Previewed: smart #1 Premium EV SUV – Launching in Q4 2023
smart #1 EV SUV is officially coming to Malaysia in Q4 2023!
July has been quite a busy month for the local EV market so far, with several newcomers already making headlines. However, this growing market space is about to grow a bit further as smart Malaysia (PRO-NET) previews its first-ever model, the smart #1 EV SUV to the Malaysian public for the first time today.
Before making its first public appearance, we at Caricarz.com have been given early access to check out the #1 in its up-specced Premium guise at smart Malaysia’s headquarters located in Subang Jaya.
smart #1 Premium EV SUV
Back to the model, the smart #1 is an all-electric B-segment SUV that is borne out of the partnership between smart’s two main shareholders – Mercedes-Benz Group and Geely Holding. Said partnership is truly evident in the #1, as this EV SUV is designed by Mercedes-Benz’s in-house design team, while getting majority of its mechanical and driving-related components from the Geely Group.
Speaking of design, this B-SUV features a very unique yet stylish design language, with several Merc-inspired design cues can be seen all around it. For starters, the #1’s front fascia comes with stylish CyberSparks LED headlights with prominent Y-shaped DRLs that span throughout the car’s width, connecting both lights. Below that lies the #1’s illuminative faux front grille, flanked by a pair of air vents that help to improve this B-SUV’s aerodynamics.
smart are among the first in segment to introduce the flushed door handles and frameless door design
Also helping with aerodynamics are the #1’s flushed door handles with guiding lights, which pop out once the car is unlocked. From the side, you can see the #1 comes with the typical boxy SUV silhouette, with parts above its shoulder line all painted in gloss black hue, giving it a two-tone finish. Adding some stylish cue to the #1 is the frameless doors for both front and rear, while each of its rear pillars come with illuminated smart emblems.
Elsewhere, the #1 Premium also gets a rather minimal underbody cladding finished in matte dark grey hue that blends rather well with the 20-inch wheels it rides on. Said wheels are shodded in Continental EcoContact 6Q tyres, for good measure.
The #1's rear part looks very familiar, for lack of a better word..
Looking at the #1 from the rear and you’ll immediately notice its Merc-esque LED taillights design, which features a full-width light bar with smart lettering sitting just above it. Said underbody cladding continues to the #1’s lower rear bumper, giving some rugged edge to this rather minimalistic tailgate design.
With this model being just a mere preview, smart Malaysia has yet to confirm the final spec on both the #1’s interior and powertrain setup. However, with the Malaysian market getting a fully-imported (CBU) unit from the marque’s facility in Xi’an, China, we can expect the spec will be somewhat similar.
The #1 Premium gets a single electric motor setup at its rear axle
In this Premium guise, the #1 is powered by a rear-mounted (RWD) single electric motor setup rated at 268 HP (200 kW) and 343 NM that is good enough to propel this sub-two-tonne SUV from nought to 100 KM/H in 6.7 seconds. Flat out, the #1 Premium can reach a top speed of 180 KM/H, which is electronically-limited to preserve the battery’s life.
Underpinning Geely's SEA platform, the #1 can support up to 150 kW of DC fast charging rate
As for its underpinning, the #1 shares the same Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) EV platform as the new Volvo EX30, which can support both 400V and 800V battery architectures. This, in turn, allows the #1 to be fitted with a sizable 66.0-kWh nickel-cobalt manganese battery pack that grants it with a maximum EV range of up to 440 KM, according to WLTP standards.
Said battery pack supports both 7.4 kW-rated AC charging, as well as DC fast charging at up to 150 kW rate. Via the former method, the #1 can be fully-charged in about 10 hours, while the latter enables it to go from 10% to 80% in about 27 minutes.
You can check out the #1 this weekend at Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam
The smart #1 Premium will make its inaugural public debut starting from July 22 to 23 at Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam, where the public can take a closer look at this EV SUV. According to smart Malaysia and PRO-NET, the #1 will be officially launched in Q4 2023, where it is set to go against the likes of Mercedes-Benz EQA, Volvo XC40 Recharge, and Volvo C40 Recharge, in this tight B-segment EV SUV market space.
So folks, what do you think of the smart #1 Premium? Would its stylish design and premium look be enough to entice you away from its more well-known rivals? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below…

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Written By
Mukhlis Azman
An avid two-wheeler that writes and talks about four-wheelers for a living, while dreaming of an urban transit-laden Malaysia. @mukhlisazman
JPJ Running Numbers
KUALA LUMPUR
VPJ5019
SELANGOR
BSG843
JOHOR
JYC7067
PULAU PINANG
PRS2092
PERAK
ANX4409
PAHANG
CFC4720
KEDAH
KGB2853
NEGERI SEMBILAN
NEG4089
KOTA KINABALU
SJL5867
KUCHING
QAB6412L
Last updated 08 Jul, 2025
Fuel Price
Petrol
RON 95
RM 2.05
RON 97
RM 3.18
-0.03
RON 100
RM 5.00
VPR
RM 6.23
Diesel
EURO 5 B10
RM 2.85
-0.03
EURO 5 B7
RM 3.05
-0.03
Last updated 03 Jul, 2025
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