New smart car review - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

smartie · 08-07-2007, 02:23 PM

I just picked up a copy of a British magazine called Autocar. They have a review of the new smart. You can see it online at autocar.co.uk

SmartCard · 08-07-2007, 08:22 PM

Thanks for the story, here's the direct link.

They only gave it 3 out of 5 stars

with the main concerns still being the steering and tranny.

I also came across another review yesterday at msn autos (Canada):

msn review

A little more positive this one.
I think the bottomline is...for the car the Smart really is supposed to be, it does it well and has been improved. Obviously, if you want a performance car with superior handling, then you better look elsewhere.

Lewis · 08-09-2007, 05:04 AM

I've driven the Punto diesel in Europe as a rental and in all honesty I'd buy it over the Smart for two also (like the reviewer says- 25% better mileage, four seats and a real trunk with better ride and handling- same price) if it was available in the US- BUT IT'S NOT so for a little economical runabout our choices in the land of the free are much more limited.

kurt013 · 08-09-2007, 05:07 PM

They did average 47 mpg on the test and said the government ratings (European, however they are calculated) were 43 and 58. These are the first real numbers i think we've seen on the new model.

MicroNut · 08-09-2007, 07:38 PM

Bear in mind that the numbers quoted in Autocar are in miles per imperial gallon. Converted into miles per US gallon they become 39.2 (test average), 35.6 (government urban) and 48.0 (government combined). The government numbers are the standard EU test results; these are listed for all 451 models in the international brochure, which is available on the smart website. Autocar are being a little disingenuous since they're quoting the results for the Cabrio, which are a little worse than those for the Coupe. The full set of test results in US mpg is:

Coupe
Urban Cycle - 38.5
Extra-Urban Cycle - 58.8
Combined - 50.0

Cabrio
Urban Cycle - 35.6
Extra-Urban Cycle - 57.3
Combined - 48.0

These numbers are for the 71bhp engine. You can convert any of the results into US mpg by dividing the liters/100km value into 235.

lhoboy · 08-11-2007, 09:13 AM

Here's Edmund's review on the U.S. version: http://www.edmunds.com/smart/fortwo/2008/review.html

smartInDenver · 08-16-2007, 09:19 AM

Does anyone know what Edmund's means by "engine is not suited for highway travel"? I heard the smart Road Tour has the cars driving from city to city on highways, at highway speeds. And when I was at the Road Tour, the rep I spoke with said he was driving at 80 mph at times, normally 70-75.

They said "it feels woefully lackluster (and a little worrisome) on the highway" ... has anyone heard anything about the highway performance.

bentoutofshape · 08-16-2007, 08:42 PM

This is crazy. I used to have a '87 toyota tercel ez. 78hp with a 4 speed. It weighed 1970lbs. I drove on the interstate daily (30 miles each way) and didn't have an issue.
Try comparing the geo metro to the smartcar.

lhoboy · 08-16-2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bentoutofshape

This is crazy. I used to have a '87 toyota tercel ez. 78hp with a 4 speed. It weighed 1970lbs. I drove on the interstate daily (30 miles each way) and didn't have an issue.
Try comparing the geo metro to the smartcar.

Edmunds probably had the test drive done by a soccer mom that normally drives an escalade with a cellphone stuck in her ear while disciplining the kids in the back seat. No... a SmartCar will not be her vehicle of choice at any speed.

Lewis · 08-17-2007, 05:03 AM

The part I find humorous is the amount of horsepower and acceleration that Americans demand considering the traffic jams and low speed limits that we "enjoy".

There is no rational need for this level of power so it leads me to believe that it's an emotional need being satisfied. I think most people are so powerless in their daily lives with their jobs, our nanny government etc. that they seem to have a silly need to compensate with high powered cars and SUVs which can never even be used in a way that would actually utilize the power or off road capability.

Personally I would actually be happier with the diesel Smart as slow as that is because the mileage would be well worth it.

All I can say is I hope that these irrational people driving their 300 horsepower cars get their emotional needs met as they sure do pay a lot of money (much of it to people who would like to see us beheaded- but then they take care of that problem by putting ribbons on their SUVs) for their childish emotional satisfactions.