Smart #3 HX31

The smart #3 (HX31, from 2023) is the coupé-styled sister model of the #1: a low, 4.40 m long electric SUV with a sloping roofline, also on Geely's SEA platform and with Mercedes design. It shares its technology and 66 kWh battery with the #1 but is longer, lower and more sporting in character, with slightly more range thanks to better aerodynamics (up to around 455 km WLTP). At the top sits the Brabus dual-motor version with 315 kW system output and all-wheel drive, which accelerates the compact car to 100 km/h in under four seconds – performance that fully tests the body and road-holding. As with the #1, the main criticisms are software-related: instability and freezing of the infotainment, occasional restarts of the central system, oversensitive and intrusive assistance warning tones, and an often unreliable traffic-sign recognition that reports wrong speed limits – here consistent application of the OTA updates Geely delivers regularly helps. Mechanically and on the drivetrain there have been few issues so far, and build quality is decent. Long-term and reliability data is still limited. A practical point to consider: the coupé roofline costs rear headroom and some boot volume compared with the #1 – anyone who regularly carries rear passengers or a lot of luggage should check this on the test drive. As with the #1, it is advisable to cross-check the recall history via the VIN, since software and assistance have been reworked. Market status 2026: available as a young used car, the #3 appeals to buyers who prefer the more dynamic design over the more practical #1 and can live with the small practicality drawback. The base rear-wheel-drive version is the most sensible choice for most, while the Brabus remains a fun and prestige proposition with higher consumption. When buying, check software level, update history and battery condition (SoH), and deliberately test the assistance systems on a test drive.