Fuel Economy of the Smart Car

8138 Views 37 Replies 31 Participants Last post by Bill Marshall, Apr 20, 2009

Antoni Scott

Discussion Starter · Jul 16, 2007

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum. I can't wait for the smart car to be available in the USA, but I am a bit confused. After a recent trip to France, I see everyother car is a smart car. Upon my return to the USA my immediate call to Daimler-Benz resulted in them telling me the car will only get 40+ mpg.

I can buy a smart car in Canada, but they tell me (the Canadians) that it is illegal to bring it into the USA. Daimler-benz tell me this is true because it doesn't meet USA emmissions or saftey standards.

I hear the car will get 60 mpg but then I hear 40+mpg. I hear the car will sell for $12,000 and then I hear $24,000. Wow, which is it ?

Antoni

1 - 20 of 38 Posts

SmartCard

· #2 · Jul 16, 2007 (Edited)

I can't really see the mileage being too different then what is being reported for the European version - afterall its mainly a hp versus weight issue. (although Americans are typically overw..... oops, better not go there!) So I can't see it being more then 2 mpg off the 40/50/60+ (city/combined/hwy) figures by tweaking for US emission standards - hopefully. Now price, that may be another story, but Smart promises that the dealers are to stick to the MSRP - whatever that will winds up being.

Felinae

· #3 · Jul 16, 2007

Antoni,

These are definitely questions we would all like answered.

Perhaps I'll drive back from Canada in a smart when I go up to get my medications at a reduced price.

- felinae

Guarana81

· #4 · Jul 19, 2007

If you go to the official smart website www.smartusa.com the prices for the cars will pan out like this for the pure (base) model the car will start under $12,000 for the well equipped coupe under $14,000 and for the cabrio under $17,000. the cars that are on sale now that are being sold for much higher prices are gray market cars that are actually European models that are being imported and converted to reach U.S. emissions standards. The car that will be sold by smartUSA will be manufactured for the U.S. market requiring no conversion which is why the prices are so much less.

Felinae

· #5 · Jul 19, 2007

Let's not forget that the MK I smart uses a Mercedes diesel engine, so of course it's going to get better gas mileage, coupled with the lower weight of ~1,553 pounds.

The American version, the MK II smart, will be heavier at ~2,250 (?) pounds, with a MITSUBISHI (trying not to shudder) gasoline engine with a higher hp.

SmartCard

· #6 · Jul 19, 2007

Hopefully the US versions don't pork out that much!

The new model is listed 1650 lb for the coupe, and about 1720 for the cabrio.

slowpoke

· #7 · Jul 20, 2007

Now mit motors is shut down because of the earth quake

JEDI 2.0

· #8 · Aug 7, 2007

Prettymuch with rare exception, you cannot bring a car into the U.S. for daily-driver use, and Mexico/Canada auto imports are almost flat 0%. There are ways to do something like that temporarily, for race/show/etc purposes, maybe ur a rich guy from Italy & are in town for a few weeks & have ur Ferrari, but not as a average-joe daily driver. All states are different, but to my knowledge most, if not all DMVs/BMVs/MVDs, whatever it's called in your state, won't allow that.

Sucks, too, because especially in this case the vehicle doesn't meet US EPA standards. ..IT WILDLY EXCEEDS THEM

You also have to figure like ANYTHING that's new---houses, TVs, stereos, cars---it's listed for one price, but you always pay WAY more than you were supposed to, or was led to, when all is said & done.

Donniedark

· #9 · Aug 10, 2007

Mileage for Canadian Diesel Smarts!

Antoni Scott said:
Hello everyone, I am new to this forum. I can't wait for the smart car to be available in the USA, but I am a bit confused. After a recent trip to France, I see everyother car is a smart car. Upon my return to the USA my immediate call to Daimler-Benz resulted in them telling me the car will only get 40+ mpg.

I can buy a smart car in Canada, but they tell me (the Canadians) that it is illegal to bring it into the USA. Daimler-benz tell me this is true because it doesn't meet USA emmissions or saftey standards.

I hear the car will get 60 mpg but then I hear 40+mpg. I hear the car will sell for $12,000 and then I hear $24,000. Wow, which is it ?

