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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  My Red Smart Car - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By smartcar2 - July 10 - 10:43 am

  Every place we go every one wants to know all about the Smart car. While i was at Disney World security was called to say that a golf car was on the road.When security came to me they said we were the talk of Disney World. My passion for two runs very good and i take Fl Turnpike, I 75 and have no complaints.

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  Never a better car - 2010 Smart fortwo
  By padi176715 - June 20 - 3:35 pm

  This car is nothing but amazing. Every aspect of this car is wondeful. All you have to do is accept the car for what it is. Do not compare to a $50k car. It is a very inexpensive, low cost to maintain, low cost to operate 2 seater. It is just wonderful and a great fun car to drive. I have over 30k miles and no problems.

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  Ex TDI Volkswagen owner - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By MarkyMarkVW - June 16 - 5:16 pm

  I bought this SmartCar on a whim. Ive ALWAYS driven Volkswagens..from GLI VR6s to TDIs to Vanagons. Id NEVER--read NEVER own a VW Again. the cars are ok but the repairs are pricey. I bought this SmartCar as a toy. Its turned into a great car. It will run 80 flat out, get 40mpg, park on the sidewalk and fits on my patio. I love it. Transmission is funky but gets the job done. I DRIVE BIG RIGS...I know size. This car is built. I feel safer in this car than my Freightliner. Im buying a new one next year. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.

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  I LOVE MY LIL TIC TAC - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By WITH A PASSION - June 11 - 7:00 pm

  Got my car in April, 2008. The craziness of being chased down by tow truck drivers and 20 people standing around my car in the grocery store parking lot has gone away. But still have the occasional "how do you like your little car?" at the gas pump. Happy to say, almost a year later and I am still in love with my eco- friendly, economical import. In town, I get 33-42mpg depending on how Im driving but even when gas was $4.00 a gallon, never spent a whole $20 to fill up. Big inside, very SMART outside.

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  so far, so good! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By dp - May 29 - 2:50 am

  Smart passion coupe delivered 1 week ago. so far, my impressions are extremely favorable. have driven @ 400 miles in 5 days. good handling at highway speeds (70-75 mph). decent handling on hills and in high winds.

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  Worth the wait! - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By murphysullivan - May 25 - 12:43 pm

  We had to wait a very long year after placing our reservation for our smart - her name is Daphne. The only way you know youre driving a tiny car is when you get ready to park it. It has wonderful pep; great head-turning quotient - makes everybody smile; and is such fun to drive. We got caught in a heavy snow squall about a week ago and in no time we were driving in a couple of inches of snow (no snow tires) on curvy, hilly country roads. The car performed beautifully. We have ordered the aftermarket exhaust system and are considering replacing the red body panels with yellow ones. Guess we could sell the red ones on eBay.

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  love the little car - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By wesley - May 24 - 8:10 am

  Its fun to drive and bring smiles where ever I go, can park it in many places nobody else can, Im averaging 40 mile to gallon but as high as 45 when I drive slower--Ive had no problem with it on x-way and driven it as fast as 85 hour without any problems passing trucks or being passed, Im big guy 6,2 250 and quite comfortable in it even wearing my cowboy hat most of the time to--if I had to do it all over Id still buy it-- it even saved me on my insurance, its not for everyone but it sure fit my needs make great runabout, Im very pleased with it over all

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  learn how to shift - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By chip brady - May 16 - 2:50 am

  I continue to read reviews with people complaining about the transmission! My wife and I each have a fortwo. Last month we drove it 2700 miles from seattle to Spearfish SD.It was terrific in the mountains.The paddle shifters work like a dream. We left our Cadillac at home and drove the smart car. If people will take the time to learn to shift the car it is the best transmission on the road today. We have been in the auto parts business for over 40 years and have had many different vehicles, but these are amazing. I have 15,000 miles on mine and it runs just like the day I bought it! The roominess inside continues to surprise people. More headroom than my cadillac.

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  Lover My Smart42 - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By ron - April 24 - 7:36 am

  Love the car and the way it handles in city and highway driving. Its fun and economical. The transmission takes a couple of drives to get use to how it shifts and the feel of the pedal, but once you drive it a little, it responds just fine.

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  As an Owner from Florida. - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Louis G. Myers - March 30 - 7:53 pm

  Very good on the highway. I like the room inside, the steering, the visibilty, and the exterior and interior color. Here are some things that wood help you in the 09s. I had my grandson drive, he is 6ft 5. now thats OK but he wears a size 15 shoe. He had a hard time with his left foot, it was a little too tight on the left side where the foot goes.We do feel a bump or pot hole which is understandable.