Interior styling
The first impression when you get into the car is that it is actually much roomier than the outside dimensions would let on. The dash is in the shape of an "S" and is quirky to say the least. The gauge pods that stick out of the centre portion of the dash are very "froggy eyed" yet they are quite functional. The gauges are very minimalist. The fuel level is divided
into five bubbles. Once the reserve gets down to the last one, a fuel light goes on and the number of litres, starting from 5.0L, appears below the gear number. The number changes every half-litre after that. The side vents are multi-purpose: they rotate so that they may defrost the side windows or warm up the cabin. The plastics are actually quite nice and the assembly is fair. The radio creates an acceptable sound but it will surely not win any awards for clarity.
The seats are quite comfortable but their travel front and back is limited. It is a good thing then that there is a sufficient amount of legroom for most average sized people. Headroom is also adequate for most passengers thanks to the smart's tall stance. The cargo area (yes, there is one) is fair in size considering the car's overall dimensions. There is more height than depth but it still remains useful. To make up for the lack of a glove compartment, smart offers as an option a drawer that is located under the driver seat. Otherwise, there is a multitude of cubbyholes to dump wallets and cell phon
es into. All plastics and materials used in the smart seem to be of good quality. Assembly is fair for any car in the smart's price range.
Visibility out of the car is good. However, it takes a little time to realise that even though the side ¾ view seems partially blocked, that it matters little because the car ends right at that point. The back plastic window does get dirty very rapidly as there is no rear wiper. Rear visibility is therefore reduced in bad weather.
Technical
There is only 1 available engine for the smart in Canada and it is rear mounted. It is a 0.8 litre turbocharged 3 cylinder engine that runs on diesel fuel. The common-rail direct injection system helps to develop 40.2 hp. The only transmission is a 6 speed "softip" automated sequential transmission that drives the rear wheels. It is basically a manual gearbox but without a clutch. 40 hp may not sound like much but the car only weighs 730 kilograms or just over 1 600 pounds. To compare, an average car tips the scale at about 1 300 kg or around 3 000 pounds. This means
that the power-to-weight ratio is not that off-scale. All fortwos have a front disc and rear drum braking system.
On the road
I had a huge blast driving this car. I equate this feeling with the paddle shifter set-up that the tester came equipped with. They bring a whole new level of driving involvement and enjoyment. The speed at which the gears change after the paddle is actuated is surprisingly quick. The 2000 smart fortwo coupe I briefly drove earlier this year was much slower on the upshifts and using the floor-mounted shifter exclusively is much less fun. Another interesting point about the transmission is when slowing down and downshifting without lifting your foot off the gas pedal: The engine's revs spike quickly to match the transmission's speed for a smooth downshift.
The first impression when you get into the car is that it is actually much roomier than the outside dimensions would let on. The dash is in the shape of an "S" and is quirky to say the least. The gauge pods that stick out of the centre portion of the dash are very "froggy eyed" yet they are quite functional. The gauges are very minimalist. The fuel level is divided
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The seats are quite comfortable but their travel front and back is limited. It is a good thing then that there is a sufficient amount of legroom for most average sized people. Headroom is also adequate for most passengers thanks to the smart's tall stance. The cargo area (yes, there is one) is fair in size considering the car's overall dimensions. There is more height than depth but it still remains useful. To make up for the lack of a glove compartment, smart offers as an option a drawer that is located under the driver seat. Otherwise, there is a multitude of cubbyholes to dump wallets and cell phon
es into. All plastics and materials used in the smart seem to be of good quality. Assembly is fair for any car in the smart's price range.Visibility out of the car is good. However, it takes a little time to realise that even though the side ¾ view seems partially blocked, that it matters little because the car ends right at that point. The back plastic window does get dirty very rapidly as there is no rear wiper. Rear visibility is therefore reduced in bad weather.
Technical
There is only 1 available engine for the smart in Canada and it is rear mounted. It is a 0.8 litre turbocharged 3 cylinder engine that runs on diesel fuel. The common-rail direct injection system helps to develop 40.2 hp. The only transmission is a 6 speed "softip" automated sequential transmission that drives the rear wheels. It is basically a manual gearbox but without a clutch. 40 hp may not sound like much but the car only weighs 730 kilograms or just over 1 600 pounds. To compare, an average car tips the scale at about 1 300 kg or around 3 000 pounds. This means
 |
On the road
I had a huge blast driving this car. I equate this feeling with the paddle shifter set-up that the tester came equipped with. They bring a whole new level of driving involvement and enjoyment. The speed at which the gears change after the paddle is actuated is surprisingly quick. The 2000 smart fortwo coupe I briefly drove earlier this year was much slower on the upshifts and using the floor-mounted shifter exclusively is much less fun. Another interesting point about the transmission is when slowing down and downshifting without lifting your foot off the gas pedal: The engine's revs spike quickly to match the transmission's speed for a smooth downshift.