Smart Roadster

Good design never goes out of fashion. Apple's iPod has reached must-have status for mobile music lovers, and it's down to its beautiful, tactile looks that it's so popular. The iPod's motoring equivalent has to be Smart's Roadster, and our long-term model has certainly won us over with its wonderfully crafted lines and instantly recognisable shape over the past 11 months.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Chris Thorp

November 2004

Good design never goes out of fashion. Apple's iPod has reached must-have status for mobile music lovers, and it's down to its beautiful, tactile looks that it's so popular. The iPod's motoring equivalent has to be Smart's Roadster, and our long-term model has certainly won us over with its wonderfully crafted lines and instantly recognisable shape over the past 11 months.
It's no surprise that a Roadster i-Move special with iPod kit is due next year. Unfortunately, KR53 PFU will be long gone by then, as the time has come for us to hand back the keys and give our final verdict on the funky Smart.
Before it's taken away, everyone will want one last glance at the sharp silver slash of the Tridion safety cell, which contrasts so well with the bulbous rounded red body. Kids love Smarts for their unorthodox shapes, but it seems almost everyone has grown to adore the appearance of the little red Roadster, irrespective of age. Key to the appeal of this particular car is the three-spoke alloy wheels, which came as part of the ΂£655 Sport pack. Add ΂£595 air-conditioning, a ΂£95 speaker upgrade and the ΂£170 silver finish for the Tridion cell and our model cost ΂£15,028 when new. That's not exactly what we expected when Smart first told us of its plans for a low-budget sports car, but at least the running costs have proved frugal. All four tyres still look fresh after nearly 12,500 miles of motoring, and other than the work carried out at the ΂£160.45 first service, there have been no other bills to shell out for.
The only drain on our wallets has been fuel, with the final average consumption standing at 42.9mpg. While that's short of Smart's 55mpg combined figure, it's still impressive given the fact that most of the Roadster's miles have been covered in town. Our main gripe is the requirement for super unleaded, which is not only more expensive than standard fuel, but can also be difficult to find.
So has any aspect of Smart ownership let us down? The majority of our complaints are with the cabin quality. Compared to the new ForFour, the trim used throughout is sub-standard. The plastics are showing scars and the dashboard looks tatty, with parts coming loose around the stereo. However, the only fault to report is the handbrake warning light has now stopped working.
We particularly like the electric hood mechanism, which allows the driver to go topless while on the move. However, even with the hood up, wind noise is intrusive, while in summer the location of the engine behind the seats makes the cabin unbearably hot whether the roof is up or down.
Thankfully, all this is soon forgiven. While many drivers still hate the six-speed clutchless manual gearbox, I enjoy the challenge of making seamless changes. One thing everyone is in agreement about is the turbocharged three-cylinder powerplant, which is superb. Providing gutsy in-gear performance with a characterful whistle from the engine bay, it's proved reliable and barely used a drop of oil, despite its high-revving, hard-working nature.
The engine is well up to the job of shifting the 790kg two-seater, but given the modest 80bhp power output, perhaps it's a good job that there isn't much room for heavy luggage. All the rear boot can hold at most is a couple of coats, and the bonnet compartment only takes soft bags.
But these are minor gripes in a car which is a triumph of form over function. The Roadster has become a favourite with the majority of Auto Express's testers, and many people have different reasons for wanting to drive it. Some love to be seen in it, others like the sporty drive, and city dwellers enjoy the compact proportions which make the Smart such a doddle in town. Whatever the needs, it's lived up to expectations and will be sorely missed. Let's hope the next owner admires the fine lines as much as we do!