Can You Afford A Used smart#1 Brabus If The Monthly Installment Is just RM2k
A common question asked by Malaysian car buyers who are undecided on the electric car ownership is ‘used car values’ after 5 to 7 years of ownership.
With the electric car sales jump only happening in the last 2-3 years, we still need a few more years to see how the used car market adopts its purchasing values. Meanwhile, there are used electric cars appearing in our classifieds and most of them seem to be demo units like this Brabus version of the smart#1.
The smart #1 is about the size of a MINI Countryman and even shares some of its styling cues, like the dual tone paint job, short overhangs, rounded wing mirror caps, gently curved bodywork and an upright stance.
Get inside and it has a youthful look and feel to its interface with 3D animations featuring a ‘fox’ mascot. Its available in three variants, Pro, Premium and BRABUS and we see a number of units on sales in the used car classifieds in major cities (Penang, Selangor and Johor Bahru) which means some of these units could be dealer demo units.
Now the BRABUS version of course is the best version to own and now with a PRE-Registered unit on sale here (pictured below) with a possible RM2,000 monthly installment, it seems that this fast and well equipped electric vehicle might be within reach of more Malaysians.
If you do the math, RM2k (monthly payment) times 84 months (7 years’ loan) is just RM168k (no mention on down-payment amount) and this is about the same price as a local assembled petrol powered sedan or crossover or SUV.
We tested this BRABUS variant a few months ago and were quite impressed with what was on offer. It has a 0-100km/h time of just 3.9 seconds and 22kW AC charging. This combination alone sets it apart from most China made electric car rivals. Its driving range is decent at a possible 400km.
The smart #1 BRABUS 0-100km/h takes just 3.9 seconds and that puts it firmly in supercar territory in terms of raw sensation of speed.
Of course, things taper out very quickly you hit the invisible barrier of 180km/h unlike any other supercar. To be fair, few EVs can go any faster than that and Malaysians have no business going that fast anyway, so if we’re focusing on the performance that matters the most, the #1 BRABUS is an absolute win in terms of performance per Ringgit. Only the BYD Seal and the all-wheel drive Tesla models out-do the #1.
Build quality here is absolutely solid, proving that the marriage of Geely’s production and Gorden Wagener’s design team was the right one. It’s clear that some daring choices were made, perhaps some were too radical to be found on a product bearing the three-pointed star. Air cond controls, for instance are completely hidden away unless called for. In our climate, this isn’t the best thing, but it does make for a very clean and minimalist cabin look.
Importantly, the 22kW AC charging capability sets it apart from most of its price rivals, allowing the car to be fully charged at home in just 3 hours with the right hardware. Few vehicles under RM200,000 or even RM300,000 offer this kind of charging capability.
It may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but the smart #1 BRABUS is the only legacy brand selling EVs at this price while delivering a decent amount of range and top notch power.
If you’re in the market for one of the fastest, most fun EVs in the market, the #1 BRABUS makes an excellent case for itself. Mercedes-Benz looks, uncompromising build quality and construction, decent range, fast AC charging, taut handling all work in its favour. Plus, the RM2,000 monthly payment seems rather affordable for middle class Malaysians looking for entry into EV ownership.
smart #1 BRABUS Specification
Motor: Dual Permanently Excited Synchronous Electric Motors, AWD
Battery Capacity: 66kWh
Range: 400km
Max Power: 428PS
Max Torque: 543Nm
Top Speed: 180km/h
0-100km/h: 3.9 seconds
Selling Price NEW: RM249,000
