Also contributing to the airy feel inside is the huge glass sunroof. Unfortunately, you’ll soon realize that, with two adults on board, there’s not much room left for storing items at hand or worse, in the trunk. The latter is microscopic; in fact, your wife’s purse is probably bigger. It will accommodate two or three grocery bags, but don’t try to carpool with a golf buddy because your bag can’t fit anywhere else than on the passenger seat.
Racing go-kart
The engine of the smart BRABUS is the same that powers regular models, which is kind of shocking since the tuning specialist is known for turning Mercedes-Benz cars into real performance beasts. In North America, buyers have to content themselves with the small, gasoline-powered, naturally-aspirated, three-cylinder mill. Output is rated at 70 horsepower along with 68 pounds-feet of torque. Meanwhile, fuel economy hovers around 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres.
Of course, sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h isn’t a three-second affair, but the smart can be deceptively quick at times. You can even get a speeding ticket if you don’t pay attention.
What struck me the most from the engine is the noise level. As soon as you turn the key (the ignition switch is located between the seats à la Saab), the grumble starts. And it’s not like the smart is the quietest car on the road, either -- wind noise is permanently heard from inside. Over the course of my road test, I recorded an average of 93 decibels.
By the way, I have to tell you that the smart absolutely loathes crosswinds, preferring the comfort and shelter of downtown buildings. I was constantly reminded of this during a brief trip to Quebec City. When not on the open road, however, the German microcar is quite fun to drive. With an insanely-tight turning radius, a sharp steering and solid, responsive brakes, it turns on a dime and easily threads through city traffic.
Cornering performance is awesome and the ride quality isn’t too shabby, either. In fact, it’s smoother than what my memory recalls. Like I said, though, driving on the highway quickly becomes irritating.
 |
| The trunk is microscopic; in fact, your wife’s purse is probably bigger. |
Racing go-kart
The engine of the smart BRABUS is the same that powers regular models, which is kind of shocking since the tuning specialist is known for turning Mercedes-Benz cars into real performance beasts. In North America, buyers have to content themselves with the small, gasoline-powered, naturally-aspirated, three-cylinder mill. Output is rated at 70 horsepower along with 68 pounds-feet of torque. Meanwhile, fuel economy hovers around 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres.
Of course, sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h isn’t a three-second affair, but the smart can be deceptively quick at times. You can even get a speeding ticket if you don’t pay attention.
What struck me the most from the engine is the noise level. As soon as you turn the key (the ignition switch is located between the seats à la Saab), the grumble starts. And it’s not like the smart is the quietest car on the road, either -- wind noise is permanently heard from inside. Over the course of my road test, I recorded an average of 93 decibels.
By the way, I have to tell you that the smart absolutely loathes crosswinds, preferring the comfort and shelter of downtown buildings. I was constantly reminded of this during a brief trip to Quebec City. When not on the open road, however, the German microcar is quite fun to drive. With an insanely-tight turning radius, a sharp steering and solid, responsive brakes, it turns on a dime and easily threads through city traffic.
Cornering performance is awesome and the ride quality isn’t too shabby, either. In fact, it’s smoother than what my memory recalls. Like I said, though, driving on the highway quickly becomes irritating.
 |
| Cornering performance is awesome and the ride quality isn’t too shabby, either. |