It’s entirely appropriate for any Brabus product to have a surfeit of power, and that tradition is proudly being upheld by the range-topping Smart #1.
You will be unsurprised to hear that a four-wheel-drive electric small SUV with 422bhp is seriously quick, especially given its instant torque. But potential buyers definitely shouldn’t come here looking for huge amounts of dynamic finesse – or even relatively modest amounts of dynamic finesse.
This isn’t meant as a critical kicking. I had huge fun driving the Smart #1 Brabus, and it’s hard not to warm to a car that looks so cute yet also threatens to spin all four wheels on dry roads. But it’s fair to say that the balance between power and control is definitely not centred on the scale.