Smart #5 Reviews

The question is just how smart the latest derivative from the makers of Europe's favourite inner-city car is for Australia.When Mercedes-Benz, under whose umbrella the smart brand operates, bit the bullet and launched the original smart, the diminutive fortwo, into Australia last year there was a quiet confidence that its stand-alone looks and quirky functionality would find favour with a niche market.While sales haven't exactly been brisk, they have been running close to the 25 a month Mercedes predicted.Whether the forfour will add significantly to volume for smart is debatable.What is not in question is that the little car that grew is certainly more practical.The external styling is less eye-catching and in many way less attractive than either the fortwo or roadster.The stretching of the car to accommodate the 1.3- and 1.5-litre engines – a variation on the engines used in Mitsubishi's Colt – and rear seats changes the proportions significantly.The 15-inch alloys help keep the car from looking like a toy and also assist in ride quality. However, the longer wheelbase is the forfour's greatest friend.Gone is the choppy, dinky-car feel from the fortwo. Still present is the harshness over sharply broken surfaces.The forfour certainly feels significantly better planted on the road and for many potential buyers the more "usual" feel of the car will be confidence-inspiring.That confidence is well placed as the standard electronic stability program is enough to control all but the most gross excesses. For a light car – tipping the scales just under 1000kg – the all-round disc brakes with ABS, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution provides a sure and stable set of anchors.Inside the cabin the forfour is every bit as style-driven as its siblings.The colours are bright and fresh, the style engaging and the use of innovative materials – woven cloth on the dash – is refreshing.The seats are comfortable and supportive, – if a little narrow for larger passengers – but head room is good and rear space surprisingly so. The rear seats can be slid forward and backwards to accommodate additional leg room or extra boot space.There is airconditioning, a CD player and electric front windows as standard. The manual wing mirrors make adjustment difficult. Dynamically the forfour is the equal of the majority of cars in the light segment, although certainly not class-leading.The steering is direct, if a tad light, and the forfour follows input well. The 1.3-litre engine, as tested, is a willing unit which applies its limited 70kW output well.Torque through the mid-range is goodwith 125Nm on tap at and around 4000rpm. All good so far. Then we come to the six-speed automatic box – a $1035 option. Driven as a full automatic you can fall out of love with this thing within a kilometre.Every up-shift is accompanied by a distinct pause and jolt. Choose the sequential manual option and things do get better.The gears hold well towards redline and the shifts are far less intrusive. It can all become a little messy on the way down when a delayed shift could find the rather agressive override shifting a gear when you don't want it. With a five-speed manual as an option you'd need a compelling reason to spend extra on the auto.

What's even more amazing however is the price, because at a starting figure of $23,900 the ForFour is within cooee of main stream models.We stop short of calling the funky four-seater "ordinary", because the ForFour is anything but ordinary – but you can see what we are getting at here?The philosophy is simple – if you must drive an econobox, it doesn't have to be a boring one – not when you can have a Smart for around the same price.To wit the car is available in 30 different combinations of colour.Readers will no doubt be familiar with the funny little Smart ForTwo that has been getting around for 12 months.Designed for the narrow, congested streets of Europe's cities, the tiny two-seater works well in its element, but doesn't translate particularly well to the Australian environment – not when you can buy a Japanese hatch for less, that is not much bigger and seats four.The ForFour on the other hand is an entirely story, as we discovered this week.Before going on we should explain that Smart is part of the DaimlerChrysler#comcorrect empire which also owns Mercedes-Benz.Previously the company was a little coy about publicising the Benz connection but is happy to play it up this time.We should also explain that DaimlerChrysler owns Mitsubishi and that the Smart ForFour and recently released Mitsubishi Colt share many components.Mitsubishi was responsible for the vehicle underbody, exhaust and tank system, while Smart was took care of the electricals, front axle, crash management and lighting system.The two cars sit on a different chassis but about 40 per cent of components are shared, including