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:

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  Little red smart - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By jthomas119 - January 18 - 11:26 pm

  I first saw a smart car in Rome were they were everywhere and immediately decided that when they/if they came to US, I would buy one. I am retired and only need a car for errands and short drives within a smallish town (Santa Cruz, CA). This is the perfect size for me, easy to park, fun to drive, good visibility, safe if anyone runs into me, and the heated leather seats are a bonus. Once I got used to the transmission, it is fine as long as you use manual mode and not auto. I have only had it for 2 weeks but I have not found any downsides to it yet.

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  ITS SMART TO BUY A SMART - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By larry Dempski - January 10 - 3:06 am

  Since taking delivery after a nearly one year wait, I find the SMART CAR was certianly worth the wait! Just gas milaege alone is money back in my pocket. The SMART CAR PASSION was my model choice and being 64" 240# was a concern, surprise, surprise! I had head and leg room to spare compared to a tight fix in my wifes Lexus RX. I figured the SMART to be my summer "toy". Since taking delivery we had a snow storm and horrible side streets, the SMART handled the snow quite well. Fuel economy is over the charts, I have yet to stop for my second fillup. Again the long wait was definitely worth it and encourage buyers to consider getting SMART!

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  One Happy Camper - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By realsmart1 - December 28 - 7:13 pm

  I thoroughly researched before purchase. Agonized between the Suzuki SX4, Toyota Prius & the smart. The smart won in the end because of its uniqueness, "star power," and somewhat because it is a Mercedes. I was concerned about its performance in the snow but felt reassured by a few other smart owners that it is effective getting around even in a blizzard with a foot of snow. Ill need to wait until winter to test its ability to climb grades in the snow. Im sure the SX4 would have excelled in the snow but according to consumer reports only avg. satisfaction was achieved by Suzuki owners, whereas smart owners overwhelmingly loved their smart as do I. The Prius is just too expensive.

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  What do you expect? - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Squuirt - November 27 - 6:03 am

  I have heard some complaints that the Smart is slow, or doesnt shift like an automatic. The purpose of the ForTwo and the same reason I bought it was economy, not speed. But it is NO slug! Wind it up and it will go great! 75mph on the freeway is comfortable. Every day I am more impressed with my Smart. Remember, the transmission is a manual that is automated. It shifts exactly how I would expect it to, not an automatic. It takes a little getting used to, but once you understand it, its fun! I am impressed with the ride for a 1800lb car! I am also 61" and have plenty of room! I like the simplicity offering comfort in terms of reliability and longevity. I purchased as a commuter, perfect!

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  Smart Passion - Better than expected - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By trcboyd - November 25 - 8:50 am

  I originally purchased the smart car to resell. After the first week, not only did I decide not to sell it, but Im gonna order a convertible for my wife. I have quick take offs & average driving speed is 75 mph. I get about 35 mpg in standard mode & 39 mpg in auto mode. The best I can obtain is 46.8 mpg. Im impressed with the interior room, performance & features. I dont always like the attention. People ride too close & as a result, Im afraid Im gonna get a ticket for >85 mph trying to get away. It handles well, is a blast to drive and is a huge surprise to everyone who sits inside. Im 60" & 200 Ibs with plenty of room to spare. I dont move seat all the way rearward. Love It!

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  What a SMART choice! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By BJH - October 18 - 4:46 am

  At first I was hesitant about buying such a small car, but I saw the crash test ratings online before buying the Smart, and I signed up to buy it. It gets great gas mileage, plus you can garantee that as soon as you pull out of your driveway, your car will get attention. It is fun to drive and it looks sporty.

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  Love it, love it, love it!! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Belva Hinthorn - October 12 - 6:56 am

  I was driving a 99 Porsche Boxster that I loved but was willing to trade for something different while it still had value. My husband convinced me to drive a Smart and I loved it. Now we negotiate about who will drive it the next day based on time and miles to travel. It is much more comfortable than a Boxster and as much fun. It doesnt have the power but still has plenty of zip and is so unique in that it just makes people smile and wave.

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  2008 Cabriolet - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Barbara Robinson - October 1 - 6:43 pm

  I love this car. Even though there is a jerky shift between 1st & 2nd gears, its not that bad. The gas mileage has been great (38-45 mph). Most of my driving is around town but I have traveled on the highway. The space inside is surprisingly roomy. My husband and I are both tall and I have to pull the seat forward. The convertible allows you to fold partially or totally down. I like that feature.

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  Smart to get a Smart - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By smartminixb - September 10 - 1:40 am

  I have my smart for over 4 months now and its nothing but a pleasure to drive. This car handles better than what I expected. It gets better gas mileage compared to my truck. Both interior and exterior styling is superb. Washing and waxing it takes less than hour. All in all I love this car. I will eventually get a second.

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  Great Little Car! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Smart Car Wins! - August 28 - 7:46 pm

  Took delivery 2/2008. Car is averaging 45 MPG. Can find no faults at all. Fun to drive, easy to park, good all around car.