Overview & Reviews
The concept of the Smart car emerged in the early 1990s when the Swiss company Swatch, best known for its kitschy watches, sought to build an affordable city car that would fit into the smallest of parking spots and go easy on fuel. Not too long after, the company paired up with Mercedes-Benz to make the idea a reality. The car was later christened "Smart," an acronym for Swatch Mercedes Art.
The Smart Fortwo, originally dubbed the City Coupe, debuted at the 1997 Frankfurt Auto Show. Although the first generation never made it to the U.S., the tiny two-seater, which persevered through its parent company's financial troubles and an eventual buyout by Daimler-Benz, was later replaced by the slightly larger second-generation Fortwo. Not only is the reworked Fortwo newly available in the States, but an ambitious plan to launch several stand-alone dealerships in the U.S. makes it clear that the Smart brand is serious about competing in the American subcompact market. While its diminutive size and power entail certain on-road limitations, the Fortwo is a worthy candidate for urban commuters who want to maneuver through city congestion and save on gas without giving up the creature comforts of a car.
Current Smart Fortwo
At 8 feet, 10 inches long, the Smart Fortwo is a two-seat subcompact city car and is the smallest production car currently sold in North America. It comes in two body styles: the hatchback Coupe and the convertible Cabrio. The standard trim levels are Pure and the more well-equipped Passion. The Fortwo is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 71 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque and sends its power to the rear wheels through an automated sequential-shift manual transmission.
There's also a limited-edition model from German tuner Brabus that upgrades the Smart with sportier wheels, a stiffer suspension, aerodynamic and cosmetic body cladding, a higher-performing exhaust and heated leather seats.
Because of its Lilliputian proportions (it's more than 3 feet shorter than a Mini Cooper), safety is at the core of the Fortwo design. The engine is in the rear of the car to increase front crumple-zone space, and the car is built around a cage of high-strength steel known as the Tridion safety cell, which helps the Fortwo post passable if unimpressive frontal crash-test scores. Side impact protection is enhanced by the closer placement of axles to the passenger compartment, and the Smart's scores in side-impact crash testing are top-notch. And although the car might look something like a golf cart, standard safety features like side airbags, antilock brakes, stability control and traction control combine to put that comparison to rest.
Fuel economy is another welcome asset of the Smart Fortwo; its EPA rating is 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. With its 8.7-gallon gas tank, that makes for a lot of driving between fill-ups, though it's worth noting that premium gasoline is recommended.
In our initial reviews, we found the Smart Fortwo surprisingly comfortable. The interior is roomier than it might appear from the outside -- especially in the passenger seat, which is set back 6 inches for increased legroom. (It also folds flat for extra cargo space.) On the road, however, the Smart's manner is less than graceful over rough pavement. Moreover, while the car is admirably stable at high speeds for such a small vehicle, its slablike side panels and upright posture conspire to make it unsettlingly vulnerable to crosswinds.
We aren't fans of the automated manual transmission either. Gearchanges are sluggish and somewhat jerky. The Fortwo is also one of the slowest vehicles for sale today (zero to 60 mph takes 14.1 seconds) and it has a particularly hard time keeping up with traffic on the highway. Still, the Smart Fortwo is great for tooling around city streets. Buyers who aren't looking to do much more than that will probably be quite satisfied with the Smart car.
Used Smart Fortwo Models
The current (second) generation Fortwo debuted for 2008 and was the first Smart model to go on sale in the U.S. There have been no major changes since, though the Brabus trim level wasn't available for its first year.
Designed primarily for urban cities in Europe, the first-generation Smart Fortwo was originally known as the City Coupe and not sold in North America. It debuted for the 1998 model year and it came with a turbocharged three-cylinder engine that was either gasoline-fueled (initially 599cc of displacement and later 698cc) or diesel-fueled (799cc). The first-generation Smart Fortwo was discontinued after the 2007 model year.
User Reviews:
Showing 151 through 160 of 264.00-
More attention than a cute puppy - 2009 Smart fortwo
By Craig - December 7 - 3:40 amThis car is great. I just bought it and the transmission must be shifted by hand. In the automatic mode feels sluggish. But I never have bought an automatic in my life. I have ridden a motorcycle my for most of my life and driven everything including tractor trailers. The entire roll cage cabin makes you feel safer than a NASCAR. When gas hits 5 bucks a gallon (and it will) the salesmen will have to hold buyers off with a whip and a chair. Forget those stupid electric cars for now. They are 10 years away. We plan a country wide, east of the Mississippi trip this summer. I will write a Smart car blog...warts and all.:>)
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Fantastic Car - 2009 Smart fortwo
By Sobe - December 4 - 1:03 pmI wish I had owned this car years ago, but being in the US I had to wait. I fell in love with it since I first saw it in Milano, Italy. I now own this car and I adore it.
