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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  Excelent Vehicle - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Chaka - February 27 - 2:00 pm

  Its the right car for me and my spouse to get around town and on the highway.

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  You cant be serious - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By allan - February 24 - 9:40 am

  Transmission is a disaster and you have to be nuts to take the car on the highway. Its cute, but for its size you ought get better mileage. Car is a disappointment and am getting rid of it. People like its looks, which is basically all it has, so its easy to resell.

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  I love this car! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By maxelle - February 12 - 2:16 am

  I got my car 2 weeks ago and have loved every minute of it. Ive wanted a Smart for over a year and was so excited to finally get one. It is a lot of fun to drive around town. I am 6 and have plenty of room. The interior is beautiful. I feel like Im in a $60,000 car. Mine is fully loaded and everything appears to be made with quality products. I highly recommend this car if you have the patience to wait for it.

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  2008 Smart hatch - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By smartguy1 - January 18 - 10:30 am

  My wife and I purchased our smart in 2008, paid way to much. The original dealer dropped it,(like no one knew that was coming) and then went to Mercedes. Other then being treated like a red headed step child by the dealer, probably because this thing is so cheap the car is not bad. It took me a while to get the hang of the herky jerky response, and the A/C stop when you really stomp on the accelerator, which other cars I have had did, so no big deal. I now have 25K miles on it and drive it like you beat a rented mule. No real problems to speak of. I use Royal Purple in it and find that seems to work best for oil. I run with the big dogs on the highway and like it a lot.

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  Weekend transportation - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By cablvr - January 1 - 7:23 am

  It has been almost 2 weeks since I picked up the beast. Got about 42 MPG on the 1st tank, while showing a drop for the 2nd tank. Semi-auto tranny is somewhat abrupt. Engine is a bit noisy. Great highway stability at 50-65 MPH - did not feel any drift. Lots of questions about the make (manufacturer) from curiosity seekers. Wish I had handfuls of brochures to use as promotional tools.

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  The name says it all...... - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By autooracle - December 18 - 2:13 pm

  Great car. For the price point with regards to the safety features options etc. It is by far an excellent buy. I also love the fact that there isnt a socioeconomic boundary with buyers.

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  Wrecked passion - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By happy owner - December 16 - 12:10 am

  I have my passion for 5 weeks now. Two weeks ago while pulling through a green light we were hit in the left front (front end is gone) at approx 50 miles per hour. The car did what it was designed to do. We both walked away with a few bruises. Nothing serious. Damage is over 7,000.00. The police thought there were going to be serious injuries. Well built car.

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  Yes it is - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By mr. smart - December 6 - 12:43 pm

  The smart fortwo does everything I need it to. I am enjoying the excellent fuel economy and fun to drive factor.

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  Smart Right - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Kelly1st - December 4 - 1:43 pm

  The car was exactly as we had ordered, and the Sales Staff was terrific! They did not pressure us in any way shape or for, and were extremely knowledgeable regarding the car of its capabilities, and operation. We could not be more pleased with our Smart Car. It has performed as it was advertised and we are even more pleased with the Mileage per Gallon at 42 to 45 MPG. It drives like any other small car, and is a dream to drive. One would not know how small it is when sitting in it as it has plenty of room. The only time you are aware of its size is when you are not in it! Again

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  Two Months with the Passion ForTwo - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Robert C Shelton Jr - December 3 - 10:20 pm

  I first drove a SMART a few years ago from Vienna to Prague. I loved it, and it was much less powered and of less quality construction that my new 2008 model of 2 months and 2000 miles. Its a great little car for convenience, handling, economy and appearance. Just watch out out for potholes and speed bumps, and remember that it is a small, basically low powered car, that will still drive at 80 MPH if you want to - and maybe have to on the Interstates, where huge tractor-trailers often enjoy driving 5-10 feet behind you at that speed. Where are the cops when you need them?