smart #5 EHD Plug-In Hybrid First Images Unveiled in China

smart Automobile has unveiled the official images of its first plug-in hybrid model in China, the smart #5 EHD.

Following several rumours and spy shots, Sino-German automaker smart Automobile has finally unveiled its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the smart #5 EHD. Standing for ‘Electric Hybrid Drive,’ the PHEV variant of the smart #5 was unveiled in China just under a year since the original electric #5 debuted.

In terms of design, the #5 EHD boasts no distinct design changes over its BEV twin, featuring the same boxy SUV bodystyle with the same design elements seen on the EV. Besides the new #5 EHD badge and the presence of a fuel cap on its left-rear fender, the PHEV SUV also comes equipped with a LiDAR unit at the front, thus indicating some high degree of autonomous driving capabilities.

But once you take out the measuring tape, you’ll notice that the #5 EHD is actually slightly larger than the #5 EV, spanning 4,705 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, 1,710 mm tall, and with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. Standing 5 mm taller than its EV twin, the #5 EHD is now the biggest model under the brand, while tipping the scale at 2,190 kg.

No interior photos were published by smart for now, but we’d argue the most important bit lies beneath the #5 EHD’s bodywork, as it now adopts a new PHEV powertrain setup that promises up to 1,600 km of combined range and an EV-only range of 250 km, plus an equally impressive fuel consumption rate of 4.4 L/100 km, the automaker claims.

The centerpiece of its PHEV setup is Geely’s 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbocharged petrol engine that churns out 161 hp (120 kW) by itself. No details were shared about the electrified bits of the powertrain, but CarNewsChina reports that it will be juiced by a CATL-sourced LFP battery pack with a capacity that is larger than 40 kWh, which is quite big for a PHEV.

For reference, the #5 EV gets either a 76-kWh LFP or a larger 100-kWh ternary battery option, with the latter granting the #5 RWD up to 740 km of CLTC range.

According to CarNewsChina, smart Automobile’s move to introduce a PHEV model in its lineup is a response to its poor domestic sales record last year in 2024, with the automaker only managing to shift 33,427 vehicles in the Chinese market—a staggering 19.37% year-on-year (YoY) decrease over the previous year.

With PHEVs and extended-range EVs (EREVs) now garnering more reception than their full battery counterparts in China, perhaps the #5 EHD could provide some saving grace for the Sino-German automaker in the future.

Photo credit: CarNewsChina, smart China Weibo