Smart Fortwo Coupé (04-07) - Review

Review by Dan Harrison on
Been around long enough for the novelty to wear off, but it hasn't. They still look cool, still make you giggle when one goes past and still look funky inside. Smart is owned by Mercedes-Benz so you get street-cred by association. Tiny turbocharged engine is nippy enough for town driving, paddleshift gearbox is fun and easy to use. Plastic body panels are interchangeable for different colours.
3.5 out of 5

Other Smart reviews

3.5 out of 5

Safety

A four-star Euro NCAP rating, strong safety cell, ABS, twin front airbags and stability control are standard. You also need to have your foot on the brake to engage reverse and the keys can only be removed when the car is in neutral – two quirky built-in safety features. All cars have an immobiliser and central locking; alarm is optional.

NCAP Test

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3 out of 5

Reliability

Pretty good on the whole but there have been some problems with glass roofs and rattles.

Car check problem points

Body

Scrapes and bumps from urban adventures. Remember, body panels are replaceable so it's easy to cover up crash damage.

Engine/Gearbox

Small engine works hard, so frequent oil changes are essential. Check service history carefully.

Other

Occasional problems with sunroofs.