2008 Smart Fortwo Reviews

The second generation Smart ForTwo is more spacious, has a better ride and comes with more safety features than its predecessor, but is this tiny little car — which thrives in some of Europe’s most populous and cramped cities — necessary on Australian roads?Exterior Obviously the Smart ForTwo looks different to other vehicles but it’s not until you see one sandwiched between two larger cars – like we did in the work car park - that you really appreciate how minute these things are. At just over two and a half meters long and one and a half meters wide, they make a Corolla look ungainly.Interior Inside, the ForTwo is quite basic as space is at a premium. The clock and rev counter are forced above the dash in two external dials but this gives the cockpit a cheeky, slightly sporty look. Electric windows and mirrors, comfortable seats and a quality stereo provide a well rounded package.Storage again is at a premium but the luggage area is a manageable 220 litres and the door pockets and lockable centre console box provide some extra room.Engine and TransmissionBoth the coupe and cabriolet versions of the new Smart are powered by a standard one litre, three cylinder 52kW/92Nm naturally aspirated or a 62kW/120Nm turbo engine.Both the naturally aspirated and turbo engines get you to a top speed of 145km/h with the turbo pushing you to the 100km mark in 10.9 seconds – almost three seconds faster than the 52kW.Fuel consumption is expectedly low at 4.7 litres/100kms for the 52kW engine and 4.9 litres/100kms for the one with larger outputs.An automated clutch-less manual five-speed transmission gets power to the wheels but there is no option to fully automate the process.Safety For such a small car, the ForTwo safety package is impressive. ESP, hill-start assist, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, acceleration skid control and electronic brake assist are all standard. Marry that with the crash rating and you begin to feel a little less wary about going for a spin.Pricing At $19, 990 for the cheapest coupe (up to $24, 990 for the turbo cabriolet), these are not the cheapest small cars out there. Couple this with the fact that they provide the least space and a question mark hangs over your decision to buy one. Living with itWigley saysIt’s a little disconcerting sitting right against the back wall of the car and even though it has received 4 out of 5 euro NCAP stars, it still feels a little dinky. More space in the cabin in this second generation version separates you and your passenger a little better but you may feel a little claustrophobic if you like to stretch out.Front and side vision is great but you only get a matchbox of window out the back because of the tall seats.On paper the power and torque figures seem miniscule but given that the car is a mere 750kgs, the performance is quite good, possibly even nippy at times.Constant paddle or gear stick shifting is a must, and gear changing is a bit clunky and it can get annoying if you’re in a hurry.They are cute and novel but the demand shouldn’t be as strong as it might be in Europe where tight laneways and massive populations necessitate a car this small and nimble.VERDICT: 6.8/10Halligan saysGetting out of the City was fun, the acceleration surprised and I just love a paddle shift. Slotting into traffic and accelerating for lane changes is where this thing excels … as long as you allow for the up-change lag which appears to be in the seconds rather than the milliseconds.But it's not very smooth at low speeds, lots of pitching and whirring, Not very pleasant or relaxed. I found the ergonomics lousy. I had the seat right back and I had to scrunch my arm up to be able to get to the window switch to wind it down. The interior mirror is right at a height where you constantly have the drivers lights behind you in your eyes.Turning fast displayed not much body roll, however doing a fast change from fourth to fifth resulted in pitching that would leave my wife feeling seasick. But the Smart sat and tracked nicely, even going past a couple of B-double trucks running in tandem.A couple of times overtaking Commodore and Bimmer drivers I found them accelerating once I was past to get back in front. Obviously they were annoyed at the indignation of being passed by the little Smart.But my wife just laughed at the car, and a drive didn’t endear it to her.I am a Mercedes fan, but would I buy one of these? No.Buy a Fiat 500 – at least you won’t be laughed at by your wife.VERDICT: 6.5/10 Pincott saysYou really have to keep your hand on the paddles to make the most of this little engine in anything other than the most relaxed city driving. And two tall girls found there was plenty of room for us, but after our briefcases were added, not much for anything else.Positioning of some of the controls is uncomfortable, and rear vision is hugely compromised.All of which should mean an unenjoyable experience. And yet…The Smart is as much a statement as a form of transport. It says you’re urban, concerned about the environment, and don’t rely on a large car to highlight your importance in the world. You’re smart, in fact.But its main problem is that it’s all a bit worthy, like cloth shopping bags and wholefoods. Which overlooks that the Smart can be a lot of fun as an urban traveller.There’s something just so appealingly ludicrous about its proportions that you can’t help but grin at the sight of it.Especially when that sight is a satisfied backward glance as you blithely walk away after inserting it into a parking slot that would challenge a large pram.Could I live with it forever? Only if there was a second vehicle in the garage for trips away, garage sales and even the weeks with a large grocery list.VERDICT: 6.7/10 

