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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  2008 Cabriolet - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Barbara Robinson - October 1 - 6:43 pm

  I love this car. Even though there is a jerky shift between 1st & 2nd gears, its not that bad. The gas mileage has been great (38-45 mph). Most of my driving is around town but I have traveled on the highway. The space inside is surprisingly roomy. My husband and I are both tall and I have to pull the seat forward. The convertible allows you to fold partially or totally down. I like that feature.

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  Smart to get a Smart - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By smartminixb - September 10 - 1:40 am

  I have my smart for over 4 months now and its nothing but a pleasure to drive. This car handles better than what I expected. It gets better gas mileage compared to my truck. Both interior and exterior styling is superb. Washing and waxing it takes less than hour. All in all I love this car. I will eventually get a second.

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  Like no other car! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Gabe - September 6 - 10:00 am

  Very enjoyable, and great response from other drivers and people. Lots of smart fans around! I really enjoyed it. I sold it for a VW Golf, that feels like a cruise ship in comparison! The transmission is AWFUL and needs getting used to. Slow and heaving when it shifts gears. Also, it had a bunch of repairs, recalls, bulletins under warranty, that were marvelously and fully and competently addressed by Smart Center Portland. Very safe and fun on the freeway.

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  Great Little Car! - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Smart Car Wins! - August 28 - 7:46 pm

  Took delivery 2/2008. Car is averaging 45 MPG. Can find no faults at all. Fun to drive, easy to park, good all around car.

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  A quick comment about photos - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Smartie - June 20 - 4:30 pm

  Love, love, love my car! I average about 38 mpg over my 30 mile round- trip commute, and Ive gotten 47 on the highway. I feel very safe (drove 80 mph this weekend). I have the upgraded stereo and it is great for me. I drive to work with a smile on my face every day.

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  Love my Smart Car - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Trace1979 - June 10 - 7:26 am

  I love my Smart Car. I have had mine for 3 months now and my husband just picked up his Smart Car 3 weeks ago. We love them !

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  Not for everyone, but perfect for some - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By franklambert - June 3 - 3:06 am

  The SMART is not the best car for some, but, if you understand what it offers, it may be the perfect car for you. It delivers great gas mileage, fits two tall people very comfortably, can be easily towed behind an RV and is a great around town car. Dont buy the smart if you are expecting the manual transmission it comes with to shift smoothly (it is not an automatic, but a manual that can be driven in automated mode). It shifts just fine if you drive it in manual mode. If you are a baby boomer with no kids at home, or someone looking for an around town car to go to work or run down to the grocery store, or even to commute a reasonable distance to work, this may be your car.

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  First smart delivered in Oklahoma - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By Okie Boy - May 28 - 5:13 am

  The smart is a fun car to drive, it is roomy inside, power is good, and the automated five speed manual transmission works well but takes a little time to adjust to. The fuel econmy in mixed driving is about 38 mpg. Every where we go people want to know about the smart.

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  smarty pants - 2008 Smart fortwo
  By HGB - May 19 - 12:43 pm

  Have waited for this car for many years and am delighted to finally own one. Ordering a car online prevented me from test driving it, yet I am enjoying it everytime I get into it. Still dont know if I needed power steering or not. So I got it with heated seats too. I strongly suggest not to save on some options as I did. Get the $895 package and factory alarm. Its the better option. Enjoy the cabriolet if your climate is favourable. Mileage is pretty good. Accept the fact that you need hi-test, yet its only 7-8 gallons per refill. Transmission is quirky, yet its still fun to drive. The clutch has a limited life apparently. I resent the fact that the extended warranty is so expensive!

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  Meets and surpasses all expectations - 2009 Smart fortwo
  By Markos - May 16 - 7:40 am

  This is not a sports sedan. It is a small, efficient urban two passenger transport that has a small footprint but a spacious interior. Being a Daimler product it has the safety and quality expected. Having a small Mitsubishi engine, it is no surprise the performance and reliability it has. Being a European design, it has character and head turning style. Over all this little car has fulfilled and surpassed every design objective and it is fun to drive around town. It is priced well for the market.