15 Jul 2026

2026 Smart #5 Pro+: The Trump's America Won't Get - But Probably Should

By EVWorld.com AI Editorial Team

A grown-up Smart with real EV credentials

Smart's reinvention begins with the 2026 Smart #5 Pro+, a compact SUV roughly the size of a Jeep Compass and riding on a long 2,900-mm wheelbase. Driving.ca notes it "stretches 4,695 millimetres from bumper to bumper," a dramatic departure from the tiny ForTwo. The #5 is fully electric and engineered entirely by Geely, with Mercedes contributing design but not hardware.

Battery, range, and performance

The Pro+ trim uses a 100-kWh pack with 94 kWh usable and delivers 438 km at a steady 125 km/h, described as "far ahead of anything I've attained from, say, a Hyundai Ioniq 5." Efficiency lands at 21.5 kWh/100 km. The single-motor RWD version produces 356 hp and hits 0–100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, while AWD versions reach 580 hp, and the Brabus-tuned flagship tops out at 637 hp with a 3.8-second sprint.

Interior space and practicality

The #5 is unexpectedly roomy. The reviewer calls it "more accommodating than a BMW X3, or maybe even a Mercedes GLC," offering 630 L of cargo space behind the rear seats, 1,530 L with seats folded, and a 72-L frunk. The long wheelbase and upright stance make it a legitimate family EV rather than a novelty city car.

Charging: the Smart #5's knockout punch

Charging performance is where the #5 separates itself from most EVs sold in North America. Smart claims 400-kW DC fast charging on its 800V NMC pack. Independent testing shows peaks of 424 kW, maintaining over 400 kW from 13 to 23 percent state of charge and averaging 275 kW from 10 to 80 percent. The result is a 10–80 percent charge in just 14 minutes, faster than any EV currently sold in Canada.

Why Americans won't get it

Despite its strong performance, the Smart #5 is effectively blocked from the U.S. market. The vehicle is built in China, runs Geely's SEA software stack, and uses China-origin telematics, placing it under the U.S. Connected Vehicle Security Rule as a high-risk, China-connected vehicle. Chinese-built EVs also face tariffs exceeding 100 percent and are ineligible for federal EV tax credits. Smart exited North America in 2019, and Mercedes has no plan to rebuild a dealer network for a joint-venture product facing regulatory barriers.

The irony: it's exactly what the U.S. needs

The #5 Pro+ competes directly with the Tesla Model Y in size, range, and performance, and may surpass it in interior build quality. The reviewer even notes the Smart "might even better [Tesla] in build quality." Yet it remains barred from the U.S. as domestic automakers acknowledge they lag behind Chinese EV platforms. Bill Ford recently stated the U.S. "can't keep Chinese EVs out forever," and the Smart #5 illustrates why: fast charging, high efficiency, and competitive pricing.

Bottom line

The Smart #5 Pro+ is the first Smart that feels like a real car: a competitive compact EV with standout charging performance, generous space, and a mature footprint. It could pressure the U.S. EV market to accelerate innovation, but policy barriers keep it out. Canadians may get it. Europeans already do. And the gap between global EV offerings and U.S. availability continues to widen.

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