Sensible is again in Australia – however until you’re a member of Mensa, among the new applied sciences within the EV model’s new small electrical SUV vary could make you are feeling dumb.
I don’t consider myself as a genius, however I do reckon I do know a factor or two about new automobiles, having pushed 1000’s of them over my profession.
However this was one of many solely automobiles I’ve ever examined that left me flummoxed by its completely complicated multimedia menu controls, unrelenting ‘superior’ security programs, and foolish “I want I used to be a Mini” makes an attempt at attraction.
I’ll inform you extra about all of that on this evaluate of the Sensible #1 Premium, however there are additionally loads of promising issues in regards to the new compact electrical crossover.
How does the Sensible #1 examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Sensible #1 towards equally sized autos.
Sensible
#1
How a lot does the Sensible #1 value?
The #1 is competitively priced within the crowded small premium electrical SUV house, the place there are a number of gamers of about the identical dimension, vary, worth and spec degree.
| Mannequin | Worth earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 Sensible #1 Professional+ | $54,900 |
| 2025 Sensible #1 Premium | $58,900 |
| 2025 Sensible #1 Brabus | $67,900 |
Some are even from the identical mum or dad firm, as Sensible is a tie-up between Mercedes-Benz and Geely, and the Sensible #1 rides on the identical platform because the Volvo EX30 and the bigger Polestar 4, in addition to the coupe-styled Sensible #3.
However I believe it represents sturdy worth for the cash, at lower than $60k earlier than on-roads for this Premium model on check.
To see how the Sensible #1 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
What’s the Sensible #1 like on the within?
The inside design has loads of wow issue, with a bunch of pretty supplies and funky finishes that make you are feeling such as you’re sitting in one thing a bit outdoors of the norm. Let me simply say that the white plastic finishings gave me flashbacks to the Holden Volt (in a great way!).
As with different decisions on this phase, there’s a big media display screen and a compact driver data show, and there are some usability challenges with each.
The latter takes some studying as that you must use the steering wheel controls to work together with it, and whereas you’re going to get used to that a part of the system simply, the large touchscreen is one other factor solely.
Perhaps I’m exhibiting my age right here, however I don’t want a foolish fox avatar on the display screen, and I don’t want the menus to have cutesy bits. What I would like (or desperately need) is easy controls that don’t take months to be taught. And whereas I didn’t have this automobile for a month, per week with it was sufficient for me to really feel very strongly in regards to the controls on supply – in a damaging means.
It’s nowhere close to as straightforward to leap between menus or be taught the place issues are with this media system, which looks as if it was designed by a bunch of Android cellphone customers who suppose it’s cool to cover controls behind different apps in secret envelopes.
I received’t dwell on it, as a result of it could add 1000 phrases to this evaluate. However you actually, really want to go and sit in a Sensible and see in case you might reside with the way in which that the menus and shows are configured, as a result of this method actually soured my expertise with the automobile.
Furthermore, once you drive the car, the security programs – that are managed by means of that touchscreen – default to on, and in case you don’t like being nannied and grannied about velocity limits and supposedly being distracted, you’re actually going to seek out it a irritating expertise. Extra on that within the driving part.
Okay, so what in regards to the different components of the cabin?
Nicely, that you must do not forget that the shifter is the place you would possibly often discover a blinker, and the blinker and wiper stalk is on the left aspect. And whereas that letterbox show for the motive force may be a little bit small, there’s additionally a head-up show to make issues simpler to see.
In the meantime, there’s a good quantity of storage, with a coverable console space between the seats housing a wi-fi cellphone charger and USB-C ports, in addition to cupholders behind that and a lined bin with cooling, too. In contrast to different fashions, there’s no storage part beneath there, although.
There’s a cheap set of door pockets, a sun shades holder, illuminated vainness mirrors and a glovebox (with a traditional deal with), all of which helps enhance the practicality.
All variations get a big panoramic glass roof with a shade, which additionally ups the atmosphere – and up entrance, it’s a snug place to be.
Within the again there’s extra room than you would possibly count on, too, because of its comparatively lengthy wheelbase and tall physique design.
Behind my very own 182cm/6’0” seating place I had quantity of house to wiggle my legs and ft, and I had inches to spare above my head, regardless of the large glass roof. And there’s a good quantity of width on supply too.
