Ever fancied one of those cute little Smart two-seaters but thought that you just couldn't live with something so restrictive in its all-round versatility? Or run one for a while but now need a rear seat and some more space? If so, you're not alone: DaimlerChrysler's Smart division has long been aware that the Fortwo (as the two-seaters are now called) has relatively limited appeal, and the Forfour is the first new model to address this. As its name suggests, it is a four-seater (taking five at a push) with four side doors, a proper hatchback and the dimensions of a 'real' car.

Smart describes the Forfour as a supermini, but it's considerably smaller than cars like the Polo, Fiesta, 206, C3, Clio and even Honda Jazz in terms of its overall length. It's nearer city cars like the (smaller) MINI, Ka, Panda and C2, which are its more obvious rivals, even though it is in a price league with the larger models. For your money you get a choice of 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5-litre petrol engines (75bhp, 95bhp and 109bhp), the latter two offered with the option of clutchless transmission, or two versions of a three-cylinder, 1.5-litre diesel engine (68bhp and 95bhp). Two specification levels, Pulse and Passion, are on offer, plus an extensive series of options and accessories, and at launch, an entry-level special edition called Blackbasic will be available. A tuned Brabus model will follow in spring 2005.

Sister model to Mitsubishi's new Colt (the two share some 40 percent of components and are built in the same factory in Holland), the Forfour is less conservative in its styling; the two cars have very different cabin treatments and although they're not dissimilar to actually drive, the Smart has the more visual appeal of the two overall and comes with Smart-only touches such as the interchangeable door panels. It is neither the most comfortable little runaround, nor the most accomplished driver's car in its class, but it's an engaging, appealing all-round package that has much of the character of the Fortwo, with a lot more practicality.