Smart #3 Brabus 2025 review: snapshot

EXPERT RATING
7.4

Likes

Sleek, stylish looks
Easy power and smooth acceleration
Premium-feel cabin

Dislikes

Underwhelming warranty period
Complex multimedia with immature graphics
We still don't really, really, know what it's like to drive...
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

1 min read

The Smart #3 Brabus isn’t just the fastest, most powerful model in the #3 range, it also makes the first time the German performance sub-brand has been in Australia in over a decade.

The other models in the #3 family are single-motor offerings. The Brabus, though, unlocks way morepower through the addition of a second motor, this time at the front axle, upping outputs to 315kW and 543Nm and delivering AWD. The sprint to 100km/h takes just 3.7secs.

It’s yours for $70,900, before on-road costs, and for that you can expect 19-inch alloys, a panoramic roof, LED lighting, a powered tailgate, a 12.8-inch central screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 9.2-inch digital dashboard and a head-up display.

There’s also matrix LED headlights, leather trim and a Beats stereo, with the Brabus also scoring a unique interior and exterior treatment, unique suspension and a launch control function.

It gets a 66kWh battery, delivering a WLTP driving range of 415km. And you can choose between home AC charging (either power point, wall box or three-phase), or 150kW DC fast charging, which should take around 30 minutes to go from empty to 80 per cent charged.

Read the full 2024 Smart 3 review

Smart 3 2024: Brabus

Seating 5
Electric motor type Permanent Magnet
Number of motors 2
Battery capacity 66.00 kWh
Energy consumption —
Electric range 415 km
0-100 km/h 3.7 sec
Battery warranty 8 years / 150,000 km
Price From $49,720 - $57,200
Safety Rating
Andrew Chesterton

Contributing Journalist

CarsGuide contributing journalist Andrew Chesterton is an award-winning Australian automotive reporter with more than 20 years of experience across newspapers, magazines, digital publishing and automotive corporate communications. Andrew began his journalism career at Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph, reporting across business, courts, crime, property and state politics before moving into automotive journalism. He joined Top Gear Australia as its online editor in 2008, later being appointed editor of Top Gear New Zealand. He subsequently worked as an assistant editor during the Australian launch of the Daily Mail Australia, and as communications manager at FCA Australia, now Stellantis. His experience on both sides of the media industry gives him an unrivalled understanding of the automotive industry, and the relationship between car manufacturers, the media, and Australian consumers. Andrew’s work has appeared across leading automotive, news, business, luxury, travel and lifestyle publications, including CarsGuide, EV Central, DMARGE, The Sydney Morning Herald, Marie Claire, Top Gear, GQ Australia, The Australian, WISH Magazine, Boss Hunting, The West Australian, The Nightly, Women’s Day Australia, Carsales, NRMA, Men’s Health, CEO Magazine, Australian Financial Review and more.   Andrew specialises in industry news, vehicle reviews, policy,  performance and luxury cars, electric vehicles, automotive technology, EVs hybrid and plug-in hybrids, and the broader Australian new-car marketplace. In 2025, Andrew was named Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year and was a finalist for the overall Journalist of the Year award. Earlier honours include Website of the Year wins at the Australian Magazine Awards and ACP Awards, the ACP Rising Star Award and recognition in the Bauer Media and News Ltd journalism awards. Expertise Electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles Performance, luxury and supercars New-car reviews and road testing Australian automotive industry and new-car sales Chinese automotive brands and emerging manufacturers Utes, SUVs and family vehicles Automotive technology Policy Awards 2025 Newspress Australia News Journalist of the Year Featured Publications CarsGuide EV Central DMARGE The Sydney Morning Herald Marie Claire Top Gear GQ Australia The Australian WISH Magazine Boss Hunting The West Australian The Nightly Women’s Day Australia Carsales NRMA Men’s Health CEO Magazine Australian Financial Review The Daily Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.

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