One quirky trick this automobile has is that you could slide the 60:40-split second-row seat forwards, that means you’ll be able to prioritise boot house in case you don’t want to make use of the again seats, or you’ll be able to extra simply cope with a younger one again there. In case you’re a mum or dad, you’ll know that you simply want that attain.
There are ISOFIX baby seat anchor factors within the window seats and three top-tethers, and rear riders get directional air vents, USB charging ports, map pockets, a flip-down armrest with cupholders, and ambient lighting to accompany the soft-padded door playing cards.
Boot house is a sensible 421 litres, increasing to 986L with the rear seats folded flat. The load-in lip is a little bit excessive, however there are extra mesh sections on the edges of the cargo zone, procuring bag hooks and a halogen(!) gentle again there, too.
Beneath the boot ground there may be some extra usable storage, nice for hiding your cables or different goodies, however you’ll be able to’t decrease the boot ground all the way down to make for an even bigger cargo zone because of the configuration of the subfloor.
Moreover, there isn’t a spare wheel out there within the Sensible #1 – a tyre restore package must do the job. However there’s a entrance trunk (frunk) storage compartment below the bonnet for added stowage. Certainly, that’s the place the tyre restore package was on this automobile.
| Dimensions | Sensible #1 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4270mm |
| Width | 1822mm |
| Peak | 1636mm |
| Wheelbase | 2750mm |
| Cargo capability | 421 litres (5-seat) 986 litres (2-seat) |
To see how the Sensible #1 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
What’s below the bonnet?
The Sensible #1 has just a few variations throughout the grades, and the Premium mannequin examined right here looks as if the candy spot once you look on the spec sheet, with the identical battery capability as the opposite fashions, however higher AC charging and the very best claimed effectivity of all three fashions, too.
| Specs | Sensible #1 Premium |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 66kWh lithium nickel cobalt manganese |
| Energy | 200kW |
| Torque | 343Nm |
| Pushed wheels | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1800kg |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 6.7s |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | 16.7kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary | 440km |
| Max AC cost fee | 22kW |
| Max DC cost fee | 150kW |
In terms of real-world effectivity, I noticed a displayed common of 18.3kWh per 100km, which is appropriate for a car like this, however inferior to a few of its rivals with much less energy.
Sure, the Sensible #1 has a heap of grunt, however that does come on the expense of the driving vary and effectivity.
To see how the Sensible #1 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
How does the Sensible #1 drive?
If there was a solution to get this automobile with out that irritating display screen and with out all of the bing-bong security expertise, I reckon I’d have favored the drive expertise an entire lot greater than I did.
That’s as a result of, essentially, it’s a fairly first rate factor to drive.
With a rear-wheel drive structure and a heap of energy and torque, this little crossover mannequin hustles once you want it to, with a likeable driving dynamic that makes it really feel extra involving and enjoyable than its front-drive rivals.
It steers decently, with predictable responses at excessive speeds and simple turnability at parking tempo, and whereas it’s a hefty little unit at 1800kg, it handles its weight nicely by means of corners, and it’ll genuinely make you smile.
There’s ample, if not mindblowing, urge from the electrical motor, and within the sportier drive mode you’re going to get extra from the expertise, although it nonetheless feels a bit overcontrolled by the traction and stability programs, which might be for the very best. Clearly, in case you really need the quick one, you’ll get the Brabus anyway.
It’s not too unhealthy when it comes to noise, vibration and harshness, however like all EVs, the shortage of an inner combustion engine inherently means it feels smoother and is extra silent in most cases. It may undergo some notable tyre roar on rougher surfaces, although, so be aware of that in case you’re more likely to encounter coarse-chip roads frequently.
However actually, the largest bugbears are these security programs, together with the velocity signal recognition, which appeared to suppose that the majority 110km/h indicators have been truly 70km/h (a typical fault that’s extra noticeable in NSW because of the design of our signage), and it incessantly chimes at you to observe your velocity.
It is a severe annoyance if you already know what the bounds are (and, ahem, what you would possibly have the ability to get away with) the place you’re driving frequently.
The opposite factor is the motive force monitoring digital camera system, which is without doubt one of the worst examples I’ve encountered. Have a look at your mirror? You’re distracted. Dare look away? You’re distracted. Attend to your baby? Oh, no you don’t!
