Scared?
A lot of people told me they were scared of driving the smart because of its size. Well, try one first. You'll see that it calmly cruises at over 120 kph on the highway and accelerates just as fast as other sub-compact cars thanks to its new gasoline engine and new automatic transmission. Braking performance is excellent and linear.
You want numbers? Here they are: the 2008 smart sprints from 0 to 100 kph in 11.8 seconds in auto mode and 11.3 seconds in manual mode (paddle shifters). Meanwhile, despite a fairly spongy brake pedal and a temperature of minus 7 degrees Celsius, the car only took 36 meters to stop from 100 to 0 kph (with Contiwinter tires). On dry pavement during the summer, braking distances will likely be reduced to about 32 meters, which is amazing.
In the snow, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) works wonders: not too intrusive, it allows you to hit the road with confidence, no matter how slippery it is. The rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive system are totally suited for our Canadian winters.
Of course, this configuration makes the front end of the car much lighter, so you have to be careful when attacking wet corners: gently release the throttle and let the front tires bite the road. Oversteer could prove to be a problem, but the ESP is quick to restore order and prevent the rear wheels from skidding.
What about the wind?
Wind should never be overlooked; keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. I dared to drive on the highway on a particularly windy day and, as I found out, the smart is highly affected by crosswinds -- but not much more than any other lightweight car or a long minivan. I relaxed the throttle and the car thanked me by maintaining a straight line. I'll tell you: it would have been the same with a Hyundai Accent or Toyota Yaris.
Tricky transmission
The new engine-transmission combo is great for navigating through city traffic, especially in the first two gears, which are quite long. But in order to get smooth accelerations, you have to know how to work with the autobox and factor in the engine speed. That's why a low-cost option like the dashboard-mounted tachometer is strongly recommended. If you don't want to rely on the auto mode, you can either use the console-mounted stick or the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. With time and practice, I was able to shift quite smoothly between 3,200 and 3,500 rpm.
A lot of people told me they were scared of driving the smart because of its size. Well, try one first. You'll see that it calmly cruises at over 120 kph on the highway and accelerates just as fast as other sub-compact cars thanks to its new gasoline engine and new automatic transmission. Braking performance is excellent and linear.
You want numbers? Here they are: the 2008 smart sprints from 0 to 100 kph in 11.8 seconds in auto mode and 11.3 seconds in manual mode (paddle shifters). Meanwhile, despite a fairly spongy brake pedal and a temperature of minus 7 degrees Celsius, the car only took 36 meters to stop from 100 to 0 kph (with Contiwinter tires). On dry pavement during the summer, braking distances will likely be reduced to about 32 meters, which is amazing.
 |
| The rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive system are totally suited for our Canadian winters. |
In the snow, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) works wonders: not too intrusive, it allows you to hit the road with confidence, no matter how slippery it is. The rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive system are totally suited for our Canadian winters.
Of course, this configuration makes the front end of the car much lighter, so you have to be careful when attacking wet corners: gently release the throttle and let the front tires bite the road. Oversteer could prove to be a problem, but the ESP is quick to restore order and prevent the rear wheels from skidding.
What about the wind?
Wind should never be overlooked; keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. I dared to drive on the highway on a particularly windy day and, as I found out, the smart is highly affected by crosswinds -- but not much more than any other lightweight car or a long minivan. I relaxed the throttle and the car thanked me by maintaining a straight line. I'll tell you: it would have been the same with a Hyundai Accent or Toyota Yaris.
Tricky transmission
The new engine-transmission combo is great for navigating through city traffic, especially in the first two gears, which are quite long. But in order to get smooth accelerations, you have to know how to work with the autobox and factor in the engine speed. That's why a low-cost option like the dashboard-mounted tachometer is strongly recommended. If you don't want to rely on the auto mode, you can either use the console-mounted stick or the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. With time and practice, I was able to shift quite smoothly between 3,200 and 3,500 rpm.
 |
| The new engine-transmission combo is great for navigating through city traffic. |