smart fortwo cabrio convertible (2007 – ) expert review

1. Exterior

The smart fortwo cabrio is one of the most distinctive cars on the road. The most striking thing is its size – the fortwo is just 2.7 metres long, which is almost a metre shorter than a Ford Ka. The three-stage, electrically adjusted fabric roof works brilliantly even if it’s really little more than a full-length sunroof. The important thing though is that it’s utterly usable, effective and stylish.

Our rating: 4

2. Interior

smart’s designers didn’t run out of steam after sketching the exterior, as the interior is equally wacky. There are pods on the dash top containing instruments, while some of the details look like they were inspired by Fisher Price products and are all the better for it. The materials used are generally high-quality, while the switchgear feels precisely engineered and the seats are comfortable as well. There’s no height adjustment for the seats and the steering wheel isn‘t adjustable.

Our rating: 4

3. Practicality

There’s only so much practicality that a car the size of the smart can offer. It’s a two-seater but there’s plenty of space in the cabin for anyone over six feet tall. The large doors open wide and the 220-litre boot can be expanded to 340 litres using the space behind the front seats. However, the car comes into its own when it comes to parking.

Our rating: 2

4. Ride and handling

Drive the smart and it’s clear that its dynamics don’t compensate for the asking price, although Mercedes’ engineers have done a good job considering the elevated seating position and short wheelbase. The fortwo dives under braking and squats during acceleration, while the ride is hard, to counteract roll in bends. There’s no power steering and while a car this size shouldn’t need it, it loads up in bends to the point where it really would be a benefit to have some assistance.

Our rating: 2

5. Performance

There are diesel and petrol engines available, the former being a 54bhp 0.8-litre unit, while the latter is a 1-litre powerplant with a choice of 70bhp, 83bhp or 101bhp. Top speeds range between 84mph and 90mph. The 101bhp engine is exclusive to the Brabus, which also features even sportier suspension, so it’s best to give it a miss to save your spine. The diesel engine is rather vocal so it’s better to go for either the 70bhp or the 83bhp petrol unit. It’s not the engine that’s the issue though, as the biggest disappointment is the semi-automatic transmission. It’s slow to swap gears, and the manual over-ride offers little relief, as there’s still a frustrating pause while the chosen gear is engaged. As a result, the noisy engine revs more than it needs to, although at least the three-cylinder thrum is amusing – for a while.

Our rating: 2

6. Running costs

Such a small car with an engine as tiny as this is bound to be reasonably economical, but the fortwo isn’t always as frugal as you might think. Buy a diesel version and officially you can expect up to 85.6mpg with CO2 emissions of just 86g/km. Go for one of the petrol editions and fuel consumption ranges between 54.3mpg and 65.6mpg. However, in reality it can be hard to get much over 45mpg, as the engine has to be worked rather hard to make progress on the open road.

Our rating: 3

7. Reliability

smart is part of the Mercedes-Benz empire, so the cars are engineered thoroughly. The small engines have to work hard and suspension systems take a battering, but when it comes to dependability, the fortwo has so far proved to be very good. There have been no major product recalls.

Our rating: 4

8. Safety

The smart fortwo carries a four-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, which is clearly not as good as a maximum five-star score, but for such a small car it’s very impressive. At the heart of the fortwo is an immensely strong structure, and while the crumple zones aren’t that large, they are very effective. Alongside anti-lock brakes there’s electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), electronic stability programme (ESP), brake assist and traction control, while hill start assist is also included. The driver and passenger get a front airbag each while pre-tensioners are fitted for the seat belts too.

Our rating: 3

9. Equipment

The fortwo is offered with a choice of three trims, starting with Pulse, progressing through Passion and ending with Brabus. Whichever version there are electric windows, climate control, alloy wheels, CD/tuner and a sports steering wheel. Buy a Passion and Smart adds upgraded interior trim, a different design of alloy wheels and steering wheel plus some sportier exterior detailing. Move up to a Brabus and there are heated leather seats plus a raft of sporty details inside and out, such as logos, decals, stainless steel pedals and brushed alloy highlights.

Our rating: 3

10. Why buy?

Perhaps the best city car available, the smart fortwo is agile, nippy, economical and very chic. It’s also incredibly easy to park and surprisingly safe, plus in open-topped form it’s good fun too.

Our rating: 3