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 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.

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  Unbelievable - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By JudyK - December 25 - 10:33 pm

  I absolutely love my Smart Car. It is great on the highway; great in town and the fuel efficiency is unbelievable. Getting in and out is simple for me and for my passengers and I couldnt be more pleased with the overall performance. The dealership has been wonderful and have responded with a knowledgeable answer to EVERY question - even after the sale. Get one - you will absolutely LOVE it!

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  Smart - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Ativan - November 17 - 1:20 pm

  It is time to reduce Americas carbon footprint. This is the first import I have purchased. Unfortunately, the domestic companies do not get how to make small cars. The smart is fun to drive. Surprisingly peppy. Extremely easy to park. They have made use of all of the very limited space available. When inside, you feel like you are in a much larger car. The fit and finish is spetacular for a car that is only price in the teens. I am 62" and have plenty of room.

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  Fantastic! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By 1SMART - November 17 - 7:00 am

  I am very pleased with all aspects of this car. Its roomy, has great power and is a blast to drive. Very well put together, I love it and would recommend it.

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  Lies and and verbal promises - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By michael - October 29 - 10:00 am

  We were one of the first people (71/72nd) in Florida to buy this car 28 months ago. We bought the convertible with all the extras 24k total from the start we started having mechanical problems. We also bought an extended warranty $1400. Time after time the car was having to be towed and it wasnt just one thing. It was the shifter twice the engine twice the a/c and it goes on and on. The car is now broke and sitting in our yard with 30k miles. The warranty doesnt cover transporting the car after 24k. This was after a sales person assured us the if anything go wrong including the tires for 70k miles it will be towed and fixed at no cost.

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  Smart buy with low C02 - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Noel Anthony OReill - October 22 - 9:36 am

  Great little car about town, no big deal on long journeys either. Real head turner. Superb economy with a mix of urban and open road driving. Lots of space for all the shopping. So much fun and easy to park its an amazing little car. On the negative side - a little racy with the price

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  Good things come in small packages! - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Mona - September 30 - 3:53 am

  Anaylze the situation: 3 cylinders, 5ft. x 8ft., 2 seats...O.K...now continue: This is the best thing since the telephone!!! The reviews that say no power, or no room, or whatever...GO buy a GAS burning, giant SUV and SHUT UP! This little cutie-pie is great for what you get! I have power steering, leather heated seats, remote keyless entry, alarm, etc. Some of the bigger/money cars dont come with that. Sold by Mercedes Benz, how civilized is that. I drive a Harley Road Glide, as well, and both are a blast! How dare those people to complain! The turning radius and parking ablity cannot be touched by GAS gusslers! Oh, and for the size, it is the safest by far!!

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  Not What I Was Expecting - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By bikerchick3 - September 1 - 6:56 pm

  Rides horribly. Faulty transmission has left me stranded a couple of times and the dealership wont do anything about it. original battery was "bad" and left me stranded, but they replaced it. Gas mileage in the city is only ~25 mpg., much less than I was expecting.

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  better than you think it would be - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By dwr - September 1 - 5:56 pm

  This car is amazing, my fuel cost is average $13.00 every two weeks and the maintenance is so minimal I keep thinking I am missing an oil change. Once a year service and oil change, quality construction and materials and a convertible with heated seats is a huge plus.