Smart Fortwo Cabriolet (07 on) - Review

Review by Dan Harrison on
Last Updated: 20 September 2010
This is the convertible version of the car that most people know simply as the Smart car - although it looks very similar the normal coupe. The model's picked up a cult following since being launched in right-hand drive form in 2001 and is now an everyday sight in towns and cities up and down the country. It's easy to see why: it's fun, simple to park, cheap to run and well equipped for urban life. The cheeky cabriolet version injects an extra dose of fun and feel-good factor in the summer thanks to a fabric roof that quickly folds down. Unfortunately it shares the same sluggish gearbox as the coupe model and is not great on open roads. However, there is a Brabus version available which adds more power and a sporty bodykit.
3.5 out of 5

Other Smart reviews

3.5 out of 5

Running costs

The Fortwo isn't especially expensive to buy, though if buying new options can bump the price up. After the initial outlay, the Fortwo's pretty cost effective to own. Fuel economy is excellent, returning up to 57mpg, it's cheap to tax and insurance is reasonable, too. The Fortwo holds its value exceptionally well and - unsurprisingly - is especially sought after in town cities. In fact, the only downside is that servicing at Smart dealers can be a little on the pricey side. Luckily there are plenty of independent Smart specialists around who won't charge as much.

* based on most recent data

Estimated fuel cost for 10,000 miles per year

Unleaded

£959 - £1,180 *

Diesel

£754 - £754 *

The estimated fuel cost figure is a guide to how much this model will cost to fuel each year, so you can compare between cars. It's calculated by using the model's average mpg (calculated from both town centre and motorway driving) and the average fuel price. It's based on the following cost-per-litre: petrol 135p and diesel 141p. Prices are updated daily.

Summary Running Costs

Servicing period

Up to two years or 25,000 miles.

Warranty

Two years/unlimited mileage.

Road tax (12 months)

£0.00 - £100.00

Vehicle excise duty (VED) varies according to the CO2 emissions and the fuel type of the vehicle. For cars registered after March 1st 2001 VED or road tax is based on the car's CO2 emissions. For cars registered before March 1st 2001 it is based on engine size.

Full running costs data

5 out of 5

Green credentials

  • A
    87
  • B
  • C
  • D
    124
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M

CO2 emission figure (g/km)

Fuel economy rating

The arrows indicate the best and worst CO2 bands for this model.

Emissions summary

Few cars have as little impact on the environment as the Fortwo. The biggest CO2 output comes from the Brabus model and that's only 124g/km - far lower than other small performance cars. The rest of the range fares even better and the mhd models from 2008 emit just 103g/km of CO2 while averaging 66mpg. A German environmental institute has praised Smart for how environmentally friendly it is in the way it builds the car, awarding it an environmental certificate.

Find the exact engine and CO2