smart #5 Receives Red Dot Design Award

July 9, 2025, Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany. smart, the premium intelligent electric automotive brand, has received the Red Dot Design Award 2025 in the category Product Design with the smart #5 – the first-ever premium mid-size SUV from smart. With a 70-year legacy, the Red Dot Design Award is widely recognised as one of the most sought-after seals of quality for good design on an international level.

The Red Dot Award for Product Design recognises products that impress with their exceptionally high design quality. The award is based on the decision of the international Red Dot jury. The experts evaluate the submissions according to the four basic principles of good design: the quality of function, the quality of seduction, the quality of use, and the quality of responsibility. The smart #5 particularly impressed the jury with the combination of its functional exterior with the clearly structured interior and digital equipment to create an overall concept that is user-oriented and suitable for everyday driving.

Styled by Mercedes-Benz, smart’s product portfolio – including the smart #1, #3, and #5 – has garnered international acclaim for its outstanding design aesthetics and earned widespread global recognition: The smart #1 and smart #3 also received the prestigious Red Dot Design Award in 2023 and 2024.

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The smart #5 marks a bold evolution in our design journey—staying true to our design elements of ‘Love, Pure, Unexpected’, while fully embracing the 'Pure' aspect to create its distinctive boxy silhouette and spacious interior. It breaks conventional boundaries and embraces more possibilities of life with an open-minded and adventurous spirit. We are immensely proud to witness smart once again recognized with the Red Dot Award.

Kai Sieber​, Head of Design smart at Mercedes-Benz AG

Distinctive boxy design redefines the premium experience 

Featuring a panoramic halo roof, frameless doors, and characteristic oblong front and rear headlights, the smart #5 showcases a distinctive boxy and upright silhouette, offering a playful yet refined touch. Designed for modern adventurers, its robust, muscular bodywork evokes a spirit of outdoor exploration, while the generous 2,900 mm wheelbase and 4,705 mm overall length optimize interior space without compromising on style or practicality. 

The interior of the smart #5 embodies a sleek, contemporary design enhanced by advanced technology and high-quality materials. Passengers enjoy exceptional legroom, heated rear seats , and power-adjustable backrests for maximum comfort. Features like the customizable 256-color ambient lighting create an inviting atmosphere for every journey. Premium touches such as oak wood trim and distinctive curved oblong design elements redefine the standards of premium driving experience. 

smart product portfolio continues gaining global recognition 

Styled by Mercedes-Benz, each model in the smart family expresses the design philosophy of “Love, Pure, Unexpected” in its distinctive way, meeting the diverse needs and preferences of customers worldwide. 

The compact SUV smart #1 is characterized by a puristic and futuristic streamlined exterior, a perfect blend of aesthetics and aerodynamics. The smart #3 SUV coupé features a vibrant, muscular and yet elegantly sensual energy that impresses both inside and out. Meanwhile, the smart #5 stands out with its bold, boxy silhouette. Together, the smart product range has won several international design awards. 

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