smart fortwo Part 3: Performance Review

How smart is America?

With gasoline prices hovering around $4 per gallon, and the number of cars on our freeways seemingly unaffected, it makes you wonder.

And of course, the subject that has pundits, politicians and even average citizens scratching their heads at the moment is how to save the environment.

Everyone seems to be jumping on the green bandwagon. But if you look around while sitting in traffic, what do you see? Lightweight, efficient vehicles? I don't think so. What I still see on a daily basis are big seven- and eight-passenger SUVs. And usually with only one person on board - the driver. Are Americans ready to do more than just pay lip service to fuel efficiency and environmental responsibility? Just how far are we willing to go to turn our good intentions into action?

To answer that question, we decided to drive America's smallest car, the smart fortwo.

The fortwo attracts attention from nearly everyone who sees it. People want to stop you and ask questions about it. "Is that thing electric?" "Does it get good mileage?" "How fast does it go?" "Do you feel safe in it?"

The answers are:
- No, it's not electric. It's actually powered by a three-cylinder gasoline engine.
- Yes, it gets decent mileage, although not quite as great as you might expect - 35 to 40-some miles per gallon.
- It'll go fast enough to get you in trouble - just over 90 mph.
- And concerning safety, you certainly feel a bit vulnerable at first.

But when you learn that the smart fortwo has passed more crash tests than most cars are subjected to, you start to feel a bit more secure. In smart's words, the tridion safety cell protects its passengers like the hard shell of a walnut. But lets not kid ourselves, you can't beat physics. In a land of 5000-pound-plus SUVs, the smart is a little minnow swimming among a bunch of whales.

Being a small fish does have its advantages, of course. The smart fortwo is super-nimble around town. See a parking spot you like? Slide 'er right in.

The smart feels very stable around corners, with the electronic stability program kicking-in if you get too frisky.

It's only when you venture out of the city and onto the freeways that the fortwo starts to make you question its real-world usability. Being so light-weight - just over 1800 lbs. - the fortwo is more susceptible to cross-winds than most cars. And while its acceleration feels adequate around town, it leaves you wanting a bit on an onramp. But let's be fair, this car wasn't designed to go from city to city, it was design to live in the city.

So, smart car or dumb car? I'll tell you why the smart fortwo is aptly named.

For starters, it makes people smile - like the New Beetle did in its day. And you can never have too much of that.

Also like the New Beetle, it alters our automotive landscape by presenting a shape that is out of the ordinary - and that too is a good thing.

But more importantly, the smart fortwo foreshadows elements of our automotive future; light weight, intelligent packaging, and generally out-of-the-box thinking.

Where the New Beetle was a nostalgic nod to the past, the smart fortwo offers us a sneak-peek into the future. It's much more than a novelty, although unfortunately, that's how it will be perceived by many in the United States.

So, you'll smile at the smart fortwo as it goes by because it's cute, or because it's funny, or perhaps just because it's unusual. Whatever the case, it won't be perceived as a real car by most Americans.

But what if it is reality. What if the smart is not just "the future" but in fact, "your future?" The question then is, will you still be smiling?

Watch the video
Read Part 1: Design
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience

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