Smart #5 Spied in China with an ICE Powertrain – PHEV or REEV?

An ICE-based version of the smart #5 SUV was recently spied in China. Could this be either PHEV or REEV? (Photo credit: Autohome)

Not even six months since its global debut, it seems like the smart #5 EV SUV is already getting a new version, this time around featuring an ICE-based powertrain setup. As revealed by CarNewsChina, a new version of the smart #5 was recently spotted in China, featuring a petrol engine under its hood instead of a full battery electric (BEV) setup.

From the images provided by Autohome China, however, there’s no way of determining whether this ICE-powered smart #5 will be featuring a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or a range-extender EV (REEV) powertrain. What’s also important to note is that one smart brand’s shareholder, Geely Group, is known for making some of the most cutting-edge PHEV powertrains out there, with the most recent version called the NordThor EM-i.

Comprising a 1.5-litre 4-cyl nat-asp petrol engine as its core, this new PHEV setup is already found in some of Geely’s latest PHEV models, including the Proton eMas7-based Geely Galaxy Starship 7. Given that both the Starship 7 and smart #5 share almost identical dimensions, there's a chance that smart might adopt the NordThor EM-i PHEV setup for this ICE-based smart #5 variant.

Other than that, the spied smart #5 also rides on a new set of five-spoke alloy wheels that feature a more intricate design than what we’ve seen on its EV twin. Not to forget, the presence of both the fuel cap and a tailpipe at the rear also double confirms that this mysterious model does come with a combustion-based powertrain, in case you’re still not convinced by the engine under its hood.

Also largely unchanged are the innards of this car, as it gets the same dual-screen setup as the BEV model, plus the same three-spoked smart steering wheel shared with other smart EVs.

Following its global unveiling back in Aug 2024, the smart #5 EV went on sale in its native China back in Oct last year, retailing from CNY 239,900 (RM146,000 approx.). Despite its fancy cabin, decent EV powertrain setup, and rugged styling, the EV crossover didn’t catch on that well among the Chinese, with the whole brand’s average monthly sales only going around the 3,000 figure—which is a rather lacklustre figure in the Chinese market’s standard.

CarNewsChina speculated that its slow sales may have prompted smart to introduce an ICE-based variant for the smart #5, as both PHEV and REEV showed strong sales growth in recent times. However, given Geely’s vast expertise in making PHEVs, it is more likely that the smart #5 will adopt the group’s PHEV setup for this new ICE-based variant.

Source: CarNewsChina