- Doors and Seats
3 doors, 2 seats
- Engine
0.7T, 3 cyl.
- Engine Power
45kW, 95Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 4.7L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Smart ForFour
Mercedes-Benz, Smart's parent company, has been trying to get its baby brand into the faces of Gen Y early adopters, mainly through pay TV advertising and publicity stunts.
The strategy has, it seems, hit the target, judging by a sharp upturn (from an admittedly tiny base) in sales in recent months.
Worldwide, though, Smart's future is uncertain. Mercedes-Benz has reportedly torn up several billion dollars on the brand and is rumoured to want out. It's denying the rumours but in the short-term that's to be expected.
The latest addition to the range is the ForFour. As the name suggests, it's a four-seater hatchback - a relatively conventional layout compared with the radical ForTwo and roadster models. But it looks a bit out there, especially in some of the more outrageous plastic panel colour combinations.
Being a trendsetter doesn't come cheap. Smart wants $23,900 for the 70kW 1.3-litre ForFour and $25,900 for the 80kW 1.5-litre version. That's almost two Toyota Echos. Apart from the chic factor, what else justifies the designer label pricetags?
Smart is the only small car with stability control. It also has four airbags (curtain airbags are a $510 option), disc brakes with ABS and many other safety features.
It also has some luxury car features from sister brand Mercedes-Benz, including telephone and satellite navigation availability, rain-sensing wipers/automatic headlights and leather upholstery.
Most are optional, of course. Like any premium German badge, the Smart's starting price is merely a deposit on a lengthy options list.
Given its target market and extravagant pricetags, the ForFour is skinny on the standard equipment front. You do get a CD, air-conditioning, remote central locking, an alarm and 15-inch alloy wheels.
However, there's nowhere to plug in your MP3 player, no CD stacker, cruise control, sunglasses holder, shopping bag hooks, variable intermittent wipers, power mirrors or covered storage bins. Rear seat passengers have to wind the windows by hand.
The other major discrepancy between price and product is quality, where the Smart is, in some respects, no better than a Korean car. While the body, mechanicals and chassis are solidly engineered, the test car's interior was swathed in cheap plastics, tacky synthetic fabrics and trim gaps you could drive a bus through.
None of the doors would close without being slammed. The driver's door occasionally refused to unlatch properly.
The two available engines were developed with Mitsubishi. They're high-tech, very frugal and comply with the latest emission regulations. They are built in Germany. The car itself is assembled in Holland, in the same plant as the Mitsubishi Colt. The cars share engines (here, the Colt uses the 1.5-litre), transmissions and some chassis components.
With strong pulling power from about 3000rpm, the 1.5-litre is more tractable than most in this class, so it doesn't have to be thrashed to keep up with the traffic. It's also got some useful extra zip at the top end and when prodded can overtake reasonably quickly. The zero-100kmh trip in the manual takes 10.6 seconds - on the quick side for a small car. A kerb weight of only 970kg helps the cause here.
At walking pace, in heavy traffic, it can surge and jerk a bit. It also requires premium unleaded, which is rather pointless in this context. That said, fuel economy is about as good as it gets from a conventional petrol engine.
The gearbox action is fine, on the notchy side if you hurry the changes, and the clutch is light and progressive in takeup. A six-speed gearbox, with an automatic clutch and gear selection program, is optional on both models.
The Smart is no point and fire sportster, however the suspension is tuned with finesse and has sufficient travel and tautness to absorb hits without kicking the car off line.
Decent 195/50 Bridgestone Turanza tyres are fitted to the 15-inch alloy wheels, which contribute to a firm but acceptably compliant ride. The front end cops the occasional whack around town, though, and tyre noise is pronounced on coarse bitumen.
The electric power steering is go-kart direct, accurate and devoid of feel, especially in the straight ahead position at freeway speeds.
By small car standards the brakes are great and very responsive to light pedal pressures.
The heavily bolstered driver's seat is sized for big Germans but more generously padded than the usual Deutsche pew.
It has no height or tilt adjustment and the steering wheel has fixed reach, so apart from fore aft travel the driving position is basically take it or leave it.
Tall drivers may feel as though they have to peer under the top of the windscreen and want to lower the seat.
Vision is clear around the car, though you have no idea where the front end is.
The toy-like dash styling is cute but, as mentioned previously, the Smart has a two-bob interior, not a premium one. That costs more. And more. Ad infinitum.
The back seat slides fore/aft, so you can have plenty of space for two occupants, or a usable boot, but not both. In four person mode, boot space is minimal. It can be extended by folding one of the 60/40 split rear seat backs, however if you want a flat floor (900mm) you have to double-fold the entire seat.
In this configuration, the driver's seat has to be pushed forward, to the extent that most adults would find it intolerably cramped. Two child restraint anchors are on the back of the seat. A space-saver spare is under the boot floor.
If the Smart Forfour has your name on it, buy it and be happy. It works well enough on the road, has - on paper at least - the best safety credentials in the class and street cred to burn.
Just make sure that, after the deal is done, you never drive a Honda Jazz, Mazda2, Renault Clio, Holden Astra or VW Golf. That way, you won't feel outsmarted.