Smart ForFour 2004 review

At less than 1000 kg, the Smart forfour, tuned for sporty driving and individual style, is no ordinary small car.

And for a cute five-door European car to buy and service with your local Mercedes-Benz dealer, the $23,990 starting price is a fair deal.

With this money you can buy a 1.3-liter five-speed manual version. The cost of a 1.5-liter car starts at $25,990. The six-speed automatic variant costs $1035.

The price here is lower than in Europe to give this lightweight "premium" car a better chance in the hot market of compact Japanese and European rivals.

However, Australian targets are small, with 300 forfours expected to be sold over the next 12 months. 600 smarts are expected to be sold in 2005 - forfours, convertibles, coupes and roadsters; the two-door smart fortwo now starts at $19,990.

There are a couple of questions about this fresh smart. Ride can be harsh over small bumps in the road - like a cat's eye - and the "soft" automatic transmission can sometimes wobble a bit when shifting.

But there are many things to like, not least its frisky engine, balanced chassis and excellent fuel efficiency.

This front-wheel drive smart forfour offers a host of safety, comfort and convenience features.

Australian vehicles come standard with 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, a CD player and power front windows. Options include a six-speed automatic transmission, two sunroofs, a six-stack CD player and a navigation system.

Clever interior touches include 21st-century trim and styling, a fresh and tidy dashboard and instruments, and a rear seat that slides back and forth for extra luggage or backseat space.

There are driver and passenger airbags, an electronic stabilization program, ABS with brake booster and disc brakes all around.

Most of the electrical and electronic systems are borrowed from its older brother Mercedes-Benz.

And some components, such as the rear axle, five-speed gearbox and gasoline engines, are shared with Mitsubishi's new Colt, also built under the auspices of DaimlerChrysler.

But smart forfour sets its own agenda.

The engines have a higher compression ratio for more power compared to the Colt, there's a different chassis and there's that "tridion" safety cell highlighted by the choice of three different colors on this exposed bodyshell.

Add to that 10 different body colors and you have 30 combinations - from classic styles to bright and fresh combinations - to choose from.

forfour has a presence on the road that breaks the current notion of small cars.

There are good seats for four adults on the road and maybe a beer in the trunk. Headroom and legroom are ample both front and rear, although taller passengers have to lean their heads a little below the curved roofline.

Alternatively, the rear seat can be moved forward to accommodate two adults, two children and weekend gear.

Driving position is good. You sit a little high, the visibility is good, and the instruments, including the trip computer, are all easy to read.

Both motors are enthusiastic and don't mind hitting the 6000rpm red mark.

The "soft" six-speed automatic option works best with the floor-mounted shift lever. The extra paddles on the steering column seem to take a little longer to find the next gear ratio.

Running and running, the smart forfour is a fun ride.

Turn-in is positive, even if the electric steering can sometimes feel soft on straight sections of road.

A slight hint of understeer, possibly related to higher speeds. The 1.3-liter engine is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds and reach 180 km/h; The 1.5-liter car takes 9.8 seconds to reach 100 km/h and has a top speed of 190 km/h.

At all speeds, the 2500mm wheelbase is well balanced, with decent traction thanks to the 15-inch tires.

Ride quality is good for a small light car with limited suspension travel. Even sharpness on small edges and irregularities does not disturb the balance of the car or body, although it is audible and noticeable on more uneven areas.

For the most part, the Smart's suspension and balance are smooth, supple, and reassuring. It may not be a Lotus Elise, but the smart forfour has the same rambunctious road demeanor.

And when driving through town and hills on the 1.5-liter six-speed smart forfour automatic, average fuel consumption was just over seven liters per 100 km.

The 1.5-liter engine produces 80 kW, the 1.3-liter produces 70 kW. Both are more than enough for two adults on board.

And for an additional $2620, there's a sport suspension package with 16-inch wheels.

Smart forfour is quite a rare, beautiful compact with style, substance and soul.