Smart ForTwo - What the Auto Press Says
The 2011 Smart ForTwo ranks 28 out of 33 Affordable Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 56 published reviews and test drives of the Smart ForTwo, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
Smart Car
Shoppers looking for a cute city car that seats the driver plus one should consider the 2011 Smart ForTwo. But they must be willing to compromise on space, performance and to pump premium gasoline.
Smart Car
The 2011 Smart ForTwo starts around $12,000, which is a great price for an affordable small car. However, this price isn’t so great when you look at the complete package. The ForTwo’s standard features list is short. It doesn’t come with air conditioning, an audio system, power windows, Bluetooth connectivity or an auxiliary input jack. Many affordable small cars come with these options and start around $13,500. When you add these features to the ForTwo, the price approaches $14,000.
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The ForTwo’s performance isn’t so hot either. It accelerates slowly and the transmission isn’t smooth. And while this minicar has high fuel economy ratings of 33/41 mpg city/highway, it needs premium fuel, making the ForTwo earth-friendly, but not pocket-friendly.
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The ForTwo also comes with safety concerns. The 2010 model received good ratings from the insurance industry, but it only gets such high ratings because crash tests were done with cars of comparable size. If the ForTwo hit a larger car, the outcome would not be pleasant.
Smart Car
“After striking the front of the [Mercedes Benz] C class, the Smart went airborne and turned around 450 degrees,” the Insurance Industry for Highway Safety says in a press release on their new crash tests. “This contributed to excessive movement of the dummy during rebound — a dramatic indication of the Smart's poor performance but not the only one. There was extensive intrusion into the space around the dummy from head to feet. The instrument panel moved up and toward the dummy. The steering wheel was displaced upward. Multiple measures of injury likelihood, including those on the dummy's head, were poor, as were measures on both legs.”
Independently, the ForTwo sounds like a fun car to own, but when you compare it to other small cars, owning one seems like a luxury rather than a necessity. And “[w]ith the Fiesta and … the Mazda2 now in the U.S. market,” says Edmunds, “it's harder than ever to justify the Smart."
These critiques are harsh, but not all shoppers should be turned off. This Smart Car is a good urban runabout, and if that’s all you’re looking for, you won’t have any problems getting work or the grocery store and back again.
Other Cars to Consider
As a two-seater with slow acceleration, premium fuel requirements and a small cargo area, most car shoppers will cross the 2011 Smart ForTwo off their list quickly and look for alternatives with better safety scores and more space. There are a number of cars that meet these requirements.
The Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit are press favorites with good fuel economy ratings, comfortable seating for five and plenty of cargo space. They do cost a few thousand more than the base ForTwo -- the Fiesta starts at $13,320 and the Fit starts at $14,900 -- but you get a lot more space and standard features. Both have good safety ratings; the Fiesta is even a “2010 Top Safety Pick.” Both the Fit and Fiesta are also great for the urban commute as well as highway driving.
One of the ForTwo’s strongest selling points is its unique exterior styling, but at this at this price point there are cars that top the ForTwo’s looks. Two options are the Kia Soul and the Nissan Cube, boxy alternatives that stand out in a class full of average sedans. Neither can top the Fiesta and Fit’s performance or fuel economy ratings, but they do have standard features that cost extra on the base ForTwo. The Soul and Cube have air conditioning, an audio system and an auxiliary input jack for no more than $14,000. On the downside, the Soul and Cube have acceptable fuel economy ratings. You won’t get more than 26/31 mpg city/highway for the Soul and 27/31mpg city/highway for the Cube, but since they don’t need premium fuel like the ForTwo, you might save more at the pump.
