Mercedes EQS Shares A Lot Of Design And Production With The smart3#

Why the smart#3 and the Mercedes EQS look very much alike

If you have ever caught sight of the smart #3 fastback electric crossover and found yourself doing a double take like our passenger did recently, mistaking it for a flagship Mercedes-Benz EQS, you are not alone.

At first glance, comparing this family EV crossover to a top-tier luxury electric limousine might seem strange. Yet, visually, the resemblance is unmistakable, from their smooth, rounded contours to their distinctive continuous light bars and swooping aerodynamic silhouettes.

Let us explain their shared DNA, joint engineering and aerodynamic principles that make the smart #3 look like a sibling of the Mercedes-Benz EQS.

The Mercedes-Benz Connection

The most direct explanation for the visual overlap comes down to who actually styled the vehicles. Smart Automobile is no longer just a small city-car experiment; today, it operates as a 50/50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz Group and Geely Holding. Under this partnership Geely handles the engineering, battery tech and manufacturing via its Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform.

Mercedes-Benz handles all exterior and interior styling worldwide.

The smart #3 was directly penned by the Mercedes-Benz global design team, led by Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener. As a result, the smart #3 carries Mercedes’ core electric design philosophy, specifically the “Sensual Purity” aesthetic seen across the entire Mercedes-EQ range.

The “One-Bow” Aerodynamic Silhouette

Both the Mercedes EQS and the smart #3 share a sweeping, continuous silhouette known as a “one-bow” line. Instead of adopting traditional three-box sedan shapes or boxy SUV angles, both vehicles feature a continuous arch extending from the front hood, across the roofline, and down into a steep rear fastback tail.

Mercedes Touches on the Inside

The family resemblance extends into the cabin. While the smart #3 does not feature the wall-to-wall Mercedes Hyperscreen, its interior layout borrows heavily from the Stuttgart based auto manufacturer. 

Turbine-Style Air Vents which are signature circular air vents on the central console feel right out of a Mercedes-Benz C-Class or EQ model. A raised bridge-style center console separates driver and passenger, giving a cockpit feel reminiscent of higher-end German luxury cars. Gear selection in the smart #3 is controlled via a Mercedes-style stalk on the right side of the steering column.

Is It A Baby EQS at a Fraction of the Price?

The uncanny visual similarity between the smart #3 and the Mercedes EQS is no coincidence. It is the intentional outcome of a strategic partnership: Mercedes-Benz styling paired with Geely electric platform efficiency.

For new car buyers, this means they could be driving an EV that delivers the sleek aesthetics, premium aerodynamic language and cabin refinement of a flagship RM400,000+ luxury EV at an accessible price tag of around RM200,000+.