Antoni

Hi Antoni:
You cannot register a Canadian Smart CDI because the Diesel does not meet your emission standards nor do the Diesels meet our new Canadian emission standards recently implimented. That is why the Diesel Smarts have been discontinued for 2008 and we will get the same gas model 451 that you are getting next year....ours arrive starting in September.
I cannot speak to your cost but I know the Canadian costs will run to the mid-high $20K for a loaded Passion Cab.....
As for mileage, we get 70-80+ miles per Imperial gallon (1/5th larger than a U.S. gallon) so this would be in the neighbourhood of 60+ miles per U.S. gallon.
This is all in the past except for those of us who will keep our CDI Smarts and enjoy better economy than the 451 Gas versions.
The Diesel will hopefully return to our shores but not until Blutek (or other) engineering rids the Diesel of the sulphur emissions.
Hope this clarifys your understanding of the mileage issue
DONNIEDARK

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Donniedark

· #10 · Aug 10, 2007

Forgot to mention weight !

My 2005 Smart Pulse Cabriolet weighs 1462 lbs.....soaking wet ! The new 451's will be about 200 lbs. heavier than the old style......
DONNIEDARK
.....soon I'll have enough posts to include Links and Attachments on your Forums.....Tada !

SmartCard

· #11 · Aug 10, 2007 (Edited)

Donniedark said:
.....soon I'll have enough posts to include Links and Attachments on your Forums.....Tada !

speaking of which....its odd- you already posted 5 times or so, but your count is still only 1 !?

edit: ahhh, I think I figured it out - must have something to do with the exchange rate!
(5 post Canadian = 1 US post!!!)

Donniedark

· #12 · Aug 10, 2007

I guess Canadians don't count....or are deeply discounted...LOL!

Yeah Smartcard....I kinda wondered why I was not gaining any ground....oh well I'll keep trying. When I can I will send along alink to a great video "article" by Rich Helms on the new Smart and a picture of my Smart that shows how Shrek got it's name and my neat windscreen Banner-Logo !
Till then !
DONNIEDARK

Donniedark

· #13 · Aug 10, 2007

Another post....still = 1 post ?

This is truly weird....administrator says I can post links and attachments after 3 posts....only problem is I may not live long enough for them to start adding up !....LOL
DONNIEDARK

andersenjp

· #14 · Feb 8, 2008

I think the 60mpg numbers are based on an imperial gallon. When you recalculate based on a U.S. gallon I think that equates to 48 mpg U.S. I'm getting 35-36mpg consistently combined hwy+city. I suspect that I could get the advertised 41mpg hwy if I ever stayed on the highway long enough to check it out.

Karl Roth

· #15 · Feb 8, 2008

Busted at the border

Felinae said:
Antoni,

These are definitely questions we would all like answered.

Perhaps I'll drive back from Canada in a smart when I go up to get my medications at a reduced price.

- felinae

You are now a criminal enter line to be processed
karl

[email protected]

· #16 · Feb 10, 2008

44 MPG

I just received my SMART. My first full tank of gas gave me 44 MPG. That was half city and half highway, driving economically at a steady 55 MPH.

cooknkeeper

· #17 · Feb 11, 2008

Don't American-made vehicles have'sulphur' emissions??? Surely a little smart diesel would not put out as much pollution as these big ol' trucks, etc... ??????

Robbie51

· #18 · Feb 11, 2008

[email protected] said:
I just received my SMART. My first full tank of gas gave me 44 MPG. That was half city and half highway, driving economically at a steady 55 MPH.

good to know !

prm1177

· #19 · Feb 16, 2008

Latest mileage figures at 1100 miles, 45.5 @ 60% hwy, 20% suburban, & 20 % mountain.

grand stile smart

· #20 · Feb 16, 2008

hi i have the smart made in france i got it in 2007 at eco auto inc .com and yes i payed 25000 but 45mpg in town and 60mpg on the hiway its well worth it to me and the new 08s are ok but i like the old stile better and the turbo and mercades motor and 6 speed is grate i have 14000mil on it so far. and i talked to a man in canadian and the deasels get 80mpg

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