It’s still a punchline, usually about the intelligence of the driver, plus derided for being little, but Smart cars have served their purpose in the United States as a small, fuel-efficient vehicle that is perfectly suited for city driving when space is at a premium.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: a Smart car isn’t for everyone due to its two-seat layout with minimal trunk space but, for those that need a simple and fuel-efficient vehicle to get around town, it makes absolute sense. I live close to downtown Phoenix and often find myself hunting for street parking in an urban setting that seems to have perpetual construction. But no matter, my Mini Cooper is tiny, easy to maneuver and park on the street. I can’t imagine using anything bigger than a compact car in crowded scenes without a lot of parking spots and, for some of us, a Smart Fortwo is a good option.
Smart stopped producing cars for the North American market after the 2019 model year but, with some hunting, you can easily track one down like our Pick of the Day, a 2017 Smart Fortwo listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in Hope Mills, North Carolina. (Click the link to view the listing)
“This Smart Car can almost make a U-turn in a two-car garage,” the listing advises. “It’s very agile and nimble to move around in town or around in tight spaces. To top it off, it has all the normal amenities we want in a new car like AC, a semi large infotainment system, power steering, power brakes, and power windows, it’s almost like they didn’t spare any expense in making an inexpensive Smart car (oddly enough).”
Despite being diminutive, the NHTSA awarded the 2017 Smart Fortwo a four-star overall safety rating, a five-star rating for side crashes and a four-star rollover rating. Another point of contention was the Smart Fortwo is the perceived lack of interior space for the driver and passenger.
“Now, on to the size, I’m 6’1″ about 245 lbs. and I fit in this car with room to spare,” the listing states. “So being able to fit should be the last concern when it comes to a Smart Car. In fact, because the door opening is so large it’s actually much easier to get in and out of than most cars.”
It’s powered by a 0.9-liter DOHC 12-valve three-cylinder engine that produced a factory-rated 89 hp at 5,500 rpm and 100 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm. The automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels.
Judging by the photos in the listing, this Fortwo is in solid shape with the expected wear and tear from being six years old with 66,559 miles. The white exterior is straight without any visible dents or dings, and the black interior is in good shape.
The listing price for this 2017 Smart Fortwo is $12,995. To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
“Let’s address the elephant in the room: a Smart car….” Ohhh, the PUN-ishment! I did see one of these painted up like a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. That was funny, and my son, who still fit in his, loved it!
Kinda pricy for what you’re getting-Dontchathink?
Thought they were expensive and despite being tiny there fuel,economy was worse than A Corolla,, a Civic or several actual cars
Their, its, not “there”
That’s neither here nor there!!!!
I’m surprised they did not sell better ..but a Corolla and or a Civic is was a better deal in the long run
I have owned two Smarties – a 2008 and later a 2015 which is still giving me an average 38 mpg even using the A/C in the Arizona heat! Granted, can’t shop at Costco with it, but the comfort and easy parking make up for the small trunk.
i have a 2009 and put in bishops original in the oil, which used to be in slick 50, before he took it and went solo. i also put dynamo in the tank. together i get nearly 60mpg. before i put the bishops in the engine, that fused to the engine walls …i got the standar 34 city and 41 highway. now i get nearly 60 and drive both city and highway. i asked the same question when they came out. why cant a smart get better gas mileage, like a old civic or honda 600? environmental crap on the engine, that is why.