Fortwo still Smart

When the Smart Fortwo debuted in Canada in 2004, it seemed plausible that an old man driving one of the tiny microcars in the middle of winter could get more thumbs up from passing motorists than a gorgeous blonde behind the wheel of a bright yellow Lamborghini on a beautiful summer day.

People loved checking out the quirky little two-seater that could be parked perpendicular to a curb one minute, and be flying down the highway at 100 km/h the next.

Of course, it’s easy to superficially admire a car when it’s stopped at a red light. Actually driving one is something completely different. And that’s the thing: back in 2004, the Fortwo was a really neat vehicle when stacked up against other small cars. It had a good list of standard features and was safer than most people gave it credit for.

But things move quickly in the automotive industry, and in the six years since the Fortwo’s arrival in Canada, compact cars have grown by leaps and bounds in terms of features.

When it comes to size, the Fortwo may not technically have any true competitors in Canada, but names like ‘Honda Fit’ and ‘Toyota Yaris’ tend to pop up in conversations when people ask about alternatives to the ‘Smart car’. Quite simply, there are plenty of vehicles that are about the same as, or less than, the Fortwo’s starting price of $14,990, and they offer a lot more.

It still deserves some props though. First off, the Fortwo may cause even average-sized people to cringe at the though of cramming themselves inside, but there’s actually a lot of leg and head room for its two occupants. Even with a steering wheel that’s fixed and front seats that only adjust four ways, we’re taken aback by how comfortable we are behind the wheel.

There’s also a surprising amount of cubbies, compartments and storage nets in which to stock items, and since everything in the vehicle is quite literally within arm’s reach of both occupants, it’s easy to put away and retrieve whatever you need.

The other issue almost everyone has with the Fortwo is safety, but with four airbags (do you need many more in a car this size?!), electronic stability program, antilock brakes and a high-strength steel safety cage included as standard equipment on all models, that’s no more an issue than with any other small car.

With the original model’s diesel engine gone from Canada, the replacement is a three-cylinder gasoline-only version that has a miniscule 1.0-litre displacement (999 cc if you ask anyone working for Smart). It produces a whopping 70-horsepower and 68 lb.-ft. of torque.

It doesn’t sound like a lot, but with the right transmission, this lightweight vehicle (with a curb weight of a mere 820 kg.) could theoretically get moving quickly. Sadly, the five-speed automatic to which the engine is mated is sure to give some drivers nightmares. It lurches from one gear to the next when shifting up, and though the engine itself actually has some decent pep to it, it’s the hesitation between shifts that makes passing manoeuvres a challenge to pull off. There is a manual shift mode that makes things slightly more bearable.

The fuel economy is another issue. Not only are competitors closing the gap in this sense as well, but the Fortwo only sips premium gasoline. That’s likely to be a real deal breaker for someone on a limited income looking for an inexpensive vehicle.

The typical Fortwo owner has to be a true city dweller in order to really take advantage of what the vehicle has to offer, and even then, it’s far from perfect. At the end of the day, being cute and easy to park can only take you so far.