AXI-SmartConnect is constructed as an IP integrator 'hierarchical IP'. The AXI-SmartConnect topology dynamically generates during the Validate step in the IP integrator. This allows AXI-SmartConnect to adapt to the characteristics of the connected endpoint AXI master and slave IPs. After performing Validate, the SmartConnect topology generates, and you can open the IP to tune the settings, reduce pipelining, and inspect clock domains, for example.
By default, SmartConnect tunes to help designs achieve high clock frequency at the expense of latency and area.