Photo: Catalin Garmacea
Smart, the youngest car brand in Europe, has launched not one but two cars at the same time. There's the new Forfour, which we've already tested, and its smaller brother, the 2015 Fortwo.
Now, while this is the first time Smart has built a 5-door car with the engine at the back, the new Fortwo has a lot to live up to. Since 1998, over one and a half million units of this body little car have been built and sold through two different generations. For the 2015 model, the same overall formula has been used, but with more attention to quality and driving dynamics.
We've tested the new Fortwo. Here's what you need to know!
The platform is shared with the Renault Twingo, but you won't find many visible similarities. The design is refreshing and very attractive, though you will have to pay a little extra to individualize the car.
Smart has been… smart and resisted the urge to increase the size of the car. It is, however, wider in order to give extra stability in the corners and elbowroom for the passengers. The suspension is on the firm side of firm, which can be a problem if the roads are bad where you live. But the Fortwo fights by with a really small turning circle and good visibility, making this an excellent car for parking in tight spots.
Inside, the cabin shows a big improvement in terms of perceived build quality and ergonomics. You sit high up and are offered excellent front visibility, though headroom can be a problem for taller people. A large steering wheel and a slider for the air conditioning system make the cabin feel a little bit less crowded than some other city cars we've driven. Another issue we had with the car was that the doors are too long to open in tight spaces and the seatbelts are located too far back for us to reach.
The infotainment system floats lover the dash, which is covered in a mesh fabric. But the biggest improvement of all over the previous generation right below that. Smart have ditched the semi-automatic gearbox altogether. You can either have a normal 5-speed manual or, starting in early 2015, a 6-speed twin-clutch auto.
All the engines are three-cylinder petrol ones and to find out which you should buy, make sure to read our full 2015 Smart Fortwo Review.
We've tested the new Fortwo. Here's what you need to know!
The platform is shared with the Renault Twingo, but you won't find many visible similarities. The design is refreshing and very attractive, though you will have to pay a little extra to individualize the car.
Smart has been… smart and resisted the urge to increase the size of the car. It is, however, wider in order to give extra stability in the corners and elbowroom for the passengers. The suspension is on the firm side of firm, which can be a problem if the roads are bad where you live. But the Fortwo fights by with a really small turning circle and good visibility, making this an excellent car for parking in tight spots.
Inside, the cabin shows a big improvement in terms of perceived build quality and ergonomics. You sit high up and are offered excellent front visibility, though headroom can be a problem for taller people. A large steering wheel and a slider for the air conditioning system make the cabin feel a little bit less crowded than some other city cars we've driven. Another issue we had with the car was that the doors are too long to open in tight spaces and the seatbelts are located too far back for us to reach.
The infotainment system floats lover the dash, which is covered in a mesh fabric. But the biggest improvement of all over the previous generation right below that. Smart have ditched the semi-automatic gearbox altogether. You can either have a normal 5-speed manual or, starting in early 2015, a 6-speed twin-clutch auto.
All the engines are three-cylinder petrol ones and to find out which you should buy, make sure to read our full 2015 Smart Fortwo Review.
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