To add to what Padawan said - buying a car is a very personal thing - a combination of what you can afford, what you want, and what you really need.
If you are looking for "high performance" (in the traditional sense), the smart is not for you. If you are a "soccer mom" (no gender reference intended, but it does paint a picture) - the smart is not for you. If you are looking for a vehicle to tow your 25' fishing boat to the beach on weekends, the smart is not for you.
Now, if you are looking for a relatively in-expensive, safe, fun

vehicle that can seat two, and take along some luggage on a trip (and can pull a small trailer, if needed); if you want something that turns heads, starts conversations at gas stations, parking lots, stop lights, etc., if you want something with a phenomenal cabon footprint, all the way from cradle to grave, then don't bother at looking at all those other new models - they can't hold a candle (lit or otherwise) to the smart.