smart #3 vs CUPRA Tavascan

The smart #3 starts from $57,900 before on-road costs, while the CUPRA Tavascan opens at $69,990. That makes the smart #3 the more affordable entry point by $12,090.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $63,690 and $76,989 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

Both the smart #3 and CUPRA Tavascan hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 90% for the smart #3 and 89% for the CUPRA Tavascan.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The CUPRA Tavascan packs more ADAS features with 9 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 8 in the smart #3.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the smart #3 and 7 in the CUPRA Tavascan. The CUPRA Tavascan adds a 360-degree camera that the smart #3 misses.

The smart #3 features a 12.8-inch touchscreen, while the CUPRA Tavascan gets a 15-inch display and 5.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The smart #3 stands out with panoramic roof that you will not find on the CUPRA Tavascan. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the smart #3 gets leatherette upholstery while the CUPRA Tavascan offers fabric. Climate control is 2-zone in the smart #3 and 3-zone in the CUPRA Tavascan.

The smart #3 uses a Electric producing 200kW and 343Nm of torque, sent through a single-speed automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.8 seconds.

The CUPRA Tavascan responds with a Electric Motor making 210kW and 545Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

The CUPRA Tavascan has the clear power advantage at 210kW vs 200kW. In the real-world sprint, the smart #3 is 1.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 66kWh (smart #3) vs 77kWh (CUPRA Tavascan), giving WLTP ranges of 435km and 531km. DC fast charging peaks at 130kW (smart #3) vs 135kW (CUPRA Tavascan).

The smart #3 measures 4,400mm long on a 2,785mm wheelbase, 244mm shorter than the CUPRA Tavascan at 4,644mm (2,766mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the smart #3 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 260L in the smart #3 and 540L in the CUPRA Tavascan, giving the CUPRA Tavascan a 280L advantage.

For towing, the smart #3 leads with a 1,600kg braked capacity vs 1,000kg. That 600kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 150,000km (smart #3) vs 5 years / 999,999km (CUPRA Tavascan). Both match on warranty length.