While we’re on the subject of the car’s cockpit, it’s decently furnished despite feeling a little bare. Personally, I like the cloth covering on the dashboard, since it sure beats the hell out of the appearance of cheap, hard plastic. The heating and ventilation controls could be lower (read: closer), but at least you don’t need to take your eyes off the road to use them.
Sooner or later, you’ll notice that the sound system doesn’t include a CD player. While it may seem cruel, there is a standard USB port, which makes a lot more sense; smart figures you’re tech-savvy enough to dump hundreds of songs on a single USB key instead of swapping compact discs while driving. Good move.
“It’s unsafe; imagine it getting plowed into by a Hummer,” say insecure people. You know what? You can get injured at the wheel of a Hummer while being hit by a Hummer. Of course, the fortwo is a small car, but by small-car standards, it fares very well in both the IIHS and the NHTSA’s crash tests. In fact, it boasts better ratings than the H3, which means that if a Hummer slams into a smart, you could very well have a better chance of walking away if you’re sitting in the fortwo.
Actually, when people will stop talking or texting on the phone, putting make-up on and reading the paper while driving as well as drive sober and respect the posted speed limits, only then should we talk about the smart’s safety worthiness. Until then, consider yourself unsafe in any vehicle, even a Hummer.
For 2011, the smart potentially gets even safer with improved side airbags and the addition of a driver-side knee airbag. And while we’re talking about crashworthiness and all, let’s not forget that the best way to manage a crash is to avoid it; every fortwo comes with traction and stability control systems, features that some so-called safer trucks still lack.
What isn’t so great about the smart is the way it drives. If you’re willing to test one, know that it’s obviously not a rocket sled, with a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine, 70 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque on tap, managed by a 5-speed automatic. The fortwo huffs and puffs to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds, which sounds a lot worse than it really is. It just takes a little planning before merging onto busy streets.
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| No more CD player; the standard sound system includes a USB port instead. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Sooner or later, you’ll notice that the sound system doesn’t include a CD player. While it may seem cruel, there is a standard USB port, which makes a lot more sense; smart figures you’re tech-savvy enough to dump hundreds of songs on a single USB key instead of swapping compact discs while driving. Good move.
“It’s unsafe; imagine it getting plowed into by a Hummer,” say insecure people. You know what? You can get injured at the wheel of a Hummer while being hit by a Hummer. Of course, the fortwo is a small car, but by small-car standards, it fares very well in both the IIHS and the NHTSA’s crash tests. In fact, it boasts better ratings than the H3, which means that if a Hummer slams into a smart, you could very well have a better chance of walking away if you’re sitting in the fortwo.
Actually, when people will stop talking or texting on the phone, putting make-up on and reading the paper while driving as well as drive sober and respect the posted speed limits, only then should we talk about the smart’s safety worthiness. Until then, consider yourself unsafe in any vehicle, even a Hummer.
For 2011, the smart potentially gets even safer with improved side airbags and the addition of a driver-side knee airbag. And while we’re talking about crashworthiness and all, let’s not forget that the best way to manage a crash is to avoid it; every fortwo comes with traction and stability control systems, features that some so-called safer trucks still lack.
What isn’t so great about the smart is the way it drives. If you’re willing to test one, know that it’s obviously not a rocket sled, with a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine, 70 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque on tap, managed by a 5-speed automatic. The fortwo huffs and puffs to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds, which sounds a lot worse than it really is. It just takes a little planning before merging onto busy streets.
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| For such a small car with a small engine, fuel economy could be a little better. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |