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Smart ForTwo

The Smart ForTwo's performance is perky, but slow steering and jerky gearbox may scare away some buyers

Smart ForTwo

By Sam Hardy

June 2007

  • Rating:
For better or worse, there's no way you could confuse the old Subaru Impreza for its replacement. But you might do just that with Smart's new ForTwo.
 
On the move, the extra width and longer wheelbase mean the ForTwo handles and rides better than its predecessor.

Stylists certainly haven't risked much - the only real changes to the city car's shape are slightly tweaked lights and a more pronounced bonnet line. We got hold of an early left-hand-drive model to put the Smart through its paces on UK roads for the first time.

Thanks to an increase in length by 195mm and width by 42mm, the ForTwo's cabin is now more roomy, even for two six-footers. Indeed, the cabin has improved greatly. The dash pods remain in place, but the centre console is now more upmarket, with an integrated stereo and better build quality. The 1.0-litre engine is another leap forward, and offers 71bhp in the guise of our mid-range Passion car.

On the move, the extra width and longer wheelbase mean the ForTwo handles and rides better than its predecessor. But the steering is still heavy and the gearbox demands lots of concentration to ensure a smooth change. And in automatic mode, it's as jerky as ever. Ironically, all this means that the ForTwo still doesn't add up as a city car. And although it's quieter and more stable at speed than before, it wouldn't be your first choice for the motorway, either.

At least it should be cheap to run, returning 60.1mpg and emitting only 112g/km of CO2. Other than that, the ForTwo is something of a disappointment. There are developments in the pipeline - a clever stop/start version is on its way - but for now we wish Smart had moved the game on further.

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Smart ForTwo
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FIRST OPINION

    Fans of the old ForTwo will love the new car. It's lost none of the visual charm, there's more space inside and its performance is perky and economical. However, many foibles remain - namely the slow steering and jerky gearbox. Smart might find it hard to attract new buyers, particularly given the raft of excellent city cars on the market.
 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £8,540
    Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl
    Power: 71bhp
    0-62mph: 13.8 seconds
    Top speed: 92mph
    Transmission: Five-speed semi-automatic, rear-wheel drive
    Economy: 60.1mpg
    CO2: 112g/km
    Standard equipment: Driver and passenger airbags, electric windows, air-conditioning, CD player, electronic stability control
    On sale: September
     
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