What you have to get used to is the car’s rocking-horse behaviour during gear changes. Most who rode aboard the smart didn’t. Our fuel consumption over the course of the week is averaging 6.3 L/100 km. Not bad, but not a number that justifies the smart’s sacrifices.
Base price has been reduced for 2011. The fortwo pure coupé now starts at $13,990 before tax, freight and delivery charges. Our passion tester retails for $17,500 and adds a transparent roof panel, climate control, power heated mirrors, power steering, an upgraded speaker system, a folding driver’s seat armrest and ambient lighting. We’re also getting spoiled with metallic paint ($395), “design 9” alloys ($625), heated seats ($340) and a surround sound system ($640), for a grand total of $19,500.
For that price, there are plenty of well-equipped subcompacts that are more practical and that don’t consume much more fuel than the smart, namely the Honda Fit, the Ford Fiesta and the Mazda2. Let’s not forget the Scion iQ which will be on sale later this year and offers two more seats.
Despite its small improvements every year, the main reason for buying a smart is fuel economy and it’s not getting any better (it actually worsened when the gas engine replaced the turbodiesel in 2008). The 2012 fortwo electric drive is still a year away.
Still, if you like the uniqueness and character of the fortwo, you will find that it’s amusing to drive, manoeuvrable on crowded city streets and easy to park. Bottom line: you can dismiss a smart fortwo if you don’t like the way it drives or feel that it’s too expensive, but don’t dismiss it because of the prejudice surrounding it.
Base price has been reduced for 2011. The fortwo pure coupé now starts at $13,990 before tax, freight and delivery charges. Our passion tester retails for $17,500 and adds a transparent roof panel, climate control, power heated mirrors, power steering, an upgraded speaker system, a folding driver’s seat armrest and ambient lighting. We’re also getting spoiled with metallic paint ($395), “design 9” alloys ($625), heated seats ($340) and a surround sound system ($640), for a grand total of $19,500.
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| The smart fortwo starts a $13,990 before tax, freight and delivery; our tester costs $19,500. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
For that price, there are plenty of well-equipped subcompacts that are more practical and that don’t consume much more fuel than the smart, namely the Honda Fit, the Ford Fiesta and the Mazda2. Let’s not forget the Scion iQ which will be on sale later this year and offers two more seats.
Despite its small improvements every year, the main reason for buying a smart is fuel economy and it’s not getting any better (it actually worsened when the gas engine replaced the turbodiesel in 2008). The 2012 fortwo electric drive is still a year away.
Still, if you like the uniqueness and character of the fortwo, you will find that it’s amusing to drive, manoeuvrable on crowded city streets and easy to park. Bottom line: you can dismiss a smart fortwo if you don’t like the way it drives or feel that it’s too expensive, but don’t dismiss it because of the prejudice surrounding it.
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