Meet the all-new Smart #6: a striking, high-end saloon unveiled in China that could shake up the compact executive class if it reaches Europe. It’s the brand’s first four-door and its largest model to date, following the compact #1, the coupe-SUV #3 and the family-focused #5 — the latter of which shares the most DNA with the #6 and is now available from less than €46,800. Where the #5 showed Smart’s new design language, the #6 stretches it into a sleeker, more aerodynamic silhouette with polished surfaces, a subtly sculpted bonnet and flowing light signatures that give it a poised, modern presence.
Look closer and fresh details underline the car’s technological ambitions: a LiDAR unit sits atop the windscreen, a large active rear spoiler hints at dynamic control, and a glossy black bar linking the headlights likely conceals additional sensors for advanced driver assistance. At 4,906 mm long, 1,922 mm wide and 1,508 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,926 mm, the #6 is larger in every dimension than the BMW 3 Series — promising more cabin space and a roomy rear seat even before we’ve seen the interior. Inside, Smart may borrow the tech-centric layout from the #5: a dominant central touchscreen, a substantial driver display and the option of a separate passenger screen, though official images of the cabin remain under wraps. Under the skin, the car shown is not a battery-electric model but a sophisticated plug-in hybrid running Smart’s ‘Super Hybrid’ system, first seen in the #5 EHD in China.
While Smart sells only EVs in Europe, the hybrid here looks engineered to be exceptionally refined: a highly efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with a three-speed DHT automatic and an electric motor. The package produces a combined 435 hp and — after the battery is exhausted — Smart claims fuel consumption equivalent to around 3.92 l/100 km. A sportier Brabus variant seems likely down the line, too. Battery size hasn’t been disclosed, but Smart says the #6 can manage up to 284 km on pure electric power and a staggering combined range of around 1,811 km. Those figures are derived from China’s CLTC cycle, so real-world European numbers under WLTP would differ, yet the headline range underlines the engineering focus on efficiency and long-distance capability. To put it bluntly: if those figures held up on European roads, the car could cover a round trip from London to Inverness without refuelling or recharging — roughly 1,811 km by Smart’s combined estimate.
The #6 positions itself against the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal by offering a larger footprint, advanced sensor kit and a hybrid powertrain tuned for both economy and performance. The inclusion of LiDAR and extensive sensor arrays signals ambitions beyond mere comfort and efficiency: it hints at an intention to support a high level of driver assistance and connected features. Whether Smart will launch an all-electric version for Europe remains to be confirmed, but the brand’s EV-only stance on the continent makes that likely at some stage. For now, the #6 arrives as a statement: a luxury-minded saloon that blends aerodynamic elegance, ambitious tech and hybrid efficiency into a package that could redraw expectations for what a Smart can be. If it makes the trip to European showrooms, it will be one of the most intriguing newcomers in the segment.
