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:

• 

  Way to much $$$$$ for a Smart - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Bob_Azar - February 13 - 4:06 am

  Everyone things it cute but its boring to drive.

• 

  Love My Smart (Mini-Benz) - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Lysie - January 27 - 8:53 pm

  Month and 7k miles, I love this car, it is my favorite. The car is easy to maneuver, great to park. I like driving it in manual mode, where I can control the shifting and make it smoother. It is good on auto but I prefer the manual specially since there is no clutch. The transmission does adapt to your driving style, specially during the break in period.

• 

  My Favorite Car Ever!!! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By kc - January 16 - 12:13 am

  This car is a blast to drive! I feel like Im in a sports car. Im 59 and fit in with no trouble, as it is so roomy. I love the thumbs up, gawking, crowds I draw, and the oohs, and aahs. Ive even had people pull in my driveway to have a look. The shifting takes a little getting used to but what fun!! Ever since I saw these cars in Europe Ive wanted one. Best of all it is so easy to find a parking space!

• 

  Lovin it - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By smart guy - January 10 - 6:10 am

  This is the most pleasing car I have ever owned. I am 63" and the smart may be small outside, but is big inside. It is very comfortable and easy to enter and exit because of the large doors and high seating position. Drive a car with manual transmission before driving the smart, and then you will appreciate the auto-shifting transmission. The performance is excellent considering the great fuel economy. I drive mostly at 60 to 70 mph and average over 40 mpg. Mileage improves and the transmission shifts smoother after the car is broken in. The car could get better mileage if it didnt have all the comfort features and was lower profile. This car is definitely worth waiting for. Its a blast.