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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 Smart fortwo

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Overview

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2012 Smart fortwo Review

By Zach Vlasuk

KBB Expert Rating: 3.6

In America, fads come and go as quickly as reality TV stars. When the news of Smart's stateside arrival reached the eyes and ears of Euro-loving Americans, the subsequent waiting list presaged a bright future for the Mercedes-Benz subsidiary. With over 40,000 pre-orders, Smart experienced the automotive equivalent of crazed shoppers camped outside a local retailer to be among the first to get their hands on the latest Apple product. In the years following the brand's initial success, dwindling sales indicated that predictions for the unstoppable microcar revolution might be a bit premature. And while the 2012 Smart Fortwo returns adequate fuel economy figures, slightly larger 5-seat competitors like the Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio and the Nissan Versa deliver comparable fuel efficiency and superior driving characteristics for a similar price.

You'll Like This Car If...

The Smart Fortwo's tidy dimensions make it the ideal choice for inner city dwellers faced with daily parking challenges. Additionally, if you're a thrifty open-top enthusiast searching for the most affordable convertible available, look no further than the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Between the Fortwo's nervous highway manners and the irksome shifting behavior of its automated manual transmission, driving becomes a chore rather than a privilege. Unless you are married to the Smart's unique European charm, the market offers a crowd of alluring subcompacts with exceptional road manners, additional standard equipment and five seats.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

3.6
Driving Dynamics

1.8
Comfort & Convenience

3.6
Design: Interior & Exterior

4.2
Value

5.2
Safety

7.9

How It Ranks

#3

out of 3

MPG

#3

out of 3

Horsepower

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Consumer Rating

8.5 out of 10

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consumer ratings

What's New for 2012

The Smart Fortwo receives a modest aesthetic refresh for the 2012 model year along with a newly available navigation system.

Driving the fortwo

2012 Smart fortwo Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions For a vehicle with a tremendously short wheelbase, we found the 2012 Smart Fortwo's ride surprisingly comfortable. The faster you go, however, the more skittish the Fortwo becomes, and we...

eventually grew tired of constantly making steering corrections to stay on course. Similarly, the automated manual transmission swaps gears with all the grace of a farm tractor. On the other hand, the Fortwo reigns supreme in parking lot maneuverability, where the car's micro measurements and sub-30-foot turning radius combine to deliver an almost comical sense of low-speed agility. Although the Smart Fortwo's 90-mph top speed and 13-second 0-60 mph acceleration qualify it as one of the slowest new vehicles on the road, the silver lining is that you get to "floor it" on a regular basis, and no self-respecting cop would ever pull you over.

Favorite Features

TRIDION SAFETY CELL
With American roadways chock-full of overweight vehicles, compact car owners are subjected to an elevated level of danger every time they get behind the wheel. Much like a roll cage protects a racecar driver, the 2012 Smart Fortwo's Tridion Safety Cell distributes energy over a wide area of the car for greater impact resistance.

CONVERTIBLE ROOF
To the frustration of countless drop-top devotees, some modern convertible tops are inoperable when the vehicle is in motion. With the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet, you can let the sunshine in – or shut the rain out – even when traveling at highway speeds.

2012 Smart fortwo Details

2012 Smart fortwo Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

We've all heard the old adages, "Never judge a book by its cover" and "Looks can be deceiving." When it comes to the Smart Fortwo's deceptively roomy cabin, these redundant clichés hold equally true. There's more than abundant headroom and legroom even for the long of limb in this 2-seater, and the unique floating design of the dashboard further conveys a sense of spaciousness. While the cargo area is quite a bit smaller than a traditional subcompact, it is large enough to accommodate a bag of golf clubs. And if you frequently travel solo, the passenger seat folds flat for additional cargo space.

Exterior

More than just a pint-sized economy car, the Smart Fortwo looks like nothing else on the road. The body panels are made of dent-resistant plastic, and the design element running from behind the front wheels up to the roofline is actually Smart's patented Tridion Safety Cell: a high-strength steel shell that's available in black or metallic silver. To help combat the Fortwo's obvious weight disadvantage in a collision, Mercedes-Benz engineers developed an interconnected steel shell that distributes impact energy rather than absorbing it.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

If you thought the 2012 Smart Fortwo's enticing starting price was too good to be true, you were right. The aptly-named Pure model conspicuously excludes an audio system, air conditioning, power windows, cruise control and power mirrors. "Luxuries" provided at base price include power locks with remote keyless entry, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Opting for the Passion trim adds most of the creature comforts one would expect in a $15,000 new car. Because safety is on the mind of every prospective Fortwo owner, the 2012 model offers eight airbags, front and rear crash boxes for low-speed-collision protection, and a full serving of electronic stability systems.

Optional Equipment

Passion and Cabriolet trims offer practical niceties such as cruise control, electric power steering and center-console storage. Tech options include a touch-screen navigation system, Bluetooth and a 7-speaker audio system with a subwoofer. Since playing dress-up isn't just for little girls anymore, the Fortwo offers a multitude of interchangeable body panels and a sporty Style Package, complete with retro 3-spoke alloy wheels, ambient interior lighting, dashboard gauge pods, and LED daytime running lights.