a 1.5-litre engine – but with many differences.Two versions of the ForFour are available – a 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre model – equipped to sporty European Pulse specifications, but with some extras thrown in.We're still not sure that two models are really necessary, given Aussies' penchant for larger, more powerful engines, but both models have much to offer.While the Colt's 1.5-litre engine delivers 72kW of power and 132Nm of torque, ForFour's 1.5-litre cranks out 80kW and 145Nm.ForFour's 1.3-litre engine meanwhile is good for 70kW and 125Nm.Transmission is a choice of either five-speed manual or six-speed "soft touch" auto.We were able to sample both models at the Australian launch this week and can report the ForFour is an exciting and lively addition tot he range.The look and feel is sporty, with torquey engines that like to rev, a good power to weight ratio and tyres that hang on.Suspension travel is limited and the car jumps around a bit on bumpy roads, bottoming out from time to time.Inside rear legroom is good but is at the expense of luggage space.However the rear seat can be moved backwards or forwards 150mm for more room and tumbles and folds for carrying larger items.Weighing in at less than 1000kg, the ForFour is a light sipper too, with both engines returning around 6.0L/100km or better using premium unleaded.It will run on standard unleaded but with a decrease in power.Standard equipment includes 15-inch alloy wheels, airconditioning, CD player, electric windows for driver and front passenger, 3-spoke steering wheel with electric power steering, remote central locking including drive lock, immobiliser and anti-theft alarm system, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Hydraulic Brake Assist, anti-lock braking system (ABS) including electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), disc brakes at front and rear, tridion safety cell and side airbags in front.The Smart ForFour is available from selected Mercedes-Benz dealers.

Weighing in at under 1000kg, fine-tuned for a sporting drive and with individual style, the smart forfour is no average small car.And for a cute, five-door European machine, to be bought and serviced alongside the local Mercedes-Benz dealer, the $23,990 starting price is a fair deal.That money buys the 1.3-litre, five-speed manual version. The 1.5-litre machine starts at $25,990. The six-speed auto option costs $1035.The price here is leaner than in Europe, to give this "premium" light car a better chance in a hot market of compact Japanese and European rivals.Yet Australian targets are small with 300 forfours expected to be sold in the next 12 months. An expected 600 smarts – forfours, cabrios, coupes and roadsters will be sold in 2005; the two-door smart fortwo now starts at $19,990.There are a couple of questions over this fresh smart. The ride can be sharpish over small road lumps – like cat's eyes – and the "soft touch" automatic transmission can be occasionally be a tad hesitant on changes.But there is much to like, not the least its high-spirited engine, chassis balance and excellent fuel economy.This front-wheel drive smart forfour arrives with a raft of safety, comfort and convenience features.Standard gear for Australian cars includes 15-inch alloy wheels, airconditioning, CD player and electric front windows. Options include the six-speed automated gearbox, the choice of two sun-roofs, a six-stack CD player and a navigation system.Clever inside touches include the 21st century trim and style, fresh and natty dashboard and instruments, plus a rear seat which can be slid forward and back for extra rear luggage or back seat space.There are driver and passenger airbags, electronic stability program, ABS with brake force assist and disc brakes all around.Much of the electric and electronic systems are borrowed from its big brother, Mercedes-Benz.And some components, such as the rear axle, five-speed gearbox and petrol engines, are shared with Mitsubishi's new Colt, also built under the DaimlerChrysler umbrella.But the smart forfour sets its own agenda.The engines have higher compression ratios for more power over the Colt, there is a different chassis and there is that 'tridion' safety cell, highlighted by the choice of three different colours on this exposed body frame.Combine that with 10 different body colours and there are 30 combinations – from classic styles to bright and breezy combinations – to choose from.The forfour has a road presence that breaks the current mould for small cars.On the road there is good accommodation for four adults and maybe a slab of beer in the boot. Head and leg-room are good front and back, although taller occupants need to bend their head a little below the curved roof line.The alternative is to shift the back seat forward to accommodate two adults, two kids and a weekend's gear.The driving