Small, Smart Again? Why Smart May Be Heading Back to its Urban Roots

For most of its history, Smart built its reputation around doing one thing exceptionally well.

Our exclusive image compares the original Smart Fortwo and our "next generation" interpretation. Tiny dimensions, clever packaging and a focus on urban mobility made the original Fortwo one of the most recognisable city cars ever produced. Yet the Smart of today looks very different. SUVs such as the Smart #1 and #3 have helped reposition the brand for the electric era, moving it into larger and more profitable market segments. (Image credit: The New Yardstick)

The problem is that Europe is already crowded with electric crossovers.

Many buyers who might once have considered a Smart are instead choosing technically similar alternatives from elsewhere within the Geely family. Models such as the Volvo EX30 combine familiar Scandinavian styling with competitive pricing, while a growing number of Chinese brands continue to increase pressure at the lower end of the market.

As a result, Smart's rapid expansion into larger vehicles has yet to fully replicate the success of its original city-car formula. Questions are increasingly being asked about whether the brand's future lies in becoming another electric SUV manufacturer, or returning to the compact urban vehicles that made it famous in the first place.

Our design studies explore one possible answer.

The first step back to Smart's roots could be the smallest model in the range. (Image credit: The New Yardstick)

Our Smart #2 design study imagines a spiritual successor to the original Fortwo. At just 2,750mm long and retaining a two-door layout, it focuses on exactly the same priorities that made the original car such a success: compact dimensions, low running costs and effortless urban mobility.

Unlike today's increasingly powerful electric vehicles, the emphasis here is on efficiency rather than performance. A modest 75hp motor, 28kWh battery and estimated 165-mile range would be sufficient for most city drivers. A projected price of between £17,000 and £21,000 would place it at a slight premium to cars such as the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03 while offering greater flexibility in tight urban environments.

The original Fortwo proved that small dimensions could become a selling point rather than a compromise. In an era where parking space is increasingly limited and vehicle sizes continue to grow, there is a strong argument that Smart's original formula may be more relevant than ever.

Above the #2 could sit the #2L, effectively a modern interpretation of the Smart Forfour. The concept also aligns with comments from Smart's European leadership suggesting that a broader #2 family could help address the profitability challenges associated with smaller vehicles.

Growing to 3,850mm in length and featuring five doors and four seats, the #2L would provide the practicality many buyers require while remaining significantly smaller than most mainstream superminis. A 38kWh battery, 100hp motor and 200-mile range could position it against rivals such as the Renault Twingo and Hyundai Inster.

Crucially, the #2L would allow Smart to compete in one of Europe's most important vehicle segments without abandoning the compact, efficient philosophy that originally defined the brand.

The clever part comes with the #2X.

Rather than developing a separate SUV platform, Smart could apply crossover styling, additional ride height and more rugged design cues to the existing #2L architecture. At 3,920mm long, the #2X would remain a genuinely compact vehicle while appealing to buyers who increasingly favour SUV-inspired styling.

This approach would allow Smart to compete against vehicles such as the Citroën ë-C3 and Fiat Grande Panda without the expense of developing an entirely separate model line. If Smart truly wants to maximise the volume potential of the #2 family, an SUV-inspired variant appears almost unavoidable. It would bridge the gap between traditional city cars and the larger B-segment models already found in Smart showrooms

Sitting above the #2, #2L and #2X would be a next-generation Smart #1.

At approximately 4.2 metres long, it would act as the natural stepping stone between Smart's compact urban vehicles and the larger premium SUVs that increasingly define the brand's global ambitions.

While today's Smart #1 starts with a surprisingly powerful 272hp motor, our proposal explores a more accessible approach. An entry-level 161hp version paired with a 51kWh battery would offer more than enough performance for everyday use while reducing both purchase costs and energy consumption.

Higher-specification models could continue to utilise larger 69kWh battery packs, while performance-focused Brabus variants could adopt the latest twin-motor technology from elsewhere within the Geely Group portfolio.

Rather than replacing Smart's larger SUVs, the next-generation #1 would bridge the gap between the brand's smallest urban-focused vehicles and its increasingly premium offerings. Buyers could enter the Smart range through the compact #2 city car before progressing through the #2L, #2X and ultimately the #1 as their requirements change.

More importantly, it would give Smart something many manufacturers are currently lacking: a clear identity.

By using the #2L as the basis for both conventional and SUV-inspired variants, Smart could cover both A and B-segment buyers with minimal additional engineering investment. Combined with a next-generation #1, the brand would have a complete portfolio capable of competing with established European manufacturers across multiple segments.

Whether Smart ultimately follows this route remains to be seen. But as competition intensifies and Europe's electric vehicle market continues to mature, returning to the principles that made the brand famous may prove to be one of its smartest decisions yet.