If you still think the smart is like a go-kart, guess again. With 70 horsepower on tap (that's right, 70!), accelerations from 0 to 100 km/h take no less than 13 seconds. Passing maneuvers are equally pedestrian. I think you'll easily agree that this is far from a sporty car. In the city or even on crowded highways, though, the smart feels at ease. Believe it or not, I was able to reach a top speed of 152 km/h -- albeit with a good dose of patience on my part.
It's a fact that when you keep pace with the traffic from downtown to the suburb, you feel like a midget at times, mainly because you get the impression that the nose of the vehicle will lift off without warning. However, once you find your place on the road, this relative uneasiness transforms into relative enjoyment.
It's a real shame the 5-speed automatic transmission delivers such unpleasantly radical shifts. At least, the situation is not as bad as in previous years. Also, if you've had enough, you can control gear shifts manually through a pair of paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
As for those of you who mistake the smart for a little soap box, I'm happy to report that the comfort level inside is quite reasonable... except when the road gets rough and the firm suspension becomes harsh.
What about cargo room? Well, personally, I managed to load a dozen plastic bags (note to environmentalists: I'm sorry) after a trip to the supermarket while not encroaching on my vital space.
Lastly, I found it ridiculously complicated to fill up the windshield washer fluid tank: you have to remove the front hood (literally!) and then sneak your way in this cramped little space. Too bad the design of this area is not on par with the rest of the vehicle.
All in all, is the smart fortwo coupe a fun car to drive? Absolutely. Is it safe? As much as your own car. Convenient? Not at all. If you use it once in a while, like I did, the experience will be refreshingly pleasant. On a daily basis, however, being able to fully appreciate the smart requires a good deal of patience.
photo:Philippe Champoux, Matthieu Lambert
It's a fact that when you keep pace with the traffic from downtown to the suburb, you feel like a midget at times, mainly because you get the impression that the nose of the vehicle will lift off without warning. However, once you find your place on the road, this relative uneasiness transforms into relative enjoyment.
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| A little engine of 1.0-liter 3-cylinder is offering in the smart fortwo. |
It's a real shame the 5-speed automatic transmission delivers such unpleasantly radical shifts. At least, the situation is not as bad as in previous years. Also, if you've had enough, you can control gear shifts manually through a pair of paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
As for those of you who mistake the smart for a little soap box, I'm happy to report that the comfort level inside is quite reasonable... except when the road gets rough and the firm suspension becomes harsh.
What about cargo room? Well, personally, I managed to load a dozen plastic bags (note to environmentalists: I'm sorry) after a trip to the supermarket while not encroaching on my vital space.
Lastly, I found it ridiculously complicated to fill up the windshield washer fluid tank: you have to remove the front hood (literally!) and then sneak your way in this cramped little space. Too bad the design of this area is not on par with the rest of the vehicle.
All in all, is the smart fortwo coupe a fun car to drive? Absolutely. Is it safe? As much as your own car. Convenient? Not at all. If you use it once in a while, like I did, the experience will be refreshingly pleasant. On a daily basis, however, being able to fully appreciate the smart requires a good deal of patience.
photo:Philippe Champoux, Matthieu Lambert
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