[randyzimmer14]

Would someone who had the "traditional" or original smart ED that has replaced it with the new (Renault?) ED tell me your real world comparison?
Mine will come up for turn-in in a few months and I could use a bit of info on the experience. Thanks!

 

[randyzimmer14]

(by the way, the synopsis above is flawed. I was an early member but the site lost my log-in so I had to re-register. My first smart was on the second boat (yellow/silver) kept it four years. Second was red/silver, 3 year lease. Current is silver/silver ED on lease. No posts for the last ~seven years.)

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

Would someone who had the "traditional" or original smart ED that has replaced it with the new (Renault?) ED tell me your real world comparison?
Mine will come up for turn-in in a few months and I could use a bit of info on the experience. Thanks!

Comparison in terms of what?

Comfort... 453 wins, easily.
Amenities / Telematics... 453 wins.
Visuals/Fit and Finish... 453 wins.
Drivability... 453 wins.
Range... 453 wins, easily, real-world, Southern California warm climate. Not to be confused with the EPA rating of 58 in the 453 vs 68 in the 451.
Charging options... 453 wins, easily, charges as quickly as 3 hours.
Voice control... 453 has it. 451 does not.
Battery warranty... 451 has better battery warranty IF BAP contract is in effect. 451 has a "larger range" of 68 vs. 58 on the 453, so the warranty coverage will provide better guarantees in the 451 if the battery suffers from performance degradation.
Intelligence... 453 seems to have better regenerative capability than the 451 does, even if some 451's had the paddle adjustments. The 453 also has an ECO mode which assists with power conservation during acceleration and conservation while the climate control is used.
Features... many more available features and options in the smart 453. For example, smartphone integration, voice control, rear view camera, collision warning, Crosswind Assist, etc,.

 

[randyzimmer14]

Thanks, guess you like the new one a lot!
So there's less crashing over sharp bumps and the range is comparable or better?
Thanks!
rz

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

Thanks, guess you like the new one a lot!
So there's less crashing over sharp bumps and the range is comparable or better?
Thanks!
rz

Yes, the new one is better in literally every single way. The only drawback is what feels like less trunk capacity, and the side view mirror adjustment knob location on the door panel. Every other aspect of the 453 is improved IMO. Countless improvements.

The range is officially less, but my real-world driving experience tells me the 453 is easily more predictable in range than the 451 is. Very easy to achieve more range, at least here in warm and sunny Southern California. I cannot speak for all 50 states or weather conditions. Why is the range lower? I believe the EPA range tests may be a bit more strict + the manufacturer is choosing to be more conservative for battery warranty purposes. It may be more prone to degradation as it ages, but time will have to prove itself there.

I am affiliated with a dealership though (see my avatar), so you need to know that purely for disclosure purposes. Now comes the part where you roll your eyes and disregard everything I'm telling you... :crying:

 

[lebikerboy]

I live in Canada on the Wet Coast, and can tell you based on experience that the mileage for the 453 is much better than the EPA estimate. During the Autumn I was getting 91 miles per charge and now in Winter (below freezing at night) 71 miles per charge. The cabin is per-conditioned for the drive to work so the heater is not required. Sometimes the seat heaters are used however, this doesn't seem to impact the range whatsoever...

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

I live in Canada on the Wet Coast, and can tell you based on experience that the mileage for the 453 is much better than the EPA estimate. During the Autumn I was getting 91 miles per charge and now in Winter (below freezing at night) 71 miles per charge. The cabin is per-conditioned for the drive to work so the heater is not required. Sometimes the seat heaters are used however, this doesn't seem to impact the range whatsoever...

That's pretty impressive. I have seen wilder results. Sometimes I feel like I can blow past 80 miles in range, other times I can see how 58 was chosen even though I've never believed 58 miles was all it could handle. For the most part though, I believe a real world 70 mile without recharging expectation is very easy. Easier than the 451 ever was.

Most importantly, if I had to go 70 miles round trip on a 451, I would do it only if the weather is favorable. I wouldn't dare try it on cold or rainy days, because I need the heater along with front and rear wipers, heated seat, rear defroster, headlights, fog lamps, all of which consumes too much energy for cold and rainy days while trying to push the battery to 70 miles. At least the 451 has a strong onboard charger, so if push came to shove I could get a sizeable recharge in even 30-45 minutes of time. That extra 20 to 25% charge makes a huge difference in trips I'm willing to take.

 

[lebikerboy]

Should also mention that I've changed all bulbs to their LED equivalents and,
believe it or not it makes a significant difference plus, changed the tires to
ones with less rolling resistance.