Under the Hood

Tipping the scales at just 1,800 pounds (nearly 600 pounds less than a Honda Fit), the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive 2012 Smart Fortwo is able to make its way in the world by means of a 3-cylinder Mitsubishi engine matched with a 5-speed automated manual transmission. Instead of a clutch pedal and a manual shift lever, the Fortwo electronically manages the manual gearbox. On the road, it becomes painfully clear that it is perhaps the most unrefined transmission ever affixed to a modern production vehicle.

1.0-liter inline-3
70 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
68 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 34/38 mpg

Pricing Notes

The 2012 Smart Fortwo Pure carries a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of around $15,000. Begin checking option boxes and a fully-loaded Passion trim with metallic paint approaches the $20,000 mark. Before heading to a dealer, be sure to check Kelley Blue Book's Fair Purchase Price, which reflects what others are paying in your area for their Smart Fortwos. The latest addition to the microcar segment is the 2012 Scion iQ, which undercuts the Fortwo's sticker price by a few thousand dollars, while 5-passenger subcompacts like the Kia Rio, Chevrolet Sonic and Nissan Versa share a comparable price point with the Smart Fortwo along with higher retained values.

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2012 Smart fortwo Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.5

Out of 10

Based on 165 Ratings for the 2008 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

8.7/10

Quality

8.7/10
Reliability

8.9/10

Performance

8.3/10
Comfort

8.6/10

Styling

9.1/10

You get more than you pay for.

By dkraft (GA) on Monday, April 29, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 6,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Fun, Financially rewarding, and User Supported."

Cons: "Shopping requires shipping considerations."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I thought long and hard about my driving tasks and this fit the bill with the usual suspects. Smart had the unparalleled user support, rather user fanatics and likely hood of longevity compared to the usual suspects. With the price of fuel (two year low), teacher incentives ($1000), popularity with my 10 year old daughter (best toy in the parking lot) and ZERO FINANCING FROM MERCEDES, this was a no brainer after the test drive. I'm 6'2" and I felt more cramped in my BMW 535. seriously. True the transmission takes some getting used to but it is FUN and can be fast. Quite fast enough in any situation. Win a stoplight drop with any other coupe? no. but there isn't a single SUV that can hang in the tight corners."

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great for intended use.

By Big John (NJ) on Saturday, April 06, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 50,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 8/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 7/10

Pros: "good price, good gas milage, ease of access"

Cons: "no spare tire, rough ride"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Bought car to save gas while commuting to work, traveled 95 miles a day, did excellent in gas use. averaged 45 mpg highway/ 35 mpg city. milage drops when using AC. Ride is rough, interior comfort is excellent with single passenger, I am 6' 4 and had plenty of room. Two passengers can be cramped. It is easier to get into and out of then all other cars , I don't have to be a contortionist. Safety wise never had a problem winds didn't create drift (exception being the 50-60mph gusts last year) and turnpike/parkway/throughway travels never created problems. For strictly commuting and local travel this car is great for intended use. Cons to the vehicle- leave room when entering roadways, the pick-up is slow. No spare, front & rear tires are different sizes, a pump and sealant are provided if you have a flat, but that is no help with a blowout/ large puncture."

3 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Great company car

By Grigio (SC) on Monday, March 18, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 50,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 5/10
Reliability: 5/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great marketing tool"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"We have now 4 cars for our employee since 2008 . Great marketing tools and reliable car For delivery goods. Look forward the eletric smart. This was the best choice for our company. Easy to mantain ,park ,drive."

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It is great for getting around

By Big Mike (TX) on Monday, March 04, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 1,729

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Fun, 40+ mpg, 9 gallon tank, roomy"

Cons: "only two seats, need to pay for the add ons"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Let's start by saying this car is not for everyone, it is a great commuter car. We have no problem getting around with 40+ mpg, a lot of head room and just plain fun to drive. I recommend this car for a more experienced driver. Not because it is unsafe but because you really need to be aware of your surroundings. The car is small and you really need to pay extra attention to other cars or trucks around you. It does move around a bit on the freeway but no problem for the experienced driver. It is not a race car and it takes about 500 miles to get use to the electronic shifting. It has both automatic and manual shifting (less the clutch pedal). Overall, great car, great price, and yes only for two people at a time."

2 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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It'll make you smile!

By Zinnger (TX) on Monday, February 25, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 42,000

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 6/10
Performance: 6/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Great car for the price. Fun and easy to drive"

Cons: "Must drive defensively - not the best ride"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I bought this car over 2 years ago to save gas. I make a 6 hour round trip twice a month. I liked it so much I got one for my daughter in college. Really neat features like heated seats and climate control is a plus. Seats are comfy but ride can be rough and shifting may take getting used to. I drive this more than any other car I own including twin turbo BMW 135 and 2SS Camaro! Not a luxury car but gets the job done and power is not that bad. You will feel the wind on the road but overall it is a great little go cart with comfort and cheap to own and drive. Never had a problem with either one."

2 people out of 3 found this review helpful

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Love this car!!

By Lilly (ID) on Sunday, February 24, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 11,100

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I have wanted on of these since I first saw them advertised, and finally got one! It is an amazing little car. Very roomy and comfortable. Drives great even on the freeway. Would recommend to anyone who doesn't need more than two seats!!"

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See all 165 reviews