But as the all-new Smart Fortwo was launched in Sydney this week, it arrived with a question mark over its real relevance on Australian roads.The one-model company, under parent company Mercedes-Benz, sold just 550 Fortwo's in Australia last year. And that's a number that Smart Australia's boss Wolfgang Schrempp admits isn't profitable enough to continue on for the next three to four years. But they're confident the second-generation of the novelty-like car can help boost those numbers.Since the late 1990s, Smart has sold 770,000 Fortwos worldwide. It's an environmentally friendly urban car for someone who wants to stand out as being funky, individual and “smart”-thinking. And the new model arrives just a bit bigger and better than its predecessor.The Fortwo will be available in two engines and two body styles. Both are powered by a Mitsubishi-built, naturally aspirated 999cc three-cylinder engine, one giving off 52kW, the other getting some help from a turbo-charger and delivering 62kW of power. Customers also have the choice of a coupe or cabrio model, the soft top retracting at any speed and the coupe featuring a glass roof with a sliding lining. The new Fortwo has become less toy-like, although it still maintains its quirky and unique character.It sits on a longer wheelbase, has slightly larger dimensions and has undergone some styling changes. The boot is also a little bigger. From the rear, the Fortwo now looks like a proper car with its wider stance and four lights adorning the rear instead of the previous six.The aim of the car as an environmentally friendly model is achieved nicely — it's the most fuel-efficient petrol car on the market, getting 4.7-litres per 100km on the non-turbo engined version and 4.9-litres for the turbo.Carbon dioxide emissions are also low. The Fortwo starts at $19,990 for the 52kW coupe model and $22,990 for the cabrio. The turbo version adds $2000 to each price tag. And while it may look unusual, driving it feels just like any other light car. There's plenty of space for the two occupants, and the passenger especially gets generous leg room.But you can't help feeling it lacks that connection between driver and environment.You tend to sit very high on top of the seat, rather than in it, and the dash feels separate instead of moulding around you. But it is a cute and peculiar type of styling both inside and out.While 52kW isn't a impressive figure, it is only a small engine and it feels as though it has enough power for its role as an urban driver. The lightweight car gets around town with enough “oomph” through the five-speed automated manual transmission. This means there's no clutch, but you still control the gears through the gearstick or the paddles on the steering wheel.You can be lazy when it comes to changing down, as the gearbox does this on its own. Up hills it did take its time to drop back a gear and you sometimes had to interrupt in order to get it over the ascent. The semi-manual transmission has been improved. Changing up a gear doesn't leave you looking like a learner driver — rather its a smoother, more fluid shift.But if changing gears just isn't for you, there's also the softouch automatic option, adding $2000 to the price. Top speed is 145km/h and despite its size, you do feel safe knowing it has achieved a four-star Euro NCAP rating and comes standard with four airbags.It's great around town and very easy to park, but the ride comfort isn't the best as the suspension doesn't seem to absorb much at all.The Fortwo gets a tick of approval for fitting stability control as a standard feature, something rare in this segment. Power steering didn't make the list but Smart says customer feedback suggested the steering was light enough. While that's true at faster speeds, you really notice its absence in car parks or tight turns.We also had the chance to give the 62kW turbo model a quick spin. This model would be the pick of the two, giving that extra performance and a more spirited drive. At just a $90 increase over the outgoing model, the Fortwo does offer a unique and special car under the $20,000 mark.But for less you could get the Mazda2 or Volkswagen's Polo, offering the added benefit of extra seats, bigger engine and marginally higher fuel consumption. So to make the Smart choice, you have to really be a fan.Is Smart relevant for Australia?