First Drive: 2008 Smart fortwo

It draws as many stares as any Lamborghini. People stop to pose with it for photos. They give thumbs up. Kids point. But mostly, they ask, "Where can we buy one of these?"

Even though Smart has been sold in several global markets for a decade now, the smiling microcars are finally making their way to the U.S. market. That's odd in a way, as the first two Smart concept cars, dubbed Eco Sprinter and Eco Speedster, were born here at Mercedes-Benz's Irvine, California, design center in 1993. The connection between them, and the production coupe and convertible that bow for 2008, is unmistakable.

Many are the reasons the Mercedes-Benz-owned Smart brand was never brought here, but they no longer matter. The car was comprehensively remodeled for 2007, and part of that plan was U.S. certification. Roger Penske's United Auto Group will handle the importation, sales, and marketing, and a 70 or so dealer network has been established. But will The Land of the Large and The Home of the Suburban embrace the notion of hypercompacts-and buy them?
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lexusis350 - 11/21/2007 1:40:06 PM

-3 Boost

I don't like the Smart. It's just not a logical car for the U.S. market. First of all, we have huge SUVs like the Ford Excursion that could run over it. I know, I know: it's got a good frame that makes it very safe. Sure, the car holds up when you get in a wreck, but the interior paneling all comes off. I would rather buy a bigger car for the same price than be decapitated by interior paneling if I got in a wreck. Secondly, they're too small. We don't need them here because our streets are bigger than the ones in Europe. I just don't see logic in having them here. But whatever, I can tell you now they'll be big sellers. The only reason why is the fact that they're different.

lexusis350 - 11/21/2007 1:47:24 PM

-5 Boost

Proof that the interior is unsafe:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qQNLWhVngjE

EnnNorak - 11/21/2007 2:23:40 PM

+2 Boost

We've had them in Canada of a while now and I almost choked the other day as I was waiting for my wife in the shopping center parking lot. I was entertained by an older guy struggling to get into his SMART -- it took him several minutes. These cars are cute but too small and under-powered. A good small vehicle for Mercedes would be a slightly larger B-Class with a conventional automatic instead of the dreaded CVT and with enough height above the the passenger front seat so I don't bang my head on the roof when i get into it.

nybimmer - 11/21/2007 3:14:58 PM

+6 Boost

Lexusis350 -
Thanks for the snarky youtube link of a Smart hitting a very large, very immovable, very high concrete wall at 70!! MPH. Yes, 70MPH.

Just about anything that runs into such a high and immovable object will disintegrate just like the Smart (which by the way is the old gen). In fact, if you drove an LS460 into such an object, it too would likely disintegrate. Notice how when vehicles are crash tested, they are either hit by a sled from the side or they are propelled into an object at about 30 or 40 MPH.

Check out the insurance institute for highway safety's website.

Heck, Princess Diana was killed when her MB S320 hit a highwall pillar at about 70MPH. It just about disintegrated.

Thanks for the misleading video.

Threepoint1415926 - 11/21/2007 3:16:36 PM

+4 Boost

Come on Lexus, the car was ran into a wall at 70!! Try that in a lot of other cars and I'm sure there would be more than just interior panels coming apart. That isnt proof at all. More likely, it's proof of how safe that car really is.

EnnNorak, I would remind you older people take several minutes to get into their Cadillacs..... I'm not doubting that the Smart is a more difficult car to get into than others but it's simply not designed for people with artificial hips. It's a hip, young, trendy car.

theoptimisticpessimist - 11/21/2007 3:24:09 PM

+4 Boost

Maybe the problem is American vehicles are to big. Howm many people do you now that really need an Escalades or a 3/4 4x4 Trucks?

lexusis350 - 11/21/2007 4:07:24 PM

-5 Boost

Yes, that car ran into the wall at 70 mph, but remember, that is the same type of impact as a head-on collision going 35 mph. It's not that radical.

Rupert - 11/21/2007 5:29:20 PM

+4 Boost

That's the old Smart, which only got 3/5 NCAP stars.
The new one gets 4/5, and has been extensively modified to meet American crash test standards.
Underpowered? 70 hp in that tiny thing makes it very nippy, although of course it does run out steam at high speeds, but for town it's perfect.
And don't forget you can park perpendicular to the curb!

Rupert - 11/21/2007 5:33:20 PM

+3 Boost

My car is larger than the Smart, and I have 75 hp...it really doesn't feel underpowered...I've driven underpowered cars (5 people and luggage in a 1.4 Peugeot 207 does not a happy driver make) and it feels far from it. 0-60 is 11.6, which isn't mind numbingly slow, and I find it easy to get up to speed quickly.

Bill - 11/22/2007 3:41:52 AM

+2 Boost

Nybimmer,

The Mercedes Princess Diana was riding in was an S280. And she also wasn't wearing her seatbelt. Just thought I'd clear that up.


About the Smart, bring them on. I think this is a perfect city car for our crowded urban centers. It looks like its fun to drive, is somewhat stylish and the fuel economy should be good too. That's about all there is to say. The pricing has to be done right though. Don't overprice it, otherwise people will go for a similar priced Korean or Japanese product.

holmstar - 11/22/2007 10:11:26 AM

+1 Boost

lexusis350 said: "Yes, that car ran into the wall at 70 mph, but remember, that is the same type of impact as a head-on collision going 35 mph. It's not that radical."

No, a head on collision between two (equal weight) cars going 35mph would be like hitting a wall at 35mph. The force of the other car hitting yours would perfectly cancel the force of your own car, just like a concrete wall would. Now if the other car was larger, or moving faster, then you would have a greater impact.

Rupert - 11/22/2007 12:43:20 PM

+2 Boost

Two cars crashing at 35 is not the same as hitting a wall at 70, as the wall absorbs little or no energy, doesn't move and thus your car takes the full force of the impact.
2 cars means 2 crumple zones, 2 moving objects, 2 ways to dissipate the energy. Both cars will move (helps absorb energy), both cars will crumple (absorbs energy) etc.

RLove - 12/7/2007 7:31:53 AM

+1 Boost

All of you Smart-haters are living in denial. The car has been right for Europe for years, and it's way past time for it to be here.
Interior panels come off? Really...I have a Lexus IS too - and an Audi TT, if I slam either into a wall at 70, the last thing I'd be worried about is the interior coming loose.
Don't get me wrong, I love my fast, luxurious cars, but I have a Smart on order, and did it without a second thought. Get with the times guys - there is a time and a place for economical cars that do the job and no more, (actually, check the equipment on a Smart and I think that you'll be impressed with what $15K can buy) and that time has arrived. And, when the Smart comes here as a plug-in hybrid I'll have one of those ordered as well, while you're sobbing at your fuel bill and wishing you had jumped on the bandwagon earlier. You'll come around - you ALL will in time.

PlanB - 11/21/2007 2:21:59 PM

+2 Boost

This car is for big city drivers where its small size has its advantages. No where else though.

r15mohd - 11/21/2007 2:26:16 PM

+3 Boost

very tru...NYC/Miami/Chicago/LA/etc is where this car will be famed. but expect someone like myself to abuse it due to its efficiency, that and the mere fact there is a smart dealership opening about 1 mile from my home.

the car is very comfy for sucha small vehicle, i had the oppurtunity to use one while on business. and i must say it was a blast to drive!

TexLandRover - 11/21/2007 9:59:03 PM

-1 Boost

This vehicle is for city only driving (at best) and even then its not much vehicle for the money. Appeals to a tiny niche market, most any other subcompacts are a better buy. It will likely not be very successful in US market. Makes sense its doing OK in Europe.

ugofil - 11/22/2007 10:02:37 AM

+3 Boost

I think it's about time it's sold here in the US. It is the perfect car for urban areas (such as LA). And judging by the crowds of people around their display at the LA Auto Show I'd say there's a good chance of the Smart being a big hit.

BMW4me4ever - 11/23/2007 11:37:33 AM

+2 Boost

I have test driven the smart. It is a pretty cool vehicle. It is underpowered for my liking, though. At the dealership I work for, we are going to be 1 of 70 dealers in the country that will be able to sell this car. 1 of 2 dealers in the Chicago Market. It will sell due to price and compact size of it. We already have alot of orders for it.

S4cabriofoxone - 11/23/2007 11:55:51 PM

+1 Boost

What dealer do you work at? I'm in the Chicago area. Will this car be sold through Mercedes-Benz dealers?

autopro - 11/24/2007 11:33:35 AM

0 Boost

The smart was the biggest money loser for Mercedes in decades.