 

[asalazar]

I had to look up "telematics", this is what the internet told me:

Telematics is a method of monitoring a vehicle. By combining a GPS system with on-board diagnostics it's possible to record – and map – exactly where a car is and how fast it's traveling, and cross reference that with how a car is behaving internally.

Is that a reference to the Cross Connect app? It's interesting but I find the interface a bit cryptic. Honestly it's nothing I would brag about.

From my use of our 453 the 58 mile range is pretty much spot on when driving in the cold with heater, lights, wipers, essentially running full load. I live in the greater Boston area and we have lots of twists, turns and hills. The car's efficiency is pushed at these times. Last fall I was able to reach 100 mile range as my best on a single charge. I might be able to get a bit better range but my drive times are random so I don't have the luxury to precondition the cabin.

Finally, what voice control does the car have?

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

I had to look up "telematics", this is what the internet told me:

Telematics is a method of monitoring a vehicle. By combining a GPS system with on-board diagnostics it's possible to record – and map – exactly where a car is and how fast it's traveling, and cross reference that with how a car is behaving internally.

Is that a reference to the Cross Connect app? It's interesting but I find the interface a bit cryptic. Honestly it's nothing I would brag about.

From my use of our 453 the 58 mile range is pretty much spot on when driving in the cold with heater, lights, wipers, essentially running full load. I live in the greater Boston area and we have lots of twists, turns and hills. The car's efficiency is pushed at these times. Last fall I was able to reach 100 mile range as my best on a single charge. I might be able to get a bit better range but my drive times are random so I don't have the luxury to precondition the cabin.

Finally, what voice control does the car have?

Yes, the Cross Connect app + smartphone cradle is a great way to utilize your smartphone in the car while you drive. It certainly beats not having it at all. I am kind of using the "telematics" term to describe what you mentioned as the technical definition, but also the smartphone cradle being an easily way to use your smartphone for any purpose you want to while driving the car. You can download any random app and with your phone there it just feels like whatever you want your phone to do was part of the design of the car.

Steering wheel voice control button is now functional on the 2018 smart fortwo electric drive models. It is now working with many iPhones as a way to use SIRI, and it works with many Android devices, for ex: "hello Google" and you can talk your way into using your apps.

It's pretty cool to talk my way through my Android phone as I command it to open up MAPS and speak my destination into the car all handsfree.

 

[asalazar]

Yes, the Cross Connect app + smartphone cradle is a great way to utilize your smartphone in the car while you drive. It certainly beats not having it at all. I am kind of using the "telematics" term to describe what you mentioned as the technical definition, but also the smartphone cradle being an easily way to use your smartphone for any purpose you want to while driving the car. You can download any random app and with your phone there it just feels like whatever you want your phone to do was part of the design of the car.

Steering wheel voice control button is now functional on the 2018 smart fortwo electric drive models. It is now working with many iPhones as a way to use SIRI, and it works with many Android devices, for ex: "hello Google" and you can talk your way into using your apps.

It's pretty cool to talk my way through my Android phone as I command it to open up MAPS and speak my destination into the car all handsfree.

I don't want to come across sour but I think that the phone cradle looks like something that was picked up at Auto Zone and stuck in front of the central cluster. I have one and it's functional but the fact that it covers up many of the buttons and controls is just a poor design in my opinion. I think I would be less negative if it integrated with car better or simply didn't hide the switches and radio display.

I didn't even know about the voice controls but I have a 2017 so I guess I don't need to concern myself about that. In either case I can talk to Siri simply by speaking to the phone directly, what is the advantage of using the car's interface? I usually use google maps and while that has voice control I still have to press the mic button in the app for it listen to me.

I don't find much about Cross Connect that I like. The mapping is substandard to something like Google Maps, the music interface has an annoying lag and like I wrote earlier the data from the car is a bit cryptic to manage and understand for me. It just seems that a lot of this stuff still seems in some sort of beta phase and not ready for wide release. I tried using Cross Connect the first month I owned the car but finally gave up and just used my phone apps instead. Not because it doesn't work it just doesn't work as well.

 

[OliverB]

I don’t like the fact that you can’t access Siri when the phone is paired with the radio.

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

I don’t like the fact that you can’t access Siri when the phone is paired with the radio.

You can on the 2018's electrics.

 

[OliverB]

You can on the 2018's electrics.

Software update for 2016s? I’ll be headed to dealer soon for regular checkup.

 

[Mister_smart_LA]

Software update for 2016s? I’ll be headed to dealer soon for regular checkup.

Not sure if an update will work on the 2016/17 gassers, but you can try. The mechanicals are all the same as far as I know...

It did work for my '17 gasser BRABUS cabriolet, but that was a late production '17 gasser, pretty much the same time the '17 EV's were being built... :nerd: