Smart Fortwo
The Smart Fortwo was one of the smallest cars on the road, measuring almost four feet shorter in length than the Mini Cooper. Available in coupe or cabrio (convertible) form, the Fortwo had roomy seating for two with limited cargo space—even less in the cabrio. But the small car excelled at maneuvering around the city and fitting into tight parking spaces. While the entry-level Pure had just basic features, higher trim levels were available with heated and leather seats, a sunroof, and a JBL® audio system. While the tiny engine delivered mediocre performance, the electric version (covered separately) was more responsive.
Explore the evolution of the Smart Fortwo
Get our expert take on used Smart Fortwo models, or view year-by-year changes.
Latest generation Smart Fortwo
City cars like the Smart Fortwo were relatively common sights on the smaller roads in Europe, but the Smart car was a unique offering in America. Completely redesigned in 2016, the tiny car gained a bit more interior space than its predecessor. It may have only had two seats, but passengers enjoyed a spacious cabin, despite the car measuring less than nine feet long. Initially offered exclusively as a coupe, Smart added the convertible in 2017, featuring a power-retractable canvas soft top. Rather than offering an infotainment display screen, the Fortwo used a smartphone app that provided connectivity to the audio system and showed navigation and other vehicle information.
Given its small size, the Fortwo didn’t need (or have space) for a large engine, so it used a tiny 0.9-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine that put out just 89 horsepower. Rear-wheel drive and a five-speed manual gearbox came standard, but customers could opt for the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The gas-powered Smart Fortwo was discontinued after the 2017 model year, but the small car lived on for a few more years as a battery-electric model.
Model highlights
Smallest car on the road
Tiny turning circle for easy maneuverability
Smartphone-based infotainment system
Minimal advanced driver-assistance features
Surprisingly roomy cabin
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2016 - 2017
2017 Smart Fortwo
2016 Smart Fortwo
Reliability
RepairPal gave the Smart Fortwo an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Smart Fortwo 21st out of 27 among Subcompact Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Smart Fortwo is $540, compared to an average of $447 for Subcompact Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Smart Fortwo owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 1.4 times per year, compared to an average of 1.0 times for Subcompact Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 9% for the Smart Fortwo, compared to an average of 11% for Subcompact Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Perry Stern has been writing about cars for almost 30 years and has been an enthusiast for much longer than that. Contributing to multiple automotive publications, Perry drives almost every new car on the market, ranging from base-level Kias to exotic high-performance Lamborghinis. But his favorite is still the 2006 Mazda Miata parked in his garage.
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Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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