Test review DrivOlution Smart #1 Premium

SAE2 platform (Sustainable Experience Architecture)

It is a modular electric vehicle platform developed by Geely Holding. The platform is planned to be used for the brands in Geely Holding's portfolio, along with the Smart joint venture with Daimler AG. The recently proposed Volvo EX30 and ZEEKR will also use this platform.

Battery capacity and power

All versions of the smart #1 have only one battery pack of 66 kWh of which 62 kWh is usable. So no choices in this area. Moreover, all smart #1s have rear-wheel drive except for the BRABUS version which is all-wheel drive. 

Driving modes - the classics

When choosing Sport driving mode, you don't get a specific sound like in the BRABUS version. This makes the BRABUS version a bit more special.

Regeneration - standard/strong or opt for OPD (One-pedal-driving)

The extent of how you regenerate depends on the position of the power pedal. Rolling out/coasting is not an option

The results - general

We spent a total of 672 kilometres aboard the smart #1 Premium and divided this over 12 recorded journeys. Unlike the test week with smart #1 BRABUS, the weather conditions were somewhat less favourable. The average temperature was only 2°C. This will have its impact on the test results. The on-board computer noted an average consumption of 17.9 kWh/100 km. Taking into account the available battery capacity of 62 kWh, you would get to this consumption 346* km ver.

The results - by road type

• Most of the trips were made on motorways (9 out of 16): it yields an average consumption of 17.7 kWh/100 km. Good for a driving range of 350 km*.
• Outside the city, on secondary roads, we did 5 trips. The smart #1 Premium records an average consumption of 19.0 kWh/100 km. If you can maintain this consumption, you can travel 326 km*. This is also immediately the best achieved result. 
• Only once did we venture into city traffic: here we stranded on a consumption of 13.7 kWh/100 km. In terms of driving range, this means 453 km*.
• The mixed trip (motorway - out of town) yields an average consumption of 19.1 kWh/100 km which would result in a driving range of 325 km*.

The results - by driving mode

Eco driving mode remains the favourite driving mode. This, of course, has everything to do with DrivOlution's DNA.

• 10 out of 16 trips, we opted for the Eco driving mode. It yielded a combined consumption of 17.4 kWh/100 km.
• the Comfort driving mode (2 out of 16 trips) yields a consumption of 19.6 kWh/100 km. 
• The Sport driving mode yields a consumption of 14.9 kWh/100 km respectively. This refers to a short drive of barely 6 km. So not really representative.

Clearly, the choice of driving mode affects consumption. 

*The stated driving range is a theoretical calculation based on the usable battery capacity. This is always a snapshot. All kinds of factors such as weather conditions, use of air conditioning, topography, traffic density and your own driving style can influence this. 

Consumption results

What does the smart #1 Premium do on our test track? After 103.9 km, we recorded an average consumption of 16.4 kWh/100 km. With a usable battery capacity of 62 kWh, this consumption will take you 378 km far.

Take a look at the results across the different parts of the test course:

• the out-of-town drive (42.5 km) yields a consumption of 16.3 kWh/100 km. That gets you 403 km* far on a charge;
• the motorway journey (40.3 km) accounts for consumption of 19.1 kWh/100 km and a driving range of 325 km*.
• the city drive ends up with a consumption of 13.7 kWh/100 km. If you can keep this vebruik up, you end up 453 km* far.

Driving range evolution

The driving range fluctuates as a function of consumption. We start with a driving range of 263 km and SoC of 60%. After the out-of-town drive, the driving range drops to 214 km (SoC of 60% to 49%). The motorway journey drops from 214 km to 159 km (SoC from 49% to 36%). After the city drive, the range dropped from 159 km to 138 km (SoC from 36% to 31%). In total, we lost 125 km of driving range on the test track.

*The stated driving range is a theoretical calculation based on the usable battery capacity. This is always a snapshot. All kinds of factors such as weather conditions, use of air conditioning, topography, traffic density and your own driving style can influence this. 

We aim to drive as efficiently as possible by maximising the use of cruise control (constant speed) and anticipating traffic situations to the maximum. The speed on motorways is 110 km/h. Energy consumers (such as air conditioning) are switched off when weather conditions permit. Moreover, we choose the most efficient driving mode (Eco).

