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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  Best Car I have ever owned! - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Dave - September 11 - 11:56 am

  I bought the Smart Car fortwo a year ago. I love it. Easy on gas and drives great. I wished I would have got AC added. Other than that, its a great little car!

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  The Car People Love To Wave To!!! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By j m shanus - June 27 - 4:16 am

  Got the car three weeks ago, and its been nothing but great fun. It is a little odd handling, the transmission is something you have to get used to! I really feel a true 5 speed manual would have been better. Also note that the tire pressure is 29 PSI in the front tires and that the rear tires are 36 PSI. They were all set at 36 PSI and the handling on the highway was poor tracking and that loose front end. Gas mpg has been 37-40 on and off state highways, interstate. Also city driving, stop and go. Car has only 650 miles and not broken in. The model is the passion coupe in yellow black tridon/black interior, extra gauges, fog lights.

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  Fabulous Car Unbeatably Economical - 2015 Smart fortwo
  By danawanapskana - April 28 - 3:55 am

  I took this thing from Schenectady area New York all the way to the coast of Oregon in about 12 days. I took my time on the country roads for long winding miles with hours sometimes between gas stations. It got stares, comments, questions, smiles and even some curious gawking from cute girls and a driver of a brand new Ferrari. It was awesome to drive across country, even up and around the steep Rockies with no barriers from 5000 foot drops and now I find its even more fun to drive around where Im living- to the gym or to shop, to get into the bigger city by Interstate and the State highways. Its absolutely wonderful to take through a pretty town with country driving in mind. Marvelous

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  Better than expected - would buy a Smart again. - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By R.B. - March 23 - 3:11 am

  The good: • A breeze to park. I actually LOVE when its time to find a parking space, since it can fit in leftover 1/2 spaces where other cars cant fit. If I ever switch to a full sized car, this is the #1 thing I will miss. • Great gas mileage. Driving around town and running errands, I can usually go 2+ weeks on a tank. • Gas fill-ups are quick and CHEAP. • Can go longer between oil changes. Manual advises to use synthetic and go up to a year between changes. • Great acceleration from complete stop. • Surprisingly good handling in snow. Its rear wheel drive and the engine is in the rear, so that is good for traction in the snow. There have been a few occasions where Ive driven to work in several inches of snow. Ive never been stuck (knock on wood) or felt like my Smart was out of control. • The car doesn’t use much electricity. Ive left the headlights and dome lights on overnight and it has always started. • No one volunteers me to be a taxi, or to use my vehicle to help them move. The not so swell: • There is a perception of Smart cars not being real safe for regular freeway commutes. It doesnt feel unsafe when I drive on freeways. It just doesnt give me the confidence and safe feeling I might have in a larger vehicle. • It doesnt recover its speed once youre slowed down on steep uphill roads. Once you slow down on a hill, that is as fast as youre going. • On uninterrupted driving over say, 60 miles, the engine gives off a slight burning smell. I dont know if mine has an issue or this is normal. It doesn’t seem to be a problem, but I try to avoid taking it on long trips often. • It could use a wall between the rear cargo area and seat backs. Unsecured items slide forward and fall under the seats. • No spare tire/donut. The upside is that the tires are so small that I just carry a high psi hand pump (looks like a bicycle pump) in the cargo, which is sufficient to put enough air in the tire to drive it to a repair place. • Its skinny-ness is great for parking, but when I take it through the automatic wash, only the driver side tires get washed. The tire wash on the passenger side misses the tires. • National service franchises dont work with Smarts enough. There is usually confusion over where the engine is, and how to get to it. This resulted in one of them breaking the thumb lever off the rear cargo hatch. • Not a huge selection of tires for this car. I found 2 brands, and only limited tire stores carry them.

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  Excellent & SuperSafe! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By jy - March 19 - 9:06 pm

  We researched the smart car for the past 2 years. Bought a used one last Saturday. Initial impressions are excellent! People complaining about the tranny dont know how to drive a manual! Car has plenty of pep. Handles very well. Overall build quality is excellent. Why the disconnect between so many actual owners loving this car and the mostly poor reviews by "professional" reviewers? Cant figure that out. This car is the safest small car on the road!

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  25 dollars fills the tank - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By walt - March 10 - 10:06 am

  I rented one in Germany back in 96 and both my wife and I enjoy driving the car. We recently picked one up the Cabrios and are very happy with the car.

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  Love my smart - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Denise - February 15 - 6:13 pm

  The smart fortwo is the most unique car Ive ever owned. Its not for everybody but I love mine. I couldnt wait to get one and enjoy every moment behind the wheel. Even just looking at it sitting in my driveway makes me smile. I didnt buy it for the fuel economy but I average 42mpg combined city/highway.

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  The 2015 Smart is the best compact on the planet !! - 2015 Smart fortwo
  By sillyemail1982 - January 31 - 10:19 pm

  This little car has the heart of a lion the turning radius of a peanut and the fit and finish of the big brother, Mercedes Benz. We have owned 4 & brought home # 4 last night. For the size of the car youd never know you were in something that small. Acceleration is excellent, parking is a breeze, gas mileage is outstanding, heated leather seats are so nice. This car is a blast to drive. Young or old this IS the car for everyone. Mercedes quality all the way. NO road noise if its at the dealership ? Its for a car wash. You can depend on this car for years and years. We own a Pure commuter for my husband and I own a Brabus. Both are 2015s. We LOVE these little cars.

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  Best car I ever had. - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By DAVID WAYNE - January 26 - 5:36 am

  You will not believe how this car gets better as you drive it. I now have 3,500 miles and it drives better, faster and gas is 47.5 per gallon in town and no problems with anything. Very comfortable on the road and roomy inside. Gear shifting in manual is flawless. I love this car!

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  my smart - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Ralph - January 3 - 3:10 am

  I just love this car. It is fun to drive and everybody loves it.