Smart City Coupe Passion
It might have won the hearts of a loyal band of owners, but the Smart City Coupe has always been something of a compromise.
At last, the Smart feels like a 'proper' car. Although the new-for-2003 model range looks little different from the outgoing model, the changes under the skin have transformed the driving experience. With progress like this, the Smart brand looks set to go from strength to strength.
It might have won the hearts of a loyal band of owners, but the Smart City Coupe has always been something of a compromise. The combination of intelligent design, miracle packaging and limitless character has proven impressive, but performance, high-speed stability and transmission smoothness were left wanting. And although owners were willing to put up with these quirks, many potential buyers were put off.
Smart's engineers have listened to the criticism and taken action once again - this is the tiny car's fourth major update in as many years. You might not be able to spot the differences immediately, as the fresh Smart logo on the nose is the only external difference between this and the car it replaces, but the newcomer is actually a comprehensively improved machine.
Under the skin, several changes have taken place. The engine has had its first-ever upgrade, and capacity has been increased from 599cc to 698cc. The entry-level Pure gets an extra 6bhp to produce 50bhp, while the other models rise 7bhp to 61bhp. This results in 1.3 seconds being shaved off the 0-60mph time of all variants, and fuel consumption now averages an impressive 60.1mpg.
But the most noticeable difference on the road is the broader power delivery, as the unit has over 15 per cent more torque below 3,000rpm. It's easier to keep up with traffic without thrashing the little engine to the red line, making for far smoother acceleration and a greatly refined drive at all speeds.
The gearbox was seen as the original model's main bugbear, however, with jerky changes in both automatic and sequential modes. In comparison, the new unit is much quicker to swap cogs and changes are far smoother. And in fully auto mode, there's now a proper kickdown feature. It's a remarkable transition, and one which makes the latest version far more pleasant to drive, especially with the optional steering wheel-mounted paddleshift.
What's more, power-steering is on offer for the first time. Although our test car was not fitted with the option, the electrically operated system allows a fatter front wheel-and-tyre combination to be used, making the Smart more stable through corners.
Even without it, though, many of the old City Coupe's stability problems have been addressed. All new models come with standard ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), which uses independent braking on each wheel to ensure the car remains controllable in emergency situations. Although it's a first in the city car sector, the system hasn't been built to a budget, and even on icy roads it works well. The greater stability has allowed engineers to soften the suspension and incorporate more spring travel. In town, the car feels far less harsh over potholes and ruts, and rides much more smoothly on motorways, too. Add electronic brake assistance and a new hill-start feature, which stops the car rolling back on gradients without applying the handbrake, and you can have a fresh confidence in the Smart's abilities.
A larger fuel tank and built-in service monitor mean the runabout is now a viable proposition for motorists who have to venture beyond urban areas, too. The downside? Prices rise slightly, with an average of around £200 being added to most models. But, with the extent of the modifications, that represents good value.
