MCC Smart Roadster
When we first heard of Smart's plans to build a sporty two-seater roadster, we were excited by the idea. The prospect of a squat, compact, budget driver's car combining all the charm of the ForTwo with superb dynamics was something to look forward to.
As much as we would like to say this is the pick of the Roadster range, the Light will feel too basic for most Smart buyers. Without alloy wheels, the cheeky two-seater looks a bit sorry for itself, so we reckon the standard Roadster will be worth the extra £1,518 to the majority of customers.
When we first heard of Smart's plans to build a sporty two-seater roadster, we were excited by the idea. The prospect of a squat, compact, budget driver's car combining all the charm of the ForTwo with superb dynamics was something to look forward to. Now, 12 months after the Smart was launched, we feel let down by only one thing - the Roadster isn't exactly cheap.
To try and revert back to the original concept of low-cost sports car ownership, Smart has produced the special-edition Roadster Light. While the name suggests that it's a low-weight, high-performance variant, this model is actually only a new entry-level version stripped of any unnecessary luxury.
Unfortunately, the first thing you will notice is that the alloy wheels have been removed from the list of standard equipment. Although that's fine for the entry-level ForTwo, we think it spoils the Roadster's aggressive image.
The Tridion safety cell is available in black only, unlike on more upmarket models where there's a choice of col-ours. Move inside, and the spartan feel continues. Standard kit includes electric windows, power-steering and ESP stability control, but buyers who decide to do without the optional air-con will soon regret it as the little cabin quickly becomes uncomfortably hot and stuffy.
The thin, cheap-feeling steering wheel also does little to dispel worries over this Smart's trim and build quality. Like all versions of the Roadster, it falls behind the standard set by the ForTwo. On the road, the smaller steel wheels give a slight improvement in ride quality, but they make the electric power-steering feel over-assisted. Still, the innovative 80bhp 699cc three-cylinder turbo en-gine remains unchanged from that in the more potent models, providing surprisingly gutsy performance.
A disappointing 0-60mph sprint time of 10.9 seconds is thanks to the sluggish clutchless manual transmission, but in-gear acceleration is strong. At £11,995, the Light is £1,518 cheaper than a standard Roadster. However, as we experienced with our long-term test car, it's hard to resist raiding the Smart options list, which can easily push the car's list price up to £15,000.
On the plus side, buyers aged from 21-79 will get a year's free insurance while stocks last. The Light does give cheaper entry into Roadster ownership - but even with free cover, we think most buyers will still feel shortchanged.
