Smart Forfour (04-06) - Review

The interior is surprisingly roomy for such a small car and the Forfour can be specified with either four or five seats - although the five seat option is best really for kids. Legroom is adequate and there's plenty of headroom too, but the rear window line cuts into shoulder space and makes the back feel quite cramped, especially noticeable for taller passengers. The ride is fairly firm but far from uncomfortable and the Smart is happy cruising along the motorway, although the smaller petrol engines can be quite noisy at higher revs.

This is the most practical Smart car and it shows in the rear seats. Along with the conventional 60/40 split fold system, the rear bench also slides backwards or forwards to increase rear passenger room or boot space. However, with the rear seats slid back the boot is fairly small while a high load lip means it's not particularly user friendly if you have heavy items to lift out. There are plenty of storage areas up front, including a large dash-bin above the glovebox, although the narrow door bins aren't very useful.

Like other Smart models, the Forfour has a very unique cabin and higher specification models come with fabric-covered door and dashtop sections (often in bright colours), giving it a funky appearance. Lesser models are a little drab in comparison, and some of the plastics feel a little cheap. However, the cowled instrument dials are sporty and there are an extra two pod-style displays on the dash top. Many of the switches and controls are borrowed from Mercedes-Benz, helping to give the Smart a classy look. The driving position is pretty good too, helped by decent adjustment in the steering wheel and seat.