That being said, the rear part of the top can be lifted to widen the opening, which makes it easier to load bigger objects. A point goes to the cabrio’s engineers for this.
Two ways to uncover it
You can uncover this cabrio in one of two ways. First, at the touch of a button the tough little top folds back and exposes the area above the occupants, in the manner of a targa top. That takes nine seconds.
For the full-blown wind-in-your-hair experience, you can remove the two longitudinal roof bars. After stowing them in the car (either behind the seats or in the trunk), a simple touch of the same button folds the top completely down in five extra seconds.
The cabin is then completely open to the sky, but this does come at a price: rear visibility. The big heap of cloth obscures your vision in the rearview mirror. And forget about turning your head, you won’t see a thing. Ironic for such a tiny little car.
Out with the diesel
Under the trunk hides a small, three-cylinder, naturally aspirated, 999-cc, transverse engine. The engine no longer uses diesel fuel like the previous models but regular gas. The automaker wanted to appeal to the sensibilities of our neighbours to the south, still reluctant to accept diesel engines.
Seventy ponies strong, the little mill nevertheless delivers "enough" power for city use. Which means the smart needs 14 seconds to reach 100 km/h from standstill. However, suburbanites commuting by highway will have to develop their sense of anticipation.
At high speed, driving the smart requires a considerable amount of your attention. Suffering from substantial understeer, the diminutive car is susceptible to side winds and the grooves left by big rigs.
Yes, the smart is unique, but this uniqueness is overshadowed by various inconveniences related to its size and design. More than any other vehicle, you should be absolutely sure of what you’re getting before you buy it.
photo:Philippe Champoux, Matthieu Lambert, Luc Gagné
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| Not all motorists have nimble fingers capable of accessing tiny recesses like the one in which the hatch release button is located. |
Two ways to uncover it
You can uncover this cabrio in one of two ways. First, at the touch of a button the tough little top folds back and exposes the area above the occupants, in the manner of a targa top. That takes nine seconds.
For the full-blown wind-in-your-hair experience, you can remove the two longitudinal roof bars. After stowing them in the car (either behind the seats or in the trunk), a simple touch of the same button folds the top completely down in five extra seconds.
The cabin is then completely open to the sky, but this does come at a price: rear visibility. The big heap of cloth obscures your vision in the rearview mirror. And forget about turning your head, you won’t see a thing. Ironic for such a tiny little car.
Out with the diesel
Under the trunk hides a small, three-cylinder, naturally aspirated, 999-cc, transverse engine. The engine no longer uses diesel fuel like the previous models but regular gas. The automaker wanted to appeal to the sensibilities of our neighbours to the south, still reluctant to accept diesel engines.
Seventy ponies strong, the little mill nevertheless delivers "enough" power for city use. Which means the smart needs 14 seconds to reach 100 km/h from standstill. However, suburbanites commuting by highway will have to develop their sense of anticipation.
At high speed, driving the smart requires a considerable amount of your attention. Suffering from substantial understeer, the diminutive car is susceptible to side winds and the grooves left by big rigs.
Yes, the smart is unique, but this uniqueness is overshadowed by various inconveniences related to its size and design. More than any other vehicle, you should be absolutely sure of what you’re getting before you buy it.
 |
| The multicoloured seats are reminiscent of summer days and wind-in-your-hair motoring. |
photo:Philippe Champoux, Matthieu Lambert, Luc Gagné
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