Category: City Cars 
Price Range: £8,518 to £16,026
A design classic; so easy to park in crowded cities; safer than other two-seat microcars; low carbon dioxide emissions and thus potential exemption from congestion charges
Expensive for what it is; auto gearbox still jerky and no manual gearbox option; cheap-feeling interior
This tiny two-seater is capable of motorway trips, but its all-round abilities are still limited - and you can buy a decent, barely bigger four-seater for less.
Accepting that this tiny two-seater is never going to feel like a luxury saloon, the Fortwo's nonetheless not uncomfortable, even for longer journeys. The seating position is high and upright, but the seats are well-shaped and supportive, and reductions in noise levels mean that the driving experience is less wearing than it was.
The ride can still be bumpy, but again, it's been much-improved, and is about as good as it gets in a car with such a short wheelbase.
Even the Cabriolet's reasonably quiet, with its fabric roof. This roof retracts electrically and, with the rear glass window folded down and small roof bars removed, you can get the full open-top experience. Removing the roof bars is a little fiddly, but at least they're small enough to store behind the rear seats (unlike the Citroen Pluriel, where you have to leave them behind).
Luggage space behind the two front seats is now up to a useful 220 litres (from just 150) - enough for a couple of weekend-sized bags and other oddments, at least, with up to 340 litres if you stack right up to the roof. The two-piece tailgate/separately-opening glass window is awkward, needing two hands to open it, but it opens wide for easy access and the tailgate folds out flat and can support a considerable weight (you could sit on it if doing a car boot sale, for example). Bags can't be concealed under a parcel shelf, though. There are also drinks holders, an optional lockable glovebox and other compartments, some on the accessories list.
Specification levels are as before: Pure, Pulse and Passion. Pure models are very basic; Pulse spec brings electric windows and front fog lights, as well as a clock, rev counter and steering wheel-mounted gearshifts, and a transparent panoramic roof (which makes the Coupe's cabin feel much larger and airier) but you have to opt for Passion to get air conditioning.
There's also a lengthy list of options and accessories, including various audio systems, leather seats, sat nav, side airbags, an alarm, auto wipers/headlights, the lockable glovebox, the electric power steering and alloy wheels. It's easy to see how a Fortwo could tot up to £10,000.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Smart fortwo
wrote on 11 08 2006