Smart City Coupe 2004 Review
The question is how smart is the latest derivative from the makers of Australia's beloved European city car.
When Mercedes-Benz, which owns the Smart brand, launched the original Smart, a diminutive fortwo, in Australia last year, there was a quiet certainty that its standalone looks and quirky functionality would find favor in its niche. market.
Although sales were not very strong, they were approaching 25 vehicles per month, as predicted by Mercedes.
The question of whether forfour will significantly increase the volume for smart remains debatable.
What is beyond doubt is that a grown up machine is certainly more practical.
The exterior is less attractive and in many ways less attractive than the fortwo or roadster.
Stretching the car to accommodate the 1.3- and 1.5-liter engines - the kind of engine used in the Mitsubishi Colt - and the rear seats changes the proportions considerably.
15-inch alloy wheels help keep the car from looking like a toy and also improve ride quality. However, the longer wheelbase is the forfour's best friend.
Gone is the feeling of a volatile, graceful fortwo car. There is still sharpness on sharply broken surfaces.
The Forfour definitely feels significantly better on the road, and for many potential buyers, the car's more "normal" feel will inspire confidence.
This confidence is justified, since the standard electronic stabilization program is enough to control all but the most serious excesses. For a light vehicle weighing just under 1000kg, universal disc brakes with ABS, Emergency Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution provide a reliable and stable set of anchors.
Inside, the forfour is as stylish as its brethren.
The colors are bright and fresh, the styling is eye-catching, and the use of innovative materials - fabric on the dashboard - is refreshing.
The seats are comfortable and supportive, if a little narrow for larger passengers, but headroom is ample, and rear seating is surprisingly plentiful. The rear seats can be moved back and forth for extra legroom or extra trunk space.
Air conditioning, a CD player and power front windows are standard. Manual side mirrors make adjustment difficult. In terms of dynamics, the forfour is not inferior to most cars in the light segment, although it is not the leader in its class.
The steering is direct, if a bit light, and the forfour follows input well. The 1.3-litre engine has been tested to be a complete unit that makes good use of its limited 70kW output.
Torque in the mid-range is good: 125 Nm at the tap and around 4000 rpm. So far so good. We then moved on to the six-speed automatic, a $1035 option. With a fully automatic drive, you can fall in love with this thing from a kilometer away.
Each upshift is accompanied by a distinct pause and push. Choose the consistent manual option and things get better.
The gears hold the redline well and the shifts are far less intrusive. It can all get a little messy on the way down, where delayed shifting can find a pretty aggressive override shifting gear when you don't want to. With a five-speed manual as an option, you'll need a good reason to spend the extra money on an automatic.
