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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  More attention than a cute puppy - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Craig - December 7 - 3:40 am

  This car is great. I just bought it and the transmission must be shifted by hand. In the automatic mode feels sluggish. But I never have bought an automatic in my life. I have ridden a motorcycle my for most of my life and driven everything including tractor trailers. The entire roll cage cabin makes you feel safer than a NASCAR. When gas hits 5 bucks a gallon (and it will) the salesmen will have to hold buyers off with a whip and a chair. Forget those stupid electric cars for now. They are 10 years away. We plan a country wide, east of the Mississippi trip this summer. I will write a Smart car blog...warts and all.:>)

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  Fantastic Car - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Sobe - December 4 - 1:03 pm

  I wish I had owned this car years ago, but being in the US I had to wait. I fell in love with it since I first saw it in Milano, Italy. I now own this car and I adore it.

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  BB! - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By leeleeph - November 28 - 5:01 am

  I just got this car a few days ago & it was used, with 20,000 miles on it already.It still looks brand new though and works like a charm! I have heated seats with black leather interior and my smart car is yellow with black panels.I absolutely love it! I couldnt think of any other car to satisfy my every need on the road.I have yet to drive it on the highway, but im sure that day will come sometime soon! I recommend this car to EVERYONE.Unless driving small, cool, and fun just isnt your style.This car is for someone who isnt much of a business person.But It is overall and amazing car.Im glad i purchased it.

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  Get Your Info From OWNERS - NOT Writers - 2013 Smart fortwo
  By penndriver - November 20 - 2:05 am

  It exceeds every measure of what anyone should reasonably expect! During my 55 years of driving I have owned quite a few of those "highly recommended" status symbols. In quality and reliability my smart car is equal to or exceeds every one of them! The writers REALLY blew it on the smart car. Do you believe a magazine writer knows more than the engineers at Mercedes? Rate the car for its intended purpose! Dont get out of your manufacturer provided 455hp sport car and say the smart car lacks acceleration! My advice, if you truly want to know about any car, talk to an owner. Forget the writers getting paid by the manufactures to write about their "phenomenal new engineering creation."

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  Driving a Smart Car - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Herb - November 17 - 12:43 am

  The somewhat leisurely acceleration is expected and can be circumvented by flogging the engine in manual mode using the paddle shifters. Initial fuel economy was disappointing, but rapidly improved after putting "Sea-Foam" fuel system cleaner in the tank. Am now getting 38.5 mpg in city driving. The local Smart dealership was very friendly and reprogrammed the transmission to largely eliminate the 1-2 shift lag in my 2008 as part of a no-charge update to 2009 standards. This made a huge improvement in driveability! Highway stability in cross-winds is somewhat squirrely, but I had no trouble keeping it in the lane even when x-winds topped 35 mph on a fast causeway.

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  See for yourself! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By mipod - November 1 - 10:50 am

  Driving is a fun pleasure.Inside is roomy and one sits higher than most mid-sized cars. Engine has a bit of a lag if you drive other cars as well,but you adjust quickly. Going on six months now and I look forward to driving it more and more.

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  USA-Get smart - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Tom M - October 12 - 11:00 pm

  It is about time the USA received the smart. Here are some things you should know though-the ride is bouncy at times and firm, the fuel economy isnt as good as you think, in most places you cant park it nose-in into spaces,& the acceleration isnt good. But there are alot of positives- driving it is as fun as driving a gokart, it is spacious on the inside, it feels fine at 70mph on the freeway,& the you feel that the whole world is looking at you. Everywhere I go, I get asked questions like "Is it safe?", or "Is that streetlegal?" but you get used to the attention. It is an eyecatcher and welcomed in the city, in the country, and it feels right everywhere.

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  My Smart Convertible - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By enrique45 - September 28 - 4:00 pm

  I am a Truck Person but with the gas price nowadays I decided to try this little thing, it is the best decision I ever made it is a very nice looking car, reliable, sporty I like it very much,

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  40,000 miles and still no problems - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Rome Addict - July 24 - 12:43 am

  Ill admit it. I have loved these cars since I first saw them in Italy in 1998. When they FINALLY came to the USA Id been on a waiting list for 18 months. My actual mileage experience with crappy "boutique" Phoenix gas is 45 - 48 mpg highway, 41 combined and 35 city. I dont know where Edmunds gets its 37 mpg? I beat the crap out of this car and it performs like a trooper. Drove it cross country, drive it 75 miles per day city/highway. I am personally gunning for 250,000 miles before I sell it. Would not recommend the sun roof for AZ. Downgraded comfort to 9 because AC cant keep up in AZ. Anyplace else would probably be fine.

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  fatter tires - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By william - July 21 - 11:23 pm

  love the car, mostly,except the jerking transmission, and the ROUGH ride. I think it need fatter tires to soften the ride over rough areas, like rail road crossings, and pot holes, etc. A speed control would be nice, too. Now take a look at the sun visors, too small & try turning them to the left, hmm, room inside is great,style is great, & I would love it more if the ride were smoother. I like the attention. Get one.