It screens your eyes and can provide you with a warning to inform you what it thinks you’re doing is naughty. Sensible must smarten this tech up, as Mitsubishi did with the Triton, as a result of house owners will get bored with it rapidly.
Together with lots of the different programs, it defaults again on once you get again into the automobile. The web result’s that, in case you don’t like these issues, you don’t like this automobile.
Past that there’s additionally the cruise management system, which – for the lifetime of me – I couldn’t get to work as simply cruise management.
As an alternative, the automobile insisted on it being a sensible cruise management system with adaptive acceleration and braking, and likewise steering help that repeatedly tugged on the wheel, sufficient to make me simply drive it with none cruise management in any respect.
Word that there’s a solution to disable that, you simply want to make sure that you employ the steering wheel controls to leap by means of the cruise modes (pilot help, adaptive cruise or velocity limiter) once you activate it.
Actually, beneath this unfinished expertise there’s automobile to drive. However as a lot as I actually wished to love it, I couldn’t wait handy it again.
To see how the Sensible #1 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
What do you get?
As talked about above, I believe the Premium mannequin might be going to tick the containers for lots of shoppers when it comes to what you’re getting in your cash, and I believe it appeals most out of those three variants.
Sensible #1 Professional+ highlights:
- 19-inch wheels
- LED headlights
- Panoramic roof
- 12.8-inch infotainment display screen
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Powered tailgate
- Sensible pilot help
- 7.4kW AC charging
- 130kW DC charging
- Customisable ambient lighting
Sensible #1 Premium provides:
- Matrix LED headlights
- Leather-based upholstery
- Beats 640W sound system
- Warmth pump
- Computerized parking help
- 10-inch head-up show
- 22kW AC charging
- 150kW DC charging
- 13-speaker Beats sound system
To see how the Sensible #1 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
Is the Sensible #1 secure?
Because it launched in Australia, the Sensible #1 has been awarded the utmost five-star ANCAP security ranking.
| Class | Sensible #1 |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 96% |
| Little one occupant safety | 87% |
| Susceptible highway person safety | 70% |
| Security help | 94% |
These numbers are barely totally different to the EuroNCAP breakdown (96 per cent, 89 per cent, 71 per cent, 88 per cent respectively) attributable to ANCAP’s calculations towards its personal standards.
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Freeway help
- Evasive manoeuvre help
- Lane preserve help
- Site visitors jam help
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Lane change help
- Computerized parking help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear auto braking (not on base mannequin)
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Encompass-view digital camera
The Sensible #1 has seven airbags, together with twin entrance, entrance centre, entrance aspect and full-length curtain protection.
To see how the Sensible #1 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
How a lot does the Sensible #1 value to run?
One of many massive on-paper promoting factors of EVs is decrease working prices. There are fewer shifting elements and that ought to imply much less value to keep up the car, proper?
Not the case right here, sadly… until you get a deal by means of a Sensible showroom, which appears attainable primarily based on the promotional signage stating you could possibly get three years of free servicing included.
That may be a deal sweetener, as in any other case the acknowledged prices are excessive. For a four-year/80,000km servicing plan, the prices are $2445 for the Professional+, $2495 for the Premium or $3120 for the Brabus.
That’s an entire lot of money for a automobile with out many oily bits. At the very least the service intervals are beneficiant at 12 months/20,000km.
Past that you simply get a five-year/150,000km guarantee for the car, and an eight-year/150,000km guarantee for the battery that ensures a capability of 70 per cent by the tip of that interval.
Roadside help is included without charge, too, with 5 years of protection on supply.
To see how the Sensible #1 strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability device
CarExpert’s Tackle the Sensible #1
I actually wished to love the Sensible #1, however the longer I spent on this automobile, the extra I wished handy it again. Among the security programs are overbearingly annoying, and the useability of the infotainment display screen hinders its cute graphics.
Perhaps you’ll get used to that stuff, or possibly you’ll adore it. I do know there are many individuals who suppose that having all of the tech and heaps of configurability is what issues most with a brand new automobile.
However for me, this was a very irritating automobile to evaluate, regardless of the very fact I favored its look, inside design and driving dynamics.
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