Loading information

The smart #1 Premium has an internal on-board charger of 22 kW. Only the smart #1 Pro+ has an on-board charger of 7.4 kW. The maximum fast-charging capacity is 150 kW. The charging port is located on the rear left. Personally, I prefer the right side (is safer). Smart #1 recommends charging up to 90% in daily mode and up to 100% for remote mode. This is to keep the battery condition optimal.

Charges

We hooked up the smart #1 Premium to the charging station twice. Once AC and once DC. The chart below gives details of the charging events. 

Driving range

The maximum charged driving range is 437 km and this at 100% SoC.

Preheating battery 

With the smart #1 Premium, you can enter the address where you will charge via the navigation. This way, the battery is brought to the ideal temperature for charging. The advantage is that this speeds up charging.

Information charging process - for the driver

It is an added value when you can follow the charging process more closely. Via the instrument panel and the touchscreen, you get information about the remaining charging time, the charging speed (in km/h), the voltage.

It is clear that the charging time depends on the SoC (State of Charge) at the start of charging, the outdoor temperature and the temperature of the battery. 

Driving - fine for everyday use

During the test week, we mainly aim for an efficient driving style and the emphasis is less on sportiness. Nevertheless, this smart #1 Premium completely lives up to expectations.

9.2-inch full-HD digital instrument panel 

It has been pointed out many times and we also find it in the smart #1: the days of the "dashboard" built around the driver are disappearing more and more. In its place we get an instrument panel in front of the driver that contains the necessary information such as selected driving mode, driving range, battery SoC. It continues to become ordinary. The instrument panel in the smart #1 is nicely built in, though, and it is clearly readable.

12.8" full-HD central touchscreen with 1920 x 1080 pixels

For the rest of the functions such as climate control, radio, navigation, you have to rely on the central touchscreen. This too takes some getting used to to find everything back. Adjusting the mirrors is also done via the touchscreen. 

10-inch head-up display (HUD)

The HUD is clearly readable. It increases safety as you have all important information in your field of vision. 

ECARX - AI help with fox avatar, with over 60 animations

Meet the "fox avatar". ECARX transforms vehicles into seamlessly integrated information,communication and transport solutions. ECARX shapes the interaction between people and car by rapidly improving the core technology of smart mobility. Together with smart and based on the Mercedes-Benz design concept, ECARX has developed a smooth, efficient and enjoyable user experience that expresses the smart brand, on a system that can run global apps and content;

Space inside - fine

Again, the smart #1 doesn't leave you out in the cold at least if you consider the dimensions of this SUV. The rear seats are horizontally adjustable in a 60/40 split, transit hatch for long pieces of luggage (such as skis) in the middle of the rear seat as standard.

Finishing - level Mercedes

The finish inside is of high quality and here you can clearly feel the Mercedes-Benz influence. The Premium version lacks the specific BRABUS design elements. Nevertheless, the overall look is quite good.

All-round visibility - exemplary

We may be repeating ourselves but the all-round visibility in the smart #1 is fantastic. You have little trouble with blind spots, for example when turning right. 

Like the other versions, the smart #1 Premium features the latest and most intelligent assistance systems. Here is a brief overview: adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, lane departure assistant, blind spot detection, traffic sign recognition, motorway assistant with lane and queue assistance, automatic parking, parking sensors, adaptive high beam, 360-degree camera.

Most systems work properly. However, some are set up a little too sensitively and this is sometimes a bit disturbing. Staying vigilant is the message! After all, these are driving aid systems.

The driving range simulation is a theoretical indication of what is possible in terms of driving range and this is based on the realised trip consumption (kWh/100 km) and the usable battery capacity (kWh). Obviously, this is always a snapshot in time. Many factors can influence the consumption and the corresponding driving range. We also stress the average outside temperature during the test week: barely 2°C. This is not a plus for an electric vehicle. 

Clearly, testing a car in winter does not produce the most favourable test results. We score higher than the WLTP figures in terms of consumption and lower in terms of electric driving range. And this is more than normal considering the conditions used to determine the WLTP figures. Not 25°C and not optimal road conditions.

The consumption results achieved on the test course of the smart #1 Premium and the smart #1 BRABUS are quite close to each other and this despite the temperature differences because of the test period. This proves once again that driving style plays an important role.