Smart performer

Until now, the Smart Fortwo, whether coupe or cabriolet, has come in three trim levels in Canada: the basic Pure, more upscale Passion and fully-equipped Limited Edition One.

Now you can throw a special Brabus into the mix.

It’s a performance/appearance package that gives the ever funky two-seater a bit of attitude: call the Brabus version a Smart with street smarts.

The package includes special Brabus badging and alloy wheels, dashboard instruments, brushed aluminum sports pedals with rubber surfaces, velour floor mats, body colour front and side skirting, sport exhaust system and a sport suspension.

Dealer installed Brabus accessories include a three-spoke steering wheel, light package for side skirts, roof spoiler, ambient lighting and badged gearshift handle.

The new 70-hp Mercedes-Benz gasoline engine is more than capable of keeping up with traffic, even when it’s flowing at a license-risking 130 km/h. The transmission shift points are set for maximum fuel economy and are rather lumpy, so the five-speed automatic works best in manual mode. You can use the floor-mounted shifter, but I prefer the wheel-mounted paddles to row up and down through the gears. Controlling shifts yourself may cut into fuel economy, but it makes for much smoother operation.

Although the Smart Fortwo is tiny, you don’t get the feeling of being in such a small car when you’re inside the tridion steel safety cell that is its foundation. But although there are amenities such as heated seats, air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, there are some giveaways as to the car’s diminutive size. For instance, the tiny cargo bay can hold three two-fours, or enough groceries for a small family – but then you have to make a separate trip to the beer store. And there’s no room for a spare tire. Instead, Smart packs a breakdown kit with a can of pressurized sealer/inflator that can temporarily fix most flats.

This Smart rides on great looking Brabus alloy wheels and fat radial tires – 15 inches up front, 17 inches on the rear wheels – but its lowered Brabus sport suspension likes rough pavement even less than do other Smarts – and that’s saying something. For a vehicle that’s supposed to be the ideal urban vehicle because of its size, it sure doesn’t like trolley tracks, potholes and speed bumps. It’s actually much more at home in suburbia – not the car’s intended environment, but where I’m seeing more and more of them.

However, unlike other Smarts I’ve driven, with that lowered suspension I never got the feeling I was going to test the car’s safety cell construction by tipping it over in hard cornering.

And the old expression “turns on a dime” could have been invented for this car. With its wheelbase of 1.87 metres, its turning circle is a mere 8.75 metres – much less than the 9.4 metres required by the sub-compact Toyota Yaris.

I discovered an added bonus to the Smart Fortwo during this road test – not only is it easy to park, but it’s easy to wash.

Our local do-it-yourself car wash gives you four minutes for $3 – enough to soap and rinse a compact, but not enough for a big SUV, even if you hurry. I found I could wash the Smart at my leisure and even had time left on the meter when it was all done.

The padded convertible top is completely water-tight and goes up and down at the touch of a button – no latches or snaps to undo. It can fold back like a ragtop or retract all the way. Roof side rails easily snap in (or out) and can be stowed in dedicated slots in the rear deck lid for that true convertible look.

Priced per pound, I guess it’s expensive. But what else can you buy for under $26,000 that’s so much fun?