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2009 Smart fortwo Review

April 17, 2009

STYLING | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

not as quirky as the car's exterior design might lead you to expect
Kelley Blue Book

this street-legal Tonka toy is again very tall, very narrow, and very short
Automobile

Controls are simple and well laid out
ConsumerGuide

No other car under $21,000 draws as much attention as the 2009 Smart Fortwo.

Cars.com reviewers attest that the 2009 Smart Fortwo "generates more interest among observers than some that cost 10 times as much." All Smart Fortwos feature a "silver or black strip that loops around the Fortwo's side," which Edmunds says is visual evidence of "the Tridion safety cell." The Smart Fortwo comes "in two body styles," according to Edmunds: "a hatchback Coupe" that "is offered in Pure and Passion trim levels" and a "convertible Cabrio" that "only comes in Passion." Edmunds also points out that the exterior of "the base Pure comes with 15-inch steel wheels," while the Passion trim adds "alloy wheels" and "a panorama glass roof" to provide some visual distinction. Automobile observes, "this street-legal Tonka toy is again very tall, very narrow, and very short." Kelley Blue Book states "the body panels are made of dent-resistant plastic," while Cars.com contends that the design "fuses wraparound panels and extended fenders in an extroverted, ultra-chic package."

Kelley Blue Book calls the overall interior styling "unique, but not as quirky as the car's exterior design might lead you to expect." Those same Kelley Blue Book reviewers also find that the "relatively compact instrument panel and open space where you'd expect a center console all contribute to an interior that feels less confined than that of the significantly longer and wider MINI Cooper." Cars.com reports "the cabin has a cartoonish look, with dimpled upholstery on the dashboard and kitschy plastic air conditioning controls" and a dashboard that "curves away as it descends." For those seeking a more customized interior styling touch, Edmunds notes "there are a number of monochromatic and two-tone interior options available to liven things up.” ConsumerGuide praises the Smart Fortwo's "simple and well laid out" controls, along with "easy to see" gauges and the "unobstructed" speedometer.

Conclusion

The 2009 Smart Fortwo has a visual impact that far exceeds its physical dimensions.

STYLING | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:not as quirky as the car's exterior design might lead you to expectKelley Blue Bookthis street-legal Tonka toy is again very tall, very narrow, and very shortAutomobileControls are simple and well laid outConsumerGuide No other car under $21,000 draws as much attention as the 2009 Smart Fortwo. Cars.com reviewers attest that the 2009 Smart Fortwo "generates more interest among observers than some that cost 10 times as much." All Smart Fortwos feature a "silver or black strip that loops around the Fortwo's side," which Edmunds says is visual evidence of "the Tridion safety cell." The Smart Fortwo comes "in two body styles," according to Edmunds: "a hatchback Coupe" that "is offered in Pure and Passion trim levels" and a "convertible Cabrio" that "only comes in Passion." Edmunds also points out that the exterior of "the base Pure comes with 15-inch steel wheels," while the Passion trim adds "alloy wheels" and "a panorama glass roof" to provide some visual distinction. Automobile observes, "this street-legal Tonka toy is again very tall, very narrow, and very short." Kelley Blue Book states "the body panels are made of dent-resistant plastic," while Cars.com contends that the design "fuses wraparound panels and extended fenders in an extroverted, ultra-chic package." Kelley Blue Book calls the overall interior styling "unique, but not as quirky as the car's exterior design might lead you to expect." Those same Kelley Blue Book reviewers also find that the "relatively compact instrument panel and open space where you'd expect a center console all contribute to an interior that feels less confined than that of the significantly longer and wider MINI Cooper." Cars.com reports "the cabin has a cartoonish look, with dimpled upholstery on the dashboard and kitschy plastic air conditioning controls" and a dashboard that "curves away as it descends." For those seeking a more customized interior styling touch, Edmunds notes "there are a number of monochromatic and two-tone interior options available to liven things up.” ConsumerGuide praises the Smart Fortwo's "simple and well laid out" controls, along with "easy to see" gauges and the "unobstructed" speedometer. ConclusionThe 2009 Smart Fortwo has a visual impact that far exceeds its physical dimensions. 2009 SMART FORTWO STYLING | [7 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: “not as quirky as the car's exterior design might lead you to expect" Automobile: "this street-legal Tonka toy is again very tall, very narrow, and very short" ConsumerGuide: "Controls are simple and well laid out" No other ...

Read More of this Review:

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

Other Choices:

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. 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. 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.

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See the Smart fortwo in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

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