The Smart Hashtag 1 Brabus is the Fun EV Lease of the Year

The Fun EV Lease of the Year - The Smart Hashtag 1 Brabus

To say that electric cars do not possess character or do not offer the fun and feedback of a petrol / diesel option is now a seriously debatable proposition. Historically the concern for many petrolheads was that the future of battery technology meant a boring one; slower vehicles with boring designs and little feedback.

To some extent in 2015 - 2019 there was a strong argument to say these naysayers were perhaps justified with their critique. However, in swift response, various brands and manufacturers have been applying their engineering to a range of options and vehicle segments to help bring more passion to the EV market.

In the sports hatch segment, one where we have been historically blessed with unbelievable choice from the likes of the VW Golf R / Ford Focus RS / BMW M135i / Audi S3, we now have a robust replacement option - the Smart 1 Brabus. So popular this car has been that the Smart group have extended this innovation to the Smart 3 (a small SUV). So what makes the Brabus electric so fun?  

The Hashtag 1 (and #3) are some well-equipped vehicles. Where the combination of Mercedes design and Geely battery architecture has worked is that the quality and finish of the car is akin to the Mercedes A Class of old, with sportiness and specification level which exceeds many expectations.

The battery is almost out of this world too!  In terms of what the Brabus Hashtag 1 includes just look at this - ventilated brake discs, hill assist, comfort suspension, simulated engine sound, trailer stability assist, 19” alloys, panoramic halo roof, red-painted brake calipers, gesture tailgate, electrically adjustable / heated / memory door mirrors, privacy glass.

LED lights, automatic lights, follow me home lights, heat pump, air filter, air quality system, ambient lighting, steel treadplates, 6-way powered driver seat, heated front seats, driver seat memory, powered seats, Alcantara steering wheel, CyberSparks LED Lights.

Keyless start, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, 360 degree camera, traffic sign recognition, collision mitigation, 12.8” central display, 9.2” HD cluster, 10” HUD, Beats sound system, navigation and OTA. The key colours include radiant red, eclipse red, cyber silver and digital white.

However, the Brabus isn’t just about style and design; the performance too is something which offers an outstanding experience. The AWD model has a 62kWh usable lithium battery which will deliver 0 – 62 times of 3.9 seconds, 112mph top speeds and 315 kW (or 422hp).

Expect a combined winter range of 170 miles with warmer weather allowing for 235 miles - a combined 205 miles. On charging, the 22 kW AC max will allow 3 hour and 30 minute 0 – 100% charging times with the 150 kW DC maximum allowing 27 minute 10 – 80% times.

A cargo volume of 323L is available with this car. It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 131 mpg. This EV will have Bidirectional charging - a 3.7kW AC exterior adapter (V2L) and the car will be able to tow 750kg (Unbraked) and 1600kg (Braked).

One of the amazing, but often underestimated aspects of the Smart, is the AC charging aspect - 22kW max. In isolation this means very little to customers but it really shouldn’t. The AC charging is often thought to be the slower charging and which relates to home and other domestic solutions.

You may have seen recently that Pod Point, one of the UK’s major charge point installer, hit 250,000 installations across the UK . Many of these will be home and workplace charging solutions in AC format, which neatly explains just how important this is.

Furthermore, in some recent charging industry news  a big push was noted on the 22kW AC as a means to charge a truck. But this is not lost on cars either.

An AC solution is far cheaper than a DC (rapid one). Many customers believe that the ultra-rapid solutions are the only route to help electrify the UK fleet. While they are convenient and robust, the issue is that the cost and time for installation is far higher than an AC option.

In many circumstances, having a 15 - 30 minute charging session isn’t necessary if the vehicle is parked at home, work or some other destination where quick and easy access isn’t needed. Much of the “top-up” style approach is really for service stations and dedicated motorway solutions.

With a 22kW AC onboard vehicle charger, your EV can go from 0 - 100% far quicker than you would envisage. Taking the Smart Brabus as an example, the 62kWh battery can be charged from 0 - 100% in just 3 hours and 30 minutes. When you compare this to the 7kW AC solutions, which are standard on most home chargers, the same vehicle would take around 10 hours.

When you consider facilities like the work car park, train stations, amusement parks or shopping centres, many vehicles will remain for 2 - 4 hours. But, the fact is that many EV manufacturers are still not making the 22kW AC the base point (many use 11kW AC) and many companies are not more openly discussing this in the public domain. However, the team at e-car are hoping to change this!

In terms of the car shown, the Smart Hashtag 1 Hatchback 315kW Brabus 66kWh 5dr Auto (Pure Electric Vehicle), this is based on the following configuration:

•  Digital White Metallic Paint
•  Roof - Eclipse black
•  Microfibre suede - Brabus
•  19" Dynamo alloy wheels
•  Type 2, Mode 3 charging cable   

Need more help and advice on your Smart electric car lease for 2025 or 2026?

Head to the e-car lease brand website to build your perfect option or just get in touch with our team on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected]