05/10/2025

theSunday Special XIV ON SUNDAY OCT 5, 2025

Alcantara wrapped steering wheel.

12.8-inch central screen.

Rear LEDs.

Pop-out door handles.

Beats Audio system.

Brabus drive mode.

LIVING WITH IT One thing that impressed me was how well the Brabus balances performance with range. Despite the power, the car still manages a WLTP-rated 415km onfull charge, which is plenty for daily use. Of course, it doesn’t match the 455km range of the Premium vari ant, but for a performance SUV, it’s still a solid number. But, with 428PS on tap, I could not keep from flooring it. Every open road meant putting its speed to the test. This obviously drained the bat tery faster, so I found myself charging the car more than a nor mal person would. The 66kWh nickel cobalt man ganese (NMC) battery supports 22 kW AC charging for home or office setups, and when you need a quick top-up, 150kW DC fast charging takes it from 10–80% in under half an hour. That’s convenient enough for most scenarios. Inside, the car feels properly high-tech. The big infotainment screen dominates the dashboard, and the Mercedes influence is obvious in the design language and materials. Adaptive cruise control, park ing cameras, lane-keeping assist – all the safety and driver-assist tech you’d expect at this price point is included. Space is also surprisingly good. Even with the coupe roofline, the rear seats are usable for adults, and boot space is practical enough for daily life. However, this is where some frustrations start to creep in. Almost every single control has

9.2-inch instrument cluster.

On the other hand, the firm suspension, over-reliance on the touchscreen for basic controls, the lack of a sunroof shade, and the premium price tag mean it is not going to be perfect for every one. If comfort and simplicity are your priorities, the Premium or even the Pro variant might make more sense. But if you want your EV to stand out, go fast, and make a statement every time you hit the road, the smart #3 Brabus does exactly that. It’s not perfect, but it’s a car that puts a smile on your face, and for me, that’s what driv ing should always be about. SPECIFICATIONS Motor: Dual Electric Motors Power: 428PS Torque: 543Nm Range: 415km AC Charging: 22kW; 10-80% in 3 hours DC Charging: 150kW; 10-80% in 30 mins Price (as tested): RM255,000 We like: Performance and looks. We don’t like: Lack of physical buttons and sunroof shade.

then there’s the price – at RM255,000, expectations are naturally very high. For that money, I expected eve rything to be flawless, from info tainment responsiveness to app connectivity. Most of it works very well, but a few small quirks and niggles stand out more because of the price tag. Since it is an electric car, you will not be able to do any “pops and bangs” at car meets. So, to compensate for that, the smart has a feature called “Light Show” where, well, the front lights, including the ones on the grille, put on a show with loud music. Not a necessity, but a fun and funky feature to turn heads. FINAL THOUGHTS Driving the smart #3 Brabus left me with mixed feelings – but mostly positive ones. On the one hand, it’s one of the most exciting EVs you can buy right now in Malaysia. It looks fantastic, the interior feels premium, and the perform ance is genuinely thrilling. It makes every drive feel a bit more special, and in the EV world, that’s not something you can say about every car.

Alcantara-style upholstery with red stitching.

been shifted to the screen. Adjusting the air-conditioning, tweaking the side-view mirrors – all of it requires navigating through menus. It looks futuristic, but in prac tice, it slows you down and makes simple tasks unnecessarily fiddly. I really wish smart had left at least a few physical buttons for these everyday functions. Another issue I noticed is the panoramic sunroof. While it’s impressive in size and really brightens up the cabin, there’s no proper shade to block out the sun light. On hot Malaysian afternoons, the glare and heat pouring in can get overwhelming. Yes, the glass is tinted, but it’s not enough. For a car at this price point, I expected a retractable cover or an electrochromic dim

ming system. Instead, it feels like form was prioritised over comfort. As much as I enjoyed driving the Brabus, there are some areas where it doesn’t quite hit the mark. The firm ride is the most obvi ous trade-off. It gives the car sta bility and keeps it planted through corners, but over uneven city streets, you do get bumped around more than I’d like in a daily driver. Another minor issue is the tyre choice. Despite the Brabus badge, some versions come with tyres that feel more eco-focused than performance-oriented. It’s not a dealbreaker, but with this level of power, I found myself wishing for more grip when cor nering hard. Range is good, but if you’re chasing maximum distance, the Premium variant does better. And