Overview & Reviews

Usually, Italian exotic sports cars are best at getting other motorists' attention when driving down the road. But the diminutive "Smart car," as many people refer to it, turns just as many heads. But in this case, a Smart is about fuel economy and efficiency, not performance.

Smart began in 1993 as a joint venture between Daimler-Benz and Swiss watchmaker Swatch, creating a company known as Micro Compact Car AG headquartered in Biel, Switzerland. (It would later move to Germany and be known simply as Smart.) Its "city cars" would feature the build quality and engineering expertise of Mercedes-Benz, while Swatch would contribute its funky design philosophy. The resulting two-passenger Smart City-Coupe was designed for a European urban environment, with a specific emphasis placed on fuel economy and parking ease. The City-Coupe could theoretically be able to park perpendicular in a parallel-parking spot. (The wheelbase is the width of most other cars, after all.)

Because it was such a tiny car, Smart created the "tridion" safety cell (the silver or black portion of the body) to assure the City-Coupe could withstand impacts from exponentially bigger vehicles. Made from three layers of steel reinforced at strategic points, the cell was designed to absorb and redistribute crash energy away from the vehicle's occupants. Side impacts are shielded by steel door beams and reinforced axles.

Daimler-Benz bought Swatch out shortly after the City-Coupe's introduction just as the Smart started to generate hype around the world for its revolutionary take on personal transportation. Initial sales began in nine continental European countries in 1998, and the car proved popular with consumers.

This success led to an eventual expansion of the Smart car brand with the introduction of additional Smart models, including the Roadster and Roadster-Coupe in 2003 and the Forfour sedan in 2004. Reaction to these model lines was lukewarm at best, however, as consumers found them to be overpriced. This failure led to a dramatic downturn in Smart's fortunes, eventually putting it on DaimlerChrysler's chopping block before CEO Dieter Zetsche saved it with a new business model built exclusively around the City-Coupe, which had been renamed Fortwo.

More than 770,000 units and 36 countries later, the second-generation Fortwo debuted in 2006. With only a slight size increase, the general look of the iconic city car remained, but the interior and often-criticized automanual transmission received significant changes and safety was improved. The biggest news, however, was that Smart would be expanding into the United States, where rising gas prices had shifted the market toward smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. While there is no mainstream vehicle that embodies those two criteria better than the Fortwo, only time will tell if Americans who once laughed at Smart will embrace it the way Europeans and others around the world have.

User Reviews:

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  The Corvette of economy cars - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By robert stout - January 19 - 6:46 am

  Old people have discovered this car, so it is not sold to youngsters only...People ask me if it gets 60 miles per gallon, and I respond it gets the best gas mileage of any non-hybrid sold in America...You can do a u-turn on a narrow 2 lane street,but dont try going fast over speed bumps...The Passion is loaded with standard equipment, including panorama roof,paddle shifters,auto air,electric windows/locks,and ABS/ stability control... The Smart is Amazingly roomy for two...It has enough space in back for a weeks groceries...It has style,which is lacking in other economy cars... It is a Mercedes on a beer budget...Resale value will likely challenge Corvette and most Japanese imports...

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  Its ok - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Rater - January 6 - 7:46 am

  It drives like a jeep (hard and stiff) and is slow to accelerate. The brake pedal is uncomfortable. I use it to go to work where parking is an issue. This is the only reason I bought the car. In this respect its great. I now compete with motorcycles. But in all other respects it is disappointing. Transmission is slow to shift, a/c not cold enough. Would I buy it again? Yes. Because of the parking issue I have no choice. If I didnt have to go to work and park I would not buy this car.

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  Just bought a new smart - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By smartitis - December 13 - 6:46 pm

  Just picked up my new smart car (passion) yesterday and drove it 300 miles home. How fun! It is the first smart in our little hometown. It handled well and I got 40 mpg. So far so good. It will be a car that I will use for getting back and forth to work. I own a 430S Mercedes, but the smart will be my "run around town car"

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  SMART and SAFE - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Jack - December 13 - 1:10 am

  Theres a conspiracy by some to paint the SMART as unsafe. Ive even seen a photo of a small car squashed between two semis that was falsely identified to be a SMART car. SMART cars have only 3 lug-nuts. The squashed car had FIVE lug nuts! Moron! My only complaint about my 2008 Passion SMART is the whack-a-doodle electronic interlocking systems. SMART designers please take note: Every component that makes an interlock circuit longer also makes it more prone to failure or malfunction. Just today, I couldnt get the rear window to unlock with the remote, which gave a double-beep when I pressed the appropriate button and then re-locked. Back window/tailgate had to be unlocked manually.

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  If it fits, wear it instead of a Fit. - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By scottl - November 27 - 3:00 pm

  This is definitely a unique car. It is sure to trigger love and hate among the owners. The good: great interior for such a small car. Great visibility. Mileage is better than epa if you drive it properly. Features galore, like clear roof, paddle shifters, fold flat passenger seat, storage in tailgate, heated cloth seats, heated mirrors, climate control. The bad: suspension needs more travel and needs to be stiffer. Too much roll. Too many thuds when bumps are hit. Automatic/manual trans is both the best and worst feature. I would prefer a straight manual. No spare tire. Premium radio is only so-so.

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  smart i am - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By smart i am - November 7 - 10:56 pm

  This car has proven to be much more than I expected. I have a fully loaded model and everything works great. The trick to driving is letting off of the gas so the car can change gears. Let off and it will shift automatically and very smoothly.

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  First 2000 miles - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Marty - November 7 - 5:06 pm

  I was averaging 38-40 MPG around town, the last 2 fill-ups were 42.9 & 45.6 MPG. Fun to drive, draws lots of questions. Transmission is electronically shifted 5 speed manual (no clutch pedal). It takes a few days to learn when to let it shift automatically or when to use the paddles to shift it yourself. I am totally satisfied and have recommended the car to all that ask.

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  First Impressions - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Dave S - October 27 - 2:43 pm

  After waiting almost 12 months (current wait 18 mos.), we picked up our smart ForTwo Passion coupe a couple days ago. With gas prices of $3.55 per gallon here it couldnt have come in at a better time. So far were very happy with it. Its everything we expected and more. First impressions: - Surprisingly roomy. Very comfortable. Great seats. Id drive it on a 500 mile trip. - Somewhat choppy ride due to the short wheelbase, but not too choppy. - Stable and sure-footed, even at 75 alongside 18 wheelers, but you can tell that it weights 1800 lbs. - Transmission and shifting is "different" and requires some getting used to and some new skills but its fun

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  love to be SMART - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By SMART JL - October 23 - 12:13 pm

  Ordered the car in early April 07. Was worth the wait! My car cost about 15,050 with shipping. Ive only driven 500 miles, MPG = 38-41. Parked at an NHRA race in Madison Il. and must have had 100 people ask questions and give the thumbs up-even several Illinois State troopers. The car is what it is and I love it! The shifting is hard to get use to but with a little practice it is a blast. Steering is also tricky because of the short wheelbase

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  Smarts are just smart - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By smartgriz - October 6 - 12:30 pm

  I received my Smart Cabriolet after a 12 mo. wait. It is worth every minute of the wait. Fun, fuel efficient and cute as a lady bug. The convertible feature is cool in that the top can be taken down or put up while driving at any speed. The stereo is great for such a small car. I put myself and a buddy, (both 200# plus) and accelerated 0 to 60 in two blocks, not bad for a care that gets 40 mpg in town and 50 hwy. If you have a chance to drive one, I recommend it and if you can buy one, do it. They are getting harder and harder to find.