smart fortwo Part 2: Interior & User Experience

Never judge a book by its cover. That's what we're all taught while growing up. That saying popped into my head as I reflected on my experience with the smart fortwo - a car full of surprises. I have to admit I had a preconceived notion that this car was little more than a novelty item. At least that's how I thought it would be perceived in the American market. But my time with this smallest of cars completely surprised me.

Walking up to the smart, the first thing you notice is its tiny size and footprint. It's comical really. You knew it was small from the photos, but it's surprising exactly how miniscule it is in person. But as you walk around it, you begin to realize that this is, in fact, a real car, not a glorified golf cart.

Once inside the fortwo, the surprises continue. There's a ton of content. Stuff you'd expect to find in cars costing much more money. Power windows, power mirrors, power door locks - I'm starting to sound like a salesman! The instrument panel even has a gear indicator in case you forget how many times you've pulled back on the up-shift paddle.

Then there are some funky elements you won't find on any car at any price - such as these two bug-eyes sprouting up from the dashboard housing the tach and the clock - neat, fun touches that are in keeping with the smart fortwo's overall personality.

The most surprising element of the fortwo awaits inside the car. You walk up thinking, "ok, it's small, so it's going to be cramped in there."¯ And then you find that there's actually a surprising amount of room inside. In fact, there's as much legroom as in a full size SUV, and about the same amount of headroom. They could have called it the smart optical illusion. Amazing.

Still, your reservations about its overall comfort and usability persist - until you drive the car. It's only when you've been behind the wheel that you fully understand that this car is much more than a novelty item. The fortwo works perfectly well as a car. It doesn't drive like you think it should judging by its looks. In fact, if you drive the fortwo around town running errands for a little while, you'll forget you're in such a tiny car. Two things will serve as reminders though; first, you'll notice that everyone will be looking at you - kinda weird initially. Secondly, you'll shock yourself every time you climb out of it and look back expecting to see the rest¯ of the car, which of course isn't there.

The only dynamic quality that betrays the fortwo's size is its short wheelbase induced choppiness. You'll mostly feel it over expansion joints on the freeway. Granted, this car wasn't conceived as a highway cruiser, but here in Southern Califonia you can't go anywhere without getting on the freeway, so it's a bit of an annoyance that you'll have to live with unless you live in the city and never venture out of town.

But even forgiving it that minor dynamic flaw, I'm afraid you might be disappointed by another aspect of the fortwo's everyday liveability - its performance at the gas pump. Yes, we know not to judge a book by its cover, but come on - look at the fortwo. You just know the thing is going to get 100 mpg. Ok, maybe 50 miles per gallon. But no, it doesn't. Our time with the fortwo saw us averaging around 37mpg. Not shabby, but just not what you'd expect given its appearance and size.

So the story isn't all rainbows and butterflies, but at least it's a real story, not a fantasy. The fact is the smart fortwo is a usable car that is both fun to drive and fun to share with onlookers. Sure, it has its shortcomings (pun intended), but every car has its compromises.

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 3: Performance

smart fortwo

Performance
- Acceleration: Just adequate around town - Lacking everywhere else
- Handling: Very active stability control is welcomed for once
- Braking: A little unstable when used aggressively, but effective

Design
- Exterior: Fun, honest, makes people smile - a lot
- Interior: Best aspect of this car - clever, fun, useful

Utility
- Comfort: Legroom and headroom equal to full size SUVs
- Space: Huge for a two door, rear-engined car with a tiny footprint

Safety
- Dynamics: Stability control relieves your fears, but physics cannot be denied
- Technology: Every airbag, rollbar-like safety cage, aggressive stability control, ABS, etc.

Value
- Price: You pay for its funkiness factor - there are better values out there
- Mileage: Hard to argue with high 30s, low 40s, but looks suggest more

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Makes you want to hug it every morning
- Fun to spank: Fun to get reactions, but not to hustle

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Rear engine / Rear wheel drive
Engine: 1.0 liter, inline 3 cylinder
Power (SAE): 71 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque: 68 lbs-ft @ 4500 rpm
Redline: 6000 rpm
Gearbox: 5 speed automated manual
Curb Weight: 1808 lbs.
0-60 mph: 14.5 sec.
1/4 mile: 20.0 sec.
Top Speed: 91 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 33 city / 41 highway
Base Price: $14,235
Competitors: Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Vespa moped