position is good. Sitting a little high, there is good visibility and the instruments, including trip computer, are all easily read.Both motors fire with enthusiasm and do not mind running hard to the 6000rpm redline.The "soft-touch", six-speed auto option works best with the floor-mounted stick shift. The optional paddles on the steering wheel column appear to take a little longer to find the next ratio.Wound up and running, the smart forfour is an entertaining drive.The turn-in to corners is positive, even if the electric steering can sometimes feel a touch soft on straight sections of road.There is little hint of under-steer, perhaps that arrives with higher velocities. The 1.3-litre is claimed to jump from 0 to 100km/h in 10.8 seconds and run to 180km/h; the 1.5-litre car takes 9.8 seconds to hit 100km/h and tops out at 190km/h.At all legal speeds, the 2500mm wheelbase smart is well-balanced, with decent grip all around from 15-inch rubber.Ride quality is good for a small, light car with limited suspension travel. Even the sharpness over small edges and bumps does not upset the car's balance or body, although it can be heard and felt on rougher patches.For the most part, the smart's suspension and balance are smooth, supple and encouraging. This may not be a Lotus Elise but the smart forfour has that type of exuberant road manner.And pushing along through town and over the hills in a 1.5-litre, six-speed auto smart forfour saw average fuel consumption just over seven litres per 100km.The 1.5-litre pushes out 80kW, the 1.3-litre engine has 70kW. Both are more than adequate with two adults aboard.And for an extra $2620, there is a sports suspension package with 16-inch wheels.The smart forfour is a somewhat rare, good-looking compact with style, substance and soul.

The baby-car world was dominated by a single star through the 1990s.The Hyundai Excel was the benchmark for every rival – on price, style and sales – until the death of the Korean king led to a fundamental shift in the noughties.Now the lightweight division is split down the middle and there are two separate contests: one powered by price, the other by class. In the price group are people buying their first new car, usually on a tight budget with less emphasis on features, and the class group wants a compact car for city work or as a second vehicle in the family garage.The bargain-basement contenders are battling in the sub-$15,000 range, just as they did when the Excel was the pacemaker, while the starting price for seriously good babies is close to $17,000 and can run to well beyond $20,000.Toyota changed the game last year when it decided to lob its baby Echo with a sub-$15,000 bottom line including power steering and airconditioning.Although the price has crept up to $14,790, it is still the sales leader. In the first quarter of this year Echo grabbed more than 20 per cent of light-car sales, reflecting the strength of the Toyota brand...despite the design being five years old.Hyundai is still playing the price game with the boxy little Getz. It's second to the Echo in the price fight and leading the Korean contenders against a line-up which includes a broad range of imports, including the Holden-badged but Opel-designed Barina.At the top end of the business, the Japanese really are on top. The classy Mazda2 and Honda Jazz set the standard for shoppers with plenty of cash to splash, even if Ford has arrived – far too late after the loss of its top-selling Korean-made Festiva – with a European Fiesta which is the light star of 2004.The $14,490 starting price for the Fiesta is going to create plenty of action in Ford showrooms, because the blue-oval baby is a good drive and well designed. But buyers will still have to add $2000 for airconditioning – a crippling extra in such a price-sensitive arena.But that's typical of the light-car class.There is always something new, always a price leader and a class champion, and they're all elbowing for space in a bargain basement that introduces many people to their first new car.This is how the Cars Guide team rates them:1. MAZDA2Lowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 82kW and priced from $17,490.Verdict: Another direct hit by MazdaPlus: Quality and comfortMinus: Pricey for the sizeRating: 18/20The baby Mazda is one of the stars of the Japanese company's product-driven comeback.Mazda battled through the 1990s with outdated and cost-down cars that were a poor reflection of the brand's traditional strengths, but when it got serious – with Ford funding – it cranked out the classy Mazda6, RX-8 and Mazda3.The smallest of the crop is the Mazda2, but it has the condensed strengths from the same design team and gene pool.That means it looks good, drives well and is built to class-leader quality.2. HONDA JAZZLowdown: Five-door hatch with 1.3-litre (61kW) or 1.5-litre (81kW) four-cylinder engine, priced from $15,990Verdict: Stylish and practical but harsh ridePlus: Good looks, versatile cabinMinus: Bouncy rideRating: 17/20The Jazz outsold the Mazda2 by 1280 in the first four months of 2004, and that comes down to price and funky looks.It's really a 21st-century Civic, as compact as the original and just as trendy for young buyers.Honda was smart to start with a 1.3-litre motor below $16,000, but doesn't scrimp on the cabin. It's comfortable for four and the seats fold to carry almost any load.People who want the best go straight to the punchy VTi-S with all the fruit for $22,490.3. FORD FIESTALowdown: Three-door and five-door hatch powered by a 74kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, from $14,490Verdict: Perky and enjoyablePlus: Goes well, roomy insideMinus: Cheap-ish plastics, finishRating: 16/20Ford went backwards with the Ka, which didn't have the space or automatic to compete, but it now has the right sales ingredients.The Fiesta is a star in Europe and way better than the long-dead Festiva, a Korean version of the previous Mazda 121.It drives well, has plenty of space and is good value, thanks partly to the strength of the Australian dollar.The Fiesta just edges the Toyota Echo and the Hyundai Getz out of the final medal spot in the light-car class.HYUNDAI GETZ 16/20Price: From $13,490Engines: 1.3-litre (60kW) and 1.5-litre (74kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door hatchNot an Excel, but still packed with Hyundai strengths.TOYOTA ECHO 16/20Price: From $14,740Engines: 1.3-litre (63kW) and 1.5-litre (80kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch and five-door sedan.Shows age inside, but Toyota has done well to keep the price sharp.HOLDEN BARINA 16/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.4-litre (66kW) and 1.8-litre (92kW)Body styles: Three-door and five-doorLooks good and drives well, with bonus deal adding appeal. CITROEN C3 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (57kW) and 1.6-litre (83kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchOne of the funkiest babies on sale in Australia. The engine is dozy and there are some quality niggles.RENAULT CLIO 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (72kW), 1.6-litre (79kW) and 2.0-litre (124kW)Body styles: sedan and hatchNot as trendy as the bigger Megane with the J.Lo rump, but still a solid effort from the French brand.VOLKSWAGEN POLO 14/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre (55kW)Body styles: hatchToo costly by far. The Polo is a nice car but smaller than many rivals, and Volkswagen doesn't do enough in Australia to compensate.PEUGEOT 206 13/20Price: From $19,990Engines: 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre (80kW) and 1.8-litre (100kW and 130kW)Body styles: hatchLIKE the C3, the Peugeot is too much and too little. The price is too high and the cabin too cramped.SMART FORTWO 13/20Price: From $21,900Engines: 0.7-litre (45kW)Body styles: Two-door coupeThe smallest and trendiest of the light cars is a phonebox-on-wheels that will only be bought by the trendiest shoppers.DAEWOO KALOS 12/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (62kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door sedanA good Korean effort – compact and good-looking but trails in refinement and design.MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 12/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.5-litre (69kW)Body styles: Three-door hatchMitsubishi has kept the price competitive, the body is still stylish, and there is potential to add some Evo-style body bits.DAIHATSU SIRION 10/20Price: From $13,250Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchbackThe Sirion is the best of the Daihatsu contenders, with a roomy cabin and passable power, but it is let down by the driving experience.DAIHATSU YRV 10/20Price: From $15,990Engines: 1.5-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchThe funk leader in the D-brand line-up shows what's missing from the mix, with clunky controls and sub-standard driving dynamics.KIA RIO 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (71kW)Body styles: Four-door sedan or five-door wagonThe wagon option gives it a unique selling point, but the sedan was one of the worst cars we drove last year.PROTON SATRIA 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.5-litre (64kW) and 1.8-litre (99kW)Body styles: Three-door hatch, five-door hatchAnother oldie that struggles to do anything but fill showroom space.SUZUKI IGNIS 9/20Price: From $14,990Engines: 1.3-litre (61kW) and 1.5-litre (83kW)Body styles: HatchThe baby box doesn't have enough of anything. Suzuki hasn't had enough cash to continue.DAIHATSU CHARADE 8/20Price: From $11,950Engines: 1.0-litre (40kW)Body styles: Five-door hatchThe great name is all that remains from one of the earliest bargain-basement stars. Today's Charade is cheap and unimpressive.

