget EVs focus on low purchase price but pair small batteries with modest DC speeds that keep you plugged in much longer on busy public chargers. Smart’s 800V charging technology cuts high‑voltage wiring by around 30% and improves efficiency in the drive system as well, which helps both charging speed and driving efficiency. For an urban driver who values time, this emphasis on charging performance is exactly why Smart #2 earns the recommendation over compact petrol cars and slower‑charging electric rivals.
Range, Size, and Everyday Usability vs Compact Gas Cars
Smart #2’s appeal rests on combining enough compact EV range with extreme manoeuvrability. Regulatory information shows a two‑seater body measuring 2.75 metres in length, weighing 1,130 kg and powered by a 60 kW motor supplied by a company that also powers other popular compact EVs. With its 35.7 kWh battery and 300 km NEDC rating (likely closer to 250 km WLTP), it fits daily city use without requiring nightly charging. In practical terms, it offers a similar or better usable range than many smaller petrol city cars between fuel stops, while replacing noise and emissions with quiet electric running. Against compact gas hatchbacks, the Smart #2 trades rear seats and long‑trip comfort for the ability to slot into tiny spaces, dart through traffic, and charge in minutes when paired with ultra-fast chargers, aligning with how most city cars are used day to day.
For context, Smart’s larger #1 crossover stretches to 168.1 inches in length with a 108.3‑inch wheelbase and delivers a CLTC range of 332 miles from its 61.52 kWh LFP pack. It adds rear seats and cargo flexibility but occupies more road space and weighs more. The #2 deliberately leans the other way: minimal footprint, just two seats, and enough battery to match its city‑first brief. Compared with budget EVs that offer similar or slightly larger batteries but lack ultra-fast charging, Smart’s strategy is clear. It assumes you want compact EV range backed by rapid top‑ups instead of dragging around a huge battery you rarely fully use in the city. That makes it especially attractive if you mainly drive short urban distances and only occasionally need to stretch beyond town limits.
Smart #2 vs Smart #1 and Budget EVs: Which Should You Buy?
Choosing between Smart #2, the larger #1, and traditional compact petrol or budget EV options comes down to how you use your car. The refreshed Smart #1 is a compact crossover with a single rear motor rated at 245 kW (328 hp) and 236 lb‑ft of torque, good for 0–62 mph in 6.7 seconds. It uses the same 61.52 kWh LFP battery in both Max and Ultra trims, each with 332 miles CLTC range and the 12‑minute 10–80% charge capability. It adds proper rear legroom and a flexible cargo area that grows from 11.1 ft³ to 34.5 ft³ with the back seats folded. If you often carry passengers or luggage, or do longer trips outside dense urban cores, this is the more versatile choice than the strictly two‑seat #2.
Smart #2, by contrast, is purpose‑built as a halo city car, echoing the original City Coupe and Fortwo models that made the brand’s name. It focuses on helping you "rediscover" the urban environment through compact dimensions and agile responses rather than family duties. Budget EVs in a similar price bracket often use simpler 400V electrical systems and slower DC charging, which can be acceptable in smaller towns with home charging but feels limiting if you depend on public infrastructure. Meanwhile, compact petrol cars still face rising fuel and maintenance costs and lack the instant torque and quiet running of an EV. For a buyer who mainly drives alone or with one passenger in crowded streets and has or expects access to modern DC chargers, Smart #2 is the most convincing and future‑proof pick.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the Smart #2 if you live in a dense city, drive short daily distances, and want a tiny city car electric model that is easy to park and thread through traffic.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you regularly carry more than one passenger or need a large boot, because its strict two-seater layout limits practicality compared with compact crossovers.
- Buy the Smart #2 if you plan to use ultra-fast EV charging and value getting from a low state of charge to most of the battery in roughly the length of a coffee break.
- Skip the Smart #2 if you often drive long highway trips where a larger battery and more seating, as in the Smart #1 crossover, would serve you better.
- Buy the Smart #1 if you want 800V charging technology, 332 miles CLTC range, and a practical compact crossover body that still fits in city spaces but can handle family use.
- Skip the Smart #1 if your driving is almost entirely urban, you rarely use the back seats, and you would rather have the smallest possible footprint over extra space.
