Some joked about the initial introduction of the Smart Car in the U.S.. But its debut, and subsequent reviews, revealed solid market support from a whole segment of buyers willing to give up size and some creature comforts for fuel efficiency and an overall greener approach to their transportation needs.
And built by Mercedes-Benz, the diminutive Smart Fortwo has quite a lot going for it, such as its peppy around-town handling, larger than expected interior, excellent fuel economy, ease of parking, and head-turning design.
If you have some preconceptions yourself, you'll likely raise your eyebrows if you actually sit in and drive one. Not only is the Smart Car roomy enough to comfortably seat tall adults, but it also has surprisingly good crash test scores.
The 2009 Smart Fortwo is a two-seat subcompact that is offered in either hatchback coupe or convertible (cabriolet) forms. There are three trim levels: Pure (coupe only), Passion, and the higher-performance Brabus limited edition.
Standard Features And Options:
Standard features on the Pure coupe include keyless entry, a leather steering wheel, an electric rear window defroster, and 15 inch steel wheels. Available optional features include air conditioning, power steering, power windows, a radio, and alloy wheels.
The Passion models include all of the Pure's features and options, and add a panoramic glass roof, a sport steering wheel with shift paddles, a CD player, and power heated side mirrors.
The Passion Cabriolet also gets an upgraded stereo with an MP3-compatible in-dash 6-disc CD changer, plus a manual canvas roof. Available options for Passion models include partial leather upholstery and additional instrument gauges.
The Brabus model adds 15 inch alloy wheels in front and 17 inch wheels in the rear, a stiffer and lower sport suspension, a sport-tuned exhaust system, foglights, halogen projector headlights, aerodynamic side skirts, fender flairs, front and rear spoilers, special exterior and interior badging, heated leather seats and ambient lighting.
Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:
Powering the rear-wheel-drive 2009 Smart Fortwo is a rear-mounted 1.0 liter three-cylinder engine that produces 71 horsepower and 68 pound-feet of torque ... and requires premium fuel. It's coupled with a five-speed automated manual transmission that can be driven in either automatic or manual shift mode.
In terms of performance, the Smart Fortwo has a maximum speed of 90 mph and goes from a standstill to 60 mph in 14.1 seconds. The EPA estimated gas mileage for the Fortwo comes in at 33 mpg city, 41 mpg on the highway and 36 mpg in combined.
Safety:
Built by Mercedes-Benz, the Smart Fortwo puts an emphasis on safety. Standard safety features on all Smart Cars include traction control, stability control, antilock brakes (front discs and rear drums) and side airbags.
In government crash testing, the Smart car was given a perfect five out of five stars in side impacts for both driver protection and passenger protection. In frontal crash impacts, the Smart was awarded four stars for driver protection and three stars for passenger protection.
Interior:
While obviously snug, good engineering allows comfortable seating for two tall adults. There's surprising legroom and the passenger seat gets an extra 6 inches. In addition, the passenger seat folds flat for more cargo space. The trunk provides 12 cubic feet of space if loaded to the roof (this blocks the rear view). The truck holds 7 cubic feet when packed only to the waistline.
Overall, the interior is well-designed, user-friendly and simple, but still attractive. The look can also be enhanced with a number of monochromatic and two-tone options. Also, the Passion model's cloth upholstery is offered in several vivid colors with patterns for additional cabin liveliness.
Drive:
The Fortwo is an enjoyable ride on city streets, almost sporty in fact, and the suspension does a nice job in reducing around-town bumps to an acceptable level. Even highway stability is adequate, but it can be susceptable to gusts and crosswinds. The Smart Fortwo is clearly at its best zipping through the city. And as you would expect, parking is a breeze ... and more spots are accessible.
Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower Smart Car Prices:
Sales of Smart Cars have weakened significantly during the last year due to the poor economy and soft car market. There's some very good deals to be had right now in this buyer's market, with the right approach.
How To Buy A New Smart Car At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2009 Fortwo, here's a technique that will show you the best way to buy one at the lowest price, especially given the current slow economic environment.
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