Nobody does city cars like Smart – and at the top of the Smart cars range we find the Smart ForTwo. The car claims a list of prizes and awards that borders on ridiculous – including being voted best Microcar by Auto, Motor and Sport magazine for five years running, as well as being the only car that has ever been added to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) while still in production.
On top of that, its diesel version (the Cdi) boasts the lowest CO2 emissions for an internal combustion engine in car history. Add all this to the very reasonable price tag and you’ve got yourself a very popular little Smart car. The third generation of the dinky little two-seater was revealed in July 2014 – and today we’re taking a look inside the all-new Smart car.
Design
As always, the new Smart ForTwo is made to be as compact as possible, perfect for manoeuvring in busy cities. You won’t be moving your couch with this little smart car, but it does boast the smallest turning circle of any car on the market right now; only 6.95m, meaning you could even turn this bad boy around in a garden shed. A slightly higher bonnet gives the car a more conventional aesthetic and is less boxy than previous versions of the ForTwo. It’s a little wider, while remaining the same length, giving both driver and passenger more space to play with – all while staying as nimble as ever. The trademark contrasting two colour body scheme comes in over 40 different combinations and extends to the interior too; you have plenty of bright fabrics to choose from for seats and dash.
Performance
Apparently Smart car designer Michael Gebhart got those letters we sent him and successfully improved on the two major issues that plagued the previous Smart ForTwo – the bumpy ride on rough surfaces and the clunky gears. A new chassis with a better suspension means we won’t be bouncing around on rough roads anymore, and even jumping a curb has been significantly softened. The new 5-speed manual gearbox combined with the 89bhp 1.0litre engine make for a very smooth getaway – but this is, after all, a city car at heart. So speed may not be this Smart car’s forte, but why should it be?
Features
Even at the entry level, the new Smart ForTwo offers a host of sexy features. The standard kit for the little Smart car comes with cruise-control, climate control, alloys and a 3.5 inch colour screen with an exceptionally user-friendly menu system. An optional 7 inch nav screen is available – as well as a ton of extra options depending on which equipment line you choose: Passion, Prime or Proxy.
If you’re looking to buy a Smart car of your own, look no further than the new Smart ForTwo. It’s reliable, very safe (almost as safe as a Mercedes C-Class in case of a front collision, in fact) and super cheap to run and maintain. The price for an entry level Smart ForTwo Passion starts at £11,125 – and if you need some help financing your new Smart car, check out our dedicated Smart Car Finance page – or check out our online car loan calculator to get an instant quote.
