My Euro trip to Rome – Geneva – Paris – London recently makes me interested to discuss about the small compact city car from Mercedes, Smart Fortwo which is one of the famous city car used in European country. Is it a real smart city car?
Despite of the high quality Mercedes Benz have a very pleasant comment from car user, the Smart Fortwo have so many bad comments due to it is small, the gear problem and the value for money issue. But still, we can see so many Smart Fortwo on the road especially when I am in Italy. I just wonder why. Why people choose to buy that small car when you can afford to buy another bigger car with the same price.
In Malaysia, the price of Smart Fortwo is around RM100k! Yes I understand why not many Malaysian buy it. But oversea, the price is between RM42k to RM60k. It is cheaper off course but is it really worth for your money?
Here with we share some of the pictures of smart fortwo shown in Geneva autoshow with many variant and the latest Smart Fortwo ED Electric Drive.
Despite its diminutive size, the two-seat 2010 Smart ForTwo is a real car, rather than just a novelty. But while the ForTwo is a competent city car that’s fun to drive on short runs or in urban traffic, many buyers will be better served by a more conventional small car or a hybrid. When traffic thins out and the roads open up to the beltways and interstates, the ForTwo’s drawbacks-a hard ride, noisy interior, lack of power, and tense roadholding-become serious.
Factor in middling fuel economy and the “wow” factor is quickly muted. At a starting price of RM42,000 for the most basic model, the Smart ForTwo competes with subcompacts like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris-along with lifestyle cars like the MINI Cooper and perhaps even hybrids like the all-new Toyota Prius. But many Smart buyers likely want to make a statement with the Smart’s unique combination of tiny size and style. The only change for 2010 is a new RM300 armrest option.
The 2010 Smart ForTwo offers two basic models: a coupe with a fixed roof, and a Cabriolet that has two removable roof panels for a more open-air experience. With its slab sides and non-existent nose, the ForTwo looks wide for its length of less than 9 feet, and taller than some subcompacts.
All Smarts have a silver or black slash running from the windshield post, along the roof rail through the rear pillar to the doorsill, effectively outlining the door opening. The total effect of the tiny car is guaranteed to draw attention, positive and negative.
Last year, the BRABUS edition-available in both coupe and cabriolet guises-joined the Smart ForTwo lineup.
The BRABUS features elements meant to enhance the ForTwo’s styling and performance. From the outside, the BRABUS is recognizable by its 15-inch front and 17-inch rear alloy wheels, a reduced front skirt, a rear skirt that accommodates the model’s dual chrome-tipped exhaust pipes, and the addition of side skirts.
Likes Parks absolutely anywhere Very roomy seats, two of ‘em Quick, responsive steering Standard electronic stability control Dislikes Unimpressive fuel economy for its size Borderline scary on the highway Bouncy, busy, jittery ride Minimal passing power at speed Despite its diminutive size, the two-seat 2010 Smart ForTwo is a real car, rather than just a novelty.
But while the ForTwo is a competent city car that’s fun to drive on short runs or in urban traffic, many buyers will be better served by a more conventional small car or a hybrid. When traffic thins out and the roads open up to the beltways and interstates, the ForTwo’s drawbacks-a hard ride, noisy interior, lack of power, and tense roadholding-become serious. Factor in middling fuel economy and the “wow” factor is quickly muted.
Further along the style axis, the sprightly MINI Cooper is far more fun to drive at speed and just as good on gas, at 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway. Finally, hybrids like the new Toyota Prius and even the Honda Civic Hybrid compact sedan offer full seating for four or five and far better fuel economy, albeit at a higher price.
Smart will offer its ED (Electric Drive) model in selected cities, an all-electric model that provides roughly 80 miles of range from a lithium-ion battery pack.
The ForTwo’s new cabin uses shapes, textures and fonts with a bit less originality than before. The dash is now monolithic in the mighty Mercedes manner. And it’s a shame the signature twin periscopes (rpms and clock) aren’t standard issue. On the positive side, the interior is still remarkably airy and spacious: a haven for a brace of art loving urbanites. Better yet, the ForTwo’s trunk can now swallow a full 58 gallons of luggage. One more Tumi for the road?
The stateside Smarts are motivated by a one-liter, three cylinder engine. The erstwhile powerplant is a revvy little beast, even at idle. Annoying stationary vibration aside, the mini-mill certainly gives its all– 70 horses– to the cause of forward momentum.
Guide the tachometer needle to the 6500rpm redline and you just might accelerate (if that’s the right word) from rest to 60mph in 12 seconds. The ForTwo will also cruise relatively comfortably at 70mph. That’s provided you can wait that long and surmount the recalcitrance of the FourTwo’s passion killing gearbox.
The Smart is produced by the Mercedes Car Group and sold through stand-alone Smart dealerships and Mercedes-Benz dealers.
At the same time, this car has its compromises.Its small engine wants for power, the transmission shifts awkwardly, the ride is busy, and it lacks a rear seat and cargo carrying capacity.Its owners are often okay with all of that, and in fact are often enthusiastic about it.
Price of Smart Fortwo outside Malaysia: Smart Fortwo Pure coupe (RM42,000); Passion coupe (RM49,000); Passion convertible (RM59,500).
If the price of Fortwo in Malaysia are like above, would you buy it? Is it really worth for your money?
Jom komen!