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BB! - 2009 Smart fortwo
By leeleeph - November 28 - 5:01 amI just got this car a few days ago & it was used, with 20,000 miles on it already.It still looks brand new though and works like a charm! I have heated seats with black leather interior and my smart car is yellow with black panels.I absolutely love it! I couldnt think of any other car to satisfy my every need on the road.I have yet to drive it on the highway, but im sure that day will come sometime soon! I recommend this car to EVERYONE.Unless driving small, cool, and fun just isnt your style.This car is for someone who isnt much of a business person.But It is overall and amazing car.Im glad i purchased it.
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Get Your Info From OWNERS - NOT Writers - 2013 Smart fortwo
By penndriver - November 20 - 2:05 amIt exceeds every measure of what anyone should reasonably expect! During my 55 years of driving I have owned quite a few of those "highly recommended" status symbols. In quality and reliability my smart car is equal to or exceeds every one of them! The writers REALLY blew it on the smart car. Do you believe a magazine writer knows more than the engineers at Mercedes? Rate the car for its intended purpose! Dont get out of your manufacturer provided 455hp sport car and say the smart car lacks acceleration! My advice, if you truly want to know about any car, talk to an owner. Forget the writers getting paid by the manufactures to write about their "phenomenal new engineering creation."
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Driving a Smart Car - 2008 Smart fortwo
By Herb - November 17 - 12:43 amThe somewhat leisurely acceleration is expected and can be circumvented by flogging the engine in manual mode using the paddle shifters. Initial fuel economy was disappointing, but rapidly improved after putting "Sea-Foam" fuel system cleaner in the tank. Am now getting 38.5 mpg in city driving. The local Smart dealership was very friendly and reprogrammed the transmission to largely eliminate the 1-2 shift lag in my 2008 as part of a no-charge update to 2009 standards. This made a huge improvement in driveability! Highway stability in cross-winds is somewhat squirrely, but I had no trouble keeping it in the lane even when x-winds topped 35 mph on a fast causeway.
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See for yourself! - 2008 Smart fortwo
By mipod - November 1 - 10:50 amDriving is a fun pleasure.Inside is roomy and one sits higher than most mid-sized cars. Engine has a bit of a lag if you drive other cars as well,but you adjust quickly. Going on six months now and I look forward to driving it more and more.
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USA-Get smart - 2009 Smart fortwo
By Tom M - October 12 - 11:00 pmIt is about time the USA received the smart. Here are some things you should know though-the ride is bouncy at times and firm, the fuel economy isnt as good as you think, in most places you cant park it nose-in into spaces,& the acceleration isnt good. But there are alot of positives- driving it is as fun as driving a gokart, it is spacious on the inside, it feels fine at 70mph on the freeway,& the you feel that the whole world is looking at you. Everywhere I go, I get asked questions like "Is it safe?", or "Is that streetlegal?" but you get used to the attention. It is an eyecatcher and welcomed in the city, in the country, and it feels right everywhere.
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My Smart Convertible - 2008 Smart fortwo
By enrique45 - September 28 - 4:00 pmI am a Truck Person but with the gas price nowadays I decided to try this little thing, it is the best decision I ever made it is a very nice looking car, reliable, sporty I like it very much,
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40,000 miles and still no problems - 2008 Smart fortwo
By Rome Addict - July 24 - 12:43 amIll admit it. I have loved these cars since I first saw them in Italy in 1998. When they FINALLY came to the USA Id been on a waiting list for 18 months. My actual mileage experience with crappy "boutique" Phoenix gas is 45 - 48 mpg highway, 41 combined and 35 city. I dont know where Edmunds gets its 37 mpg? I beat the crap out of this car and it performs like a trooper. Drove it cross country, drive it 75 miles per day city/highway. I am personally gunning for 250,000 miles before I sell it. Would not recommend the sun roof for AZ. Downgraded comfort to 9 because AC cant keep up in AZ. Anyplace else would probably be fine.
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fatter tires - 2008 Smart fortwo
By william - July 21 - 11:23 pmlove the car, mostly,except the jerking transmission, and the ROUGH ride. I think it need fatter tires to soften the ride over rough areas, like rail road crossings, and pot holes, etc. A speed control would be nice, too. Now take a look at the sun visors, too small & try turning them to the left, hmm, room inside is great,style is great, & I would love it more if the ride were smoother. I like the attention. Get one.
