The final set of crash tests are out on the Smart Fortwo. The little car did surprisingly well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, though IIHS officials did offer a few cautious words about driving microcars on the highway. With all the data in, the debate in the press has begun -- just how much sense do these little cars make for American drivers?
Cars.com placed the Smart at the top of its "Best Bang for your Buck List" for 2008. Kicking Tires explains, "The list factors in the base price of a new car plus the cost of filling it up for eight years." The result? The Fortwo topped the list, "with a lifetime cost of $23,863." It's worth noting, however, that "Less than $5,000 separated" the top 10 cars on the list, "which also includes the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and Honda Fit."
Wired reports, "Ranked the highest fuel efficiency car in the United States (besides hybrids), the smart Fortwo gets 33/41 miles to the gallon (city/highway) according to the EPA."
Men could take particular note of that last point, since a recent surveyed showed that women are more attracted to men with fuel-efficient cars than men with sports cars.
You can also park the little thing nearly anywhere -- in half a space, or even nose-in to the curb in a parallel spot.
New York Times columnist John Schwartz is chronicling his time in a Fortwo, which he purchased last month. (Actually, he purchased it over a year ago, but took delivery last month -- there is now quite a waiting list for the little car). Schwartz is impressed with the attention the tiny car gets. "People seem to love this thing. I haven’t owned a car that turned heads since that 1950 Chevrolet Deluxe I drove in college," he writes. "A dealer told me that I’d feel like a rock star when I drove the car, and it’s true."
They're certainly selling well. California's San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports that wait time for a Smart is currently "14 to 21 months." It's easy to order. "Buyers simply go online to www.smartusa.com and make a $99 deposit. From there, they can customize the features they want on their car. When the car is completed, it's shipped to the dealership where the buyer can pay the balance and pick it up."
But not everyone is sold. New York Times reviewer Eric Taub spent two weeks driving a Smart and was less than impressed. Driving the car on the highway, he reported, "the engine thrashed and the car was buffeted by the wake of passing tractor trailers, giving me pause when I thought about taking one hand off the wheel. The experience was akin to crossing the upper level of the George Washington Bridge in a 1960s Volkswagen Beetle on a windy day." His gas mileage was also below what EPA estimates predicted, he said, and "certainly not 'amazing' as Smart’s press materials proclaim." The fact that it required premium fuel "was an added downer." Taub concluded, "With its limited carrying capacity, seemingly mediocre fuel economy, erratic handling and fitful acceleration, one question that potential buyers in this part of the world should be asking is, what’s the point?"
Jalopnik is equally skeptical. "We're not huge on the fuel economy, which is just 38 mpg under ideal driving conditions. Drive any faster and the mileage drops even further," they write. "Then there's the price. Would you pay $18,500 for a fully loaded Smart convertible?"
The bottom line? This is a car that divides people. Some love it and some don't see the point. What do you think? Would you consider a Smart car now? What makes you want one -- or not?
