Smart has unveiled the first official images of its new #6 sedan via China’s MIIT filings, confirming a significant shift in direction for the brand — one that points to a different trajectory than the one Smart follows in Europe.
The #6 mirrors the plug-in hybrid approach of the Smart #5, underscoring how Smart China views hybrid technology as a bridge for drivers who want EV convenience without complete dependence on charging infrastructure. Whether Europe will ever see the #6 is another question.
Largest model yet
The plug-in hybrid liftback is Smart’s largest model yet, measuring almost 4.9 meters long and powered by Geely’s NordThor Hybrid 2.0 system: a 1.5-liter turbo engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined output of up to 320 kW (429 hp).
A lithium-iron-phosphate battery from CATL or SVOLT underpins its plug-in hybrid drivetrain, which in China promises fast charging and an impressive claimed 1,810-kilometre combined range under local test conditions. Its electric-only range under the Chinese CLTC test cycle is about 285 km.
In China, the #6 is being positioned not as a compact city runabout, but as a full-size family car with long-distance capability — a far cry from the urban microcars that built Smart’s reputation.
There is currently no confirmed BEV version of the Smart #6, as all official filings and announcements describe it solely as a plug-in hybrid model.
Evolving differently in China
The reveal underscores how differently Smart is evolving in China compared to Europe. Under the Geely-Mercedes joint venture, the Chinese market is becoming Smart’s test bed for broader, more mainstream models, including plug-in hybrids.
In this context, the #6’s sleek fastback design, large footprint, and promised performance seem tailored for Chinese buyers seeking versatility rather than minimalism.
Smart Europe has repeatedly stated that its line-up here will remain electric-only, focusing on models like the #1, #3, and the recently introduced #5. Smart Europe has explicitly confirmed that the plug-in hybrid version of the Smart #5 will not be offered here.
Introducing a large PHEV sedan would challenge that strategy and force the brand to rethink its position in a market where emissions rules, fleet trends, and consumer expectations differ sharply from those in China. It would also redefine what a Smart is on European roads.
What if the EU loosens the ICE ban?
However, if the EU ultimately decides to allow plug-in hybrids beyond 2035, this could significantly reshape Smart’s European strategy.
Smart maintains an EV-only policy largely because of political direction rather than technical limitations, as its Chinese line-up shows the brand already has advanced PHEV technology ready to deploy.
A relaxation of the phase-out could make PHEVs attractive again for Europe’s crucial fleet markets and lower the barrier for Smart to bring models such as the #6 or #5 PHEV across.
What if Smart changes course?
Yet if Smart ever changes course, the #6 could have a surprisingly strong case in countries like Belgium, but there’s no time to lose. With its large battery and long electric range, the plug-in hybrid would likely fall into the favourable tax brackets.
Belgium still offers certain tax advantages for plug-in hybrids, but these benefits are being phased out rapidly. PHEVs purchased before the end of 2025 retain favorable deductibility and relatively low benefit-in-kind values.
Yet, from 2026 onward, their fiscal appeal declines sharply as deductibility drops year by year, reaching zero in 2028. In practice, this means PHEVs enjoy only a short remaining window of tax benefits, after which Belgium’s system shifts decisively toward fully electric vehicles.
Tesla 3, BMW-3, and Mercedes C-Class competitor?
The Smart #6 sedan’s size and comfort would position it alongside cars such as the Tesla Model 3 and BMW 3 Series, while still allowing many daily commutes to be driven electrically. It would be a very different kind of Smart for Belgian roads, but could be compelling.
If the Smart #6 were introduced in Belgium, its pricing would likely fall between €42,000 and €52,000, putting it in direct competition with models like the Tesla Model 3, BYD Seal, BMW 3 Series PHEV, and Mercedes C-Class PHEV.
That positioning would make it a mainstream contender rather than a niche Smart product, especially if it combined a competitive price with long electric range and intense fleet-friendly tax treatment.
Mercedes joint-venture
Although Mercedes-Benz still owns 50% of Smart through its joint venture with Geely, the brand’s product planning for China is primarily driven by Geely and follows a different strategic logic than Mercedes-Benz’s own model range.
In practice, Mercedes accepts a certain level of overlap, as long as Smart remains positioned as a more youthful, tech-oriented brand and not a premium competitor. A large Smart sedan like the #6 would not threaten the C-Class in China, where Mercedes operates at a significantly higher price point and brand tier.
However, this is precisely why Smart Europe maintains an EV-only strategy: allowing a PHEV Smart #6 to enter European showrooms would risk encroaching on the C-Class PHEV’s territory.
In other words, Mercedes would tolerate the #6 in China — where the brands live in different segments — but is highly unlikely to allow it to compete directly with its own models in Europe.
