There are several clever choices for those that that can't wait the 12 to 18 months to take delivery of a 2009 Smart.

Read about the smart car buying process.

One such car is the Toyota Prius. The Prius gets around 60 mpg in town, while that drops to around 50 mpg on the highway.

The Toyota Yaris - The Yaris is more powerful and larger than the smart cars, gets 34 mpg in the city and an estimated 39 mpg for highway driving make it a great non-hybrid choice.

The Mini Cooper - The Mini offers small size with great style and the Mini packs more power than many other cars in its class.

Smart Car of America has tried for years to help our readers purchase their Smart car and have offered information, news and buying tips on how to get your car as quickly as possible.

The 2009 Smart's are scheduled to be available in mid-November. Read how to start the buying process to take delivery of a new Smart Fortwo.