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2008 Smart fortwo Features Review

August 1, 2008

FEATURES | 5 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

basic amenities like power steering and a radio are optional
Cars.com

options list includes heated leather seats
Kelley Blue Book

The Passion gets all those basic features, plus a panorama glass roof
Edmunds

Between its mid-30s fuel economy and low base sticker price, the 2008 Smart Fortwo is definitely an economy car. While those attributes may be appealing to many consumers, the economy nature of the Smart Fortwo is, unfortunately, reflected strongly in the standard features list.

The cheaper trim of the Smart Fortwo, the Pure, starts at only $11,590. However, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com all mention that the Pure comes with little more than four wheels and an engine. While Edmunds points out that the Pure comes standard with "keyless entry, leather steering wheel and electric window defroster," Cars.com notes "basic amenities like power steering and a radio are optional." The standard features list on the 2008 Smart Fortwo grows somewhat for the more expensive Passion trim level, which Cars.com says "adds a fixed glass roof, alloy wheels, power windows, air conditioning and a two-speaker CD stereo with iPod connectivity." The only difference between the Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe and Cabriolet is that "the Passion Cabrio adds an upgraded stereo with MP3-compatible in-dash six-CD changer."

With such a small standard features list, you might expect the 2008 Smart Fortwo to offer quite a few options, but there is little available aside from adding the Passion's standard items to the Pure. Kelley Blue Book says "the 2008 Smart Fortwo's options list includes heated leather seats, a fixed panorama glass roof and a sport steering wheel with paddle shifters." The only other noteworthy optional feature is the available "two-tone paint," according to ConsumerGuide. There are a few conspicuously absent features on the 2008 Smart Fortwo, but Cars.com conjectures that perhaps the most glaring omission is that "cruise control is not available."

Conclusion

Yes, it's an economy car, but the standard and optional features on the 2008 Smart Fortwo are still disappointing.

FEATURES | 5 out of 10Expert Quotes:basic amenities like power steering and a radio are optionalCars.comoptions list includes heated leather seatsKelley Blue BookThe Passion gets all those basic features, plus a panorama glass roofEdmunds Between its mid-30s fuel economy and low base sticker price, the 2008 Smart Fortwo is definitely an economy car. While those attributes may be appealing to many consumers, the economy nature of the Smart Fortwo is, unfortunately, reflected strongly in the standard features list. The cheaper trim of the Smart Fortwo, the Pure, starts at only $11,590. However, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com all mention that the Pure comes with little more than four wheels and an engine. While Edmunds points out that the Pure comes standard with "keyless entry, leather steering wheel and electric window defroster," Cars.com notes "basic amenities like power steering and a radio are optional." The standard features list on the 2008 Smart Fortwo grows somewhat for the more expensive Passion trim level, which Cars.com says "adds a fixed glass roof, alloy wheels, power windows, air conditioning and a two-speaker CD stereo with iPod connectivity." The only difference between the Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe and Cabriolet is that "the Passion Cabrio adds an upgraded stereo with MP3-compatible in-dash six-CD changer." With such a small standard features list, you might expect the 2008 Smart Fortwo to offer quite a few options, but there is little available aside from adding the Passion's standard items to the Pure. Kelley Blue Book says "the 2008 Smart Fortwo's options list includes heated leather seats, a fixed panorama glass roof and a sport steering wheel with paddle shifters." The only other noteworthy optional feature is the available "two-tone paint," according to ConsumerGuide. There are a few conspicuously absent features on the 2008 Smart Fortwo, but Cars.com conjectures that perhaps the most glaring omission is that "cruise control is not available." ConclusionYes, it's an economy car, but the standard and optional features on the 2008 Smart Fortwo are still disappointing.  2008 SMART FORTWO STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "fuses wraparound panels and extended fenders in an extroverted, ultra-chic package" ConsumerGuide: "Controls are simple and well laid out" Automobile: "this street-legal Tonka toy is again very tall, very narrow, and very short" ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Smart Fortwo is more fun to drive on tight, congested city streets at low speed than even the MINI Cooper. But as soon as the traffic thins out and the roads open up to the beltways and interstates, the Fortwo's cons--a hard ride, a noisy interior, the lack of power, and tense roadholding--become more serious drawbacks. Factor in the middling fuel economy of only 33 mpg city, and the "wow" factor is quickly muted. The Toyota Yaris, the most fuel-efficient small hatchback, with ratings of 29 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, feels downright substantial next to the Fortwo, with a real backseat and the legs for occasional distance driving, and the sprightly MINI Cooper is just as good, at 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway. Hybrids like Toyota's Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid get substantially better fuel economy than the Smart, in a much larger package, albeit at a much higher price.

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See the Smart fortwo in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

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