It was developed as a Swatch for the world of wheels and aimed at youngsters who could see the potential for a compact runabout in the overcrowded cities of Europe.Australia Smart was rejected twice before the booming DaimlerChrysler empire realised it could take a place Down Under, and that the baby brand would eventually become a full-line car company with solid youth support.It probably also helped that private importers were bringing the phonebox-on-wheels Smart cars to Australia outside the official channels, and doing it at prices which were doing nothing for any long-term success. Too costly, basically.Now we've been through the City coupe and cabrio start-up, with 58 sales through the first two months of 2004, and face the sporty Roadster.This is the first car that puts Smart up against real rivals.Honestly, there's nothing that competes with the City twins, which are so small they can be parked nose-first to the kerb without bumping into traffic. If you want a City car then that's what you get. Game over.But the Roadster, even with a $37,990 bottom line and stand-out styling, will have to win customers against a wide range of rivals.It still has only a 700cc suprex turbo engine, but the body has plenty of room for two, with a lift-out sunroof and plenty of equipment including airconditioning, alloy wheels, remote central locking and electric windows and mirrors.Potential rivals are both sporty and trendy, since the Roadster will still be a fashion item for many owners.So, though the Roadster looks a fair bit like a Lotus Elise, it will also be lined up against the VW Beetle cabrio, the Peugeot 206CC and even the really silly Daihatsu Copen.It will also be shopped against the Toyota MR2, which has a similar objective but does it with more size and weight at a higher price.The design of the Roadster is just what you'd expect for a sports car, with a low plastic body that's pulled tight around wheels at each corner.It has some nice curves and the two-piece hardtop is intended to be stored in a shallow boot space behind the cabin and above the engine.Smart makes a big deal about the car's rigid Tridion safety cell, with claims of superior crash protection.The mechanical package starts with the 60kW engine paired with a sequential manual gearbox.It is rear-wheel drive and Smart engineers have even put wider wheels on the tail to improve the cornering, which is controlled from electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering.On the roadIF you jump into the Smart roadster expecting a full-on sports car experience then . . . well, you're going to be disappointed.It's fun and functional but won't remotely keep pace with a Nissan 350Z. Smart says it takes 10.9 seconds to reach 100km/h and there are a lot of fairly ordinary family sedans that can do better.But the roadster has a sharp edge and it looks really, really good.You have to work hard – if you're beyond your 20s – to get down into the cabin, but it's a great fit and there is plenty to keep you entertained.The seats are supportive, the wheel feels good and the design of the instruments shows a lot of smart thinking with a youthful twist.The location of the key is a surprise, because it is tucked away on the centre column behind the gear lever. But it works well enough.Turn the key and you hear a gruff little three-potter fire into action, right behind your head. The sound performance includes a selection of chuffs and whistles and burps when you get going, and anyone who likes the blow-off whoosh of a Subaru WRX will enjoy the noise. We found it entertaining.The Smart coupe is not all that powerful or swift, but it feels good as it gets along. There is good response, provided you're in the right gear, and you always feel that the car is keen to help.The gearbox, though, is recalcitrant. If you use it manually it's slow to answer any commands, and completely ignores low-ratio demands by shifting up at the redline.Not good if you're rushing between turns and want to hold a gear.The automatic mode is also frustrating, with slow-pace shifts and a reluctant kickdown. We used it in city traffic, but Smart really needs to do some work to make it a better match for the rest of the Roadster package.Smart says it revives the purist feel of an earlier era and that's true.It feels shrink-wrapped around you and – a lot like the costlier Lotus Elise – you always know what's happening at the wheels.It also encourages you to tackle a corner, any corner, with a quick flick on the wheel and plenty of throttle.It has a good cornering balance and good grip. So it's an impressive chassis that also defeats most bumps, though it will crash through potholes and there is more noise from the chassis than we would like.It's tough to rate the Roadster against rivals as a lot of people will buy it because they like the look.It's tight on space and doesn't have much luggage capacity, but it is much nicer to drive than a Beetle Cabrio or a Peugeot 206CC.It comes closest to the MR2 but has a much more focused feel.As a stepping stone to the future, it also proves that Smart is more than just a telephone box on wheels.