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Smart Smart #3

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Smart Smart #3: Smart #3: A Sportier Electric Coupe-SUV
Photo: Dinkun Chen / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Smart #3: A Sportier Electric Coupe-SUV

The Smart #3 is a sportier, coupe-roofed sibling to the Smart #1, sharing the same Geely SEA electric platform with a lower, more aggressive stance.

The Smart #3 followed the Smart #1 as the second model from the Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture, aimed at buyers who want the same compact electric crossover formula with a sportier edge. Where the #1 leans toward a taller, more upright SUV shape, the #3 adopts a coupe-SUV profile with a lower, more raked roofline, giving it a visually sleeker stance without abandoning the practicality of a five-door electric crossover.

Mechanically, the #3 shares its underpinnings with the #1, riding on Geely's SEA platform and drawing from the same pool of battery and motor technology developed within the Geely Group. Mercedes-Benz again contributes design direction and engineering oversight, and performance-oriented Brabus versions of the #3 push the sporty positioning further with more power and firmer tuning, a nod to Smart's past use of the Brabus name on hot versions of the old Fortwo.

Together with the Smart #1, the #3 completes the brand's transformation from tiny two-seat microcars into a modern electric crossover lineup. It is a clear signal of how far Smart has traveled since its 1994 founding as a Mercedes-Benz and Swatch venture, now competing in a completely different segment under Mercedes-Benz and Geely's joint stewardship.

Frequently asked questions about Smart Smart #3

How is the Smart #3 different from the Smart #1?
The Smart #3 uses a lower, more coupe-like roofline for a sportier visual stance, while the Smart #1 has a taller, more upright SUV shape. Both share the same Geely SEA electric platform and much of their underlying technology.
Is there a performance version of the Smart #3?
Yes. Smart offers a Brabus-tuned version of the #3 with more power and sportier chassis tuning, continuing a tradition from the classic Fortwo era when Brabus versions were the go-to choice for buyers wanting extra performance.
What platform does the Smart #3 use?
Like the Smart #1, the #3 is built on Geely's SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform, the modular electric vehicle architecture developed by the Geely Group and shared across several brands.
Who is behind the Smart #3?
The Smart #3 comes from the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Chinese automaker Geely, formed in 2020 to reinvent Smart as a maker of compact electric crossovers rather than tiny city microcars.
Is the Smart #3 a full SUV or more of a coupe?
The Smart #3 is best described as a coupe-SUV, blending an SUV-like ride height and five-door practicality with a lower, sloped roofline that gives it a sportier profile than a conventional crossover.

Other Smart models

ForfourFortwoSmart #1
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