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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  This car is fun to drive - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Bill Turpin - January 15 - 7:03 am

  My smart for two was a demo car and had 3500 miles on it when I purchased it. I now have 6500 miles on it. The car is a blast to drive, I like to get on the interstate highway and pass cars and trucks going 75 miles per hour, they look like they cannot believe this smart car can go that fast and have the power that it does. What is neat is the car will go over 80 miles per hour in 4th gear, ha. I would like Cruise control on the car and arm rests on the seats. And I will probably have Cruise control installed. So far, I love the smart car and am thinking about purchasing another one for my wife. People are very inquisitave about this car and like it, but dont like the 1 year wait.

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  smarter than you might think - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Alan Griff - January 1 - 6:30 am

  Unlike shopping for other vehicles, in choosing a smart, you decide on what you dont need. Do you need to chauffeur people? Do you need to buy fuel frequently? Do you need to spend time looking for a parking spot? Do you need zippy acceleration? Do you need trunk space that will hold more than a suitcase or two? If you answered, "No," to one or more questions, then the smart deserves consideration. Yes, the ride can be poor to fair, but the very comfortable seats make up for a lot. Yes, the transmission doesnt shift that smoothly, but it can be described kindly as "easy going." Its okay in the city, and on the highway, once youre up to speed, does it really matter? I love it.

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  the Helmet - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By kdb - December 16 - 5:10 pm

  We adapted an orphan and love it, we call it the helmet because we think it looks like a football helmet and we feel safe in it so it protects us like a helmet. My husband and I are neither one small people and we feel very comfortable in the car. The only thing that is sometimes uncomfortable is that people always stare. I feel like I am speeding all the time.

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  Cool Car - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By intake172 - November 1 - 6:40 am

  After Test Driving I fell in Love with the car Never have I been so Excited about a car. Love the gas mileage. Making U-turns are a breeze even in a narrow street. Not bad at Highway speeds. If Blindfolded i would never know i was in a small car. I love the way it handles only because i like to feel the road i am on. You definitely have to be a friendly person to own one of the great cars. The best idea to ever hit the US in my eyes

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  Great Car - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Bill T - October 2 - 7:16 pm

  I have more fun in this car then in any I have owned. Its responsive, comfortable and a joy. It is amazing to me how something that is so small can feel so big when youre in it. The transmission takes a bit to get used to, but as soon as you do, it works great. If youre looking for a race car, this aint it, but if you want something to get you where youre going with a smile Id say you dont have to look further. :-)

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  Its just smart....... - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By autooracle - September 19 - 6:30 am

  Fantastic turning radius, great handling ability. The rain sensor works perfect, the heated seats roast you like there is no tomorrow. They should have focused eking a bit more fuel economy out of it. I am getting an average of 42.

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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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  smart is smart not dumb - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By SB smart - August 16 - 10:13 am

  I wrote this review after reading Karl on Cars evaluation. He complained about the lack of a standard tach, no armrest, and the transmission. If you drive it in the city like youre supposed to, you wont need a tach if you leave it in auto mode. But the $120 I spent for one wasnt too bad. I dont miss the armrest because the Saabs I learned to drive on never had one. And after 2000 miles Ive learned to drive it without the transmission lurching. Once you get used to it, its an impressively fun car for around town and driving by yourself. Its got its faults, but I never drive it without a smile on my face. The naysayers just dont get it. Too bad.

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  Great city cAr - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Chelsey - July 23 - 8:05 am

  Great city car

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  smart fortwo - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By BumbleBee - July 2 - 7:06 pm

  It is a very well designed car with some quirks. The herky-jerky transmission goes away after you get used to what it wants to do versus what you want it to do and understand how to take control. There have been some teething problems as can be expected with a totally newly designed car. That does not take away from the fun of driving it and the savings in gasoline that goes along with it.