Whatever you think of the Smart brand and its diminutive two-seater city cars you have to commend its bold, fresh take on modern motoring. It's easy to get the impression... November 22, 2011 by Antony Ingram
The adage goes that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, but Daimler AG isn’t buying into that. In fact, they’re betting that most Americans... August 31, 2011 by Kurt Ernst 2
Small cars are becoming big business. The smart fortwo, Scion iQ, Gordon Murray's upcoming T.25, the Renault Twizy... more and more carmakers are developing tiny vehicles to... July 11, 2011 by Antony Ingram
Gordon Murray Design (GMD) has today unveiled its T.27 electric vehicle, touting it as the world's most efficient electric car. Since the average electric car is already more... June 29, 2011 by Antony Ingram
If your idea of a vehicle with another attatched to the back is a Winnebago with a Smart ForTwo strapped behind it, you need to start thinking about downsizing. Chinese... April 26, 2011 by Antony Ingram
The Smart Fortwo is more fun to drive on tight, congested city streets at low speed than even the MINI Cooper.
But as soon as the traffic thins out and the roads open up to the beltways and interstates, the Fortwo's cons--a hard ride, a noisy interior, the lack of power, and tense roadholding--become more serious drawbacks.
Factor in the middling fuel economy of only 33 mpg city, and the "wow" factor is quickly muted.
The Toyota Yaris, the most fuel-efficient small hatchback, with ratings of 29 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, feels downright substantial next to the Fortwo, with a real backseat and the legs for occasional distance driving, and the sprightly MINI Cooper is just as good, at 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway.
Hybrids like Toyota's Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid get substantially better fuel economy than the Smart, in a much larger package, albeit at a much higher price.