🏁 Introduction – The 1000km Challenge Begins
The electric car market in 2025 is buzzing with innovation, and Smart #5 Brabus has entered the battlefield as one of the most powerful and stylish compact SUVs. With 646 horsepower, dual motors, and a massive 100kWh battery pack, this car is designed for both thrill and practicality.
In this 1000km challenge, the goal was simple — test its real-world efficiency, range, and charging speed under cold conditions. It’s a tough test that separates spec-sheet promises from actual road performance.
⚡ Powertrain & Performance Overview
The Smart #5 Brabus shares its battery and platform with the Zeekr 7X, known for being one of the fastest and most efficient EVs in its segment. Under the hood, the Brabus packs:
- Power: 646 HP (dual-motor, all-wheel-drive)
- Battery: 100 kWh (usable ~96 kWh)
- 0–100 km/h: 3.8 seconds
- Top speed: 200 km/h
This power allows it to cruise at high speeds easily, but the big question is — does it remain efficient over long distances?
🚙 Design & Build Quality
The Smart #5 Brabus looks like a futuristic evolution of urban SUVs — bold yet premium. It has a muscular stance, sharp LED headlights, and unique Brabus badging across the body. The aerodynamic lines are functional, not just aesthetic — reducing drag to improve efficiency.
The build quality feels solid, rivaling German and Scandinavian EVs. Door panels, hinges, and seals all give off that premium “thunk” sound when closed. The matte exterior finish complements its sporty appeal, making it stand out in a crowd of minimalistic EVs.
🛋️ Interior: Luxury Meets Tech
Inside, the Smart #5 Brabus surprises with its premium materials and spacious layout. Soft-touch leather surfaces, Alcantara inserts, and a panoramic glass roof set the tone for luxury.
The highlight is the massive 15.6-inch central infotainment display paired with a 10.5-inch digital driver display. The interface is crisp and modern, though slightly laggy when multitasking.
- 14-speaker premium audio system
- Wireless charging pads
- Ambient lighting with multiple color themes
- Ventilated and heated seats
- Brabus-specific sporty steering wheel
Overall, it feels futuristic — closer to a luxury EV than a compact crossover.
🔉 Infotainment & Navigation Experience
While the infotainment system looks stunning, the navigation and software performance tell a different story.
During the test, there was no proper route planner that showed charging stops, power consumption, or real-time range. Compared to Tesla’s navigation system, this was a major drawback.
The voice assistant worked decently for basic controls, but deeper settings like adjusting regenerative braking or sound profiles required manual menu digging.
Smart’s UI feels inspired by Mercedes-Benz MBUX, but it lacks refinement and fluidity in day-to-day use.
⚙️ Driving Experience & Handling
Behind the wheel, the Smart #5 Brabus feels like a compact rocket. The instant torque is addictive, delivering a smooth yet powerful push even at high speeds.
Handling is sharp — the low center of gravity (thanks to the floor-mounted battery) gives it excellent corner stability. Steering feedback is precise, though slightly artificial in Comfort mode. Switch to Sport, and the car tightens up beautifully.
The suspension strikes a fine balance: it’s firm enough for sporty driving but soft enough to absorb city bumps. At 120 km/h, cabin stability remains impressive — no floating sensation or excessive wind noise.
⚡ Efficiency Test Results
The 1000km test included both 90 km/h and 120 km/h cruising speeds on highways in cold conditions (around 5°C).
At 90 km/h:
- Energy consumption: 16.9 kWh/100km
- Real-world range: ~570 km
At 120 km/h:
- Energy consumption: 22.5 kWh/100km
- Real-world range: ~425 km
Given the weather and wind resistance, these are strong results for a 646HP SUV — especially considering its performance-oriented setup.
🔋 400 kW Charging Speed Test
The Smart #5 Brabus supports 400kW ultra-fast DC charging, which theoretically should fill 10–80% in under 20 minutes.
During the test, peak speed touched 360kW, and the average stayed around 290kW for most of the session.
| Charging Stage | Speed (kW) | Duration | % Battery Gained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% → 50% | 360 kW | 10 mins | +40% |
| 50% → 80% | 250–280 kW | 9 mins | +30% |
| Total (10→80%) | Avg. 295 kW | 19 mins | +70% |
This puts it among the fastest-charging EVs in the world, only behind models like the Lucid Air and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT.
🔈 Sound System & Cabin Comfort
Smart partnered with Beats Audio to tune the 14-speaker surround sound system — and it’s genuinely good. Bass is deep without distortion, vocals are crisp, and the soundstage feels wide.
At 130 km/h, cabin noise levels remained low — around 67 dB, thanks to excellent insulation and double-glazed windows.
Climate control also performed efficiently in cold conditions, maintaining comfort without draining excessive battery power.
💻 Software & User Interface Drawbacks
- No energy-consumption prediction based on terrain or driving style.
- Trip planner doesn’t auto-suggest charging stations.
- Occasional screen freezes while switching menus.
These are software issues that can be fixed with OTA updates, but currently, it limits the car’s true potential.
🧊 Real-World Cold Weather Performance
EVs often lose efficiency in the cold — and the Smart #5 Brabus was no exception. In temperatures under 5°C, energy consumption rose by 7–10%.
Still, pre-conditioning (warming up the battery before driving) worked well, ensuring stable power delivery even at low temperatures.
🔄 Comparison – Smart #5 Brabus vs Tesla Model Y Performance
| Feature | Smart #5 Brabus | Tesla Model Y Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 646 HP | 534 HP |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.8 sec | 3.5 sec |
| Battery | 100 kWh | 82 kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 580 km | 514 km |
| Charging Speed | 400 kW | 250 kW |
| Interior Quality | Higher | Simpler |
| Software | Weaker | Superior |
🏁 Final Verdict – Smart #5 Brabus in Real Life
After 1000km of mixed driving, the Smart #5 Brabus 2025 proves to be a powerful, comfortable, and efficient electric SUV that delivers genuine long-distance capability.
✅ Pros:
- Incredible charging speeds (up to 400kW)
- Strong performance and handling
- Premium interior design
- Solid efficiency for its power class
- Excellent highway comfort
❌ Cons:
- Software still feels unfinished
- No proper route planner
- Navigation lacks smart features
In essence, the Smart #5 Brabus is a blend of German engineering and Chinese innovation, offering luxury EV performance at a competitive price point. It’s not perfect, but it’s a sign that Smart is no longer just about city cars — it’s ready for long-haul dominance.
🔍 Conclusion
If you’re looking for a performance electric SUV in 2025 that charges ultra-fast, feels premium, and still handles like a sports crossover — the Smart #5 Brabus is a serious contender.
Just remember: it’s lightning-fast on the road and at the charger, but still catching up in the software race.
Md Imran Rahimi is the founder and main author of TechScopeHub.in. He is passionate about technology, gadgets, and automobiles, and loves to share simple yet valuable insights with readers. With a focus on honest reviews and clear comparisons, Imran’s goal is to make technology easy and useful for everyone.”