Pros
- Compact size is perfect for built up areas
- Unique design and character
- Actually quite safe despite its size
- Hilariously fun to drive
Cons
- Poorly maintained examples can suffer from mechanical issues
- Ride quality has degraded on high kilometre examples
- Feels out of it’s depth out of the city
- Larger vehicles feel instantly
intimidating.
Verdict
We wouldn't...
We'd be cautious
We would...
If you are genuinely considering buying a Smart Fortwo, congratulations, it takes a very confident and secure human to embrace such a unique and polarising car into your life.
However, unless you absolutely need such a short vehicle, or you’re just a dedicated fan that loves what the Smart ForTwo...
Publish: October 14, 2022
The Smart Fortwo has been available across three generations but in this cheat sheet, we’ll be focussing on the 2007 to 2014 second generation which here in Australia has been available as a 3-door coupe or 3-door convertible, both being rear engined and rear wheel drive.
The Series 2 of the 2nd generation Fortwo landed in Australia in mid 2011, featured some minor cosmetic and equipment updates but most notably, modifications to the ECU and exhaust system to lower fuel consumption.In terms of variants, while other markets received a range of trim levels, Australia had to make do with predominantly the single spec Pulse variant while a smattering of option packed special editions like the Domino, Night Orange and Final editions excited the range from time to time.Fun fact, the brand Smart was and is actually a collaboration between the Swiss Watchmaking giant Swatch and automotive powerhouse Mercedes.As represented by the name Smart, S for Swatch, M for Mercedes and Art because, well, its appearance.
The Smart Fortwo has been available across three generations but in this cheat sheet, we’ll be focussing on the 2007 to 2014 second generation which here in Australia has been available as a 3-door coupe or 3-door convertible, both being rear engined and rear wheel drive.
The Series 2 of the 2nd generation Fortwo landed in Australia in mid 2011, featured some minor cosmetic and equipment updates but most notably, modifications to the ECU and exhaust system to lower fuel consumption.
In terms of variants,
The Smart Fortwo has been available across three generations but in this cheat sheet, we’ll be focussing on the 2007 to 2014 second generation which here in Australia has been available as a 3-door coupe or 3-door convertible, both being rear engined and rear wheel drive.
The Series 2 of the 2nd generation Fortwo landed in Australia in mid 2011, featured some minor cosmetic and equipment updates but most notably, modifications to the ECU and exhaust system to lower fuel consumption.In terms of variants, while other markets received a range of trim levels, Australia had to make do with predominantly the single spec Pulse variant while a smattering of option packed special editions like the Domino, Night Orange and Final editions excited the range from time to time.Fun fact, the brand Smart was and is actually a collaboration between the Swiss Watchmaking giant Swatch and automotive powerhouse Mercedes.As represented by the name Smart, S for Swatch, M for Mercedes and Art because, well, its appearance.
The Smart Fortwo has been available across three generations but in this cheat sheet, we’ll be focussing on the 2007 to 2014 second generation which here in Australia has been available as a 3-door coupe or 3-door convertible, both being rear engined and rear wheel drive.
The Series 2 of the 2nd generation Fortwo landed in Australia in mid 2011, featured some minor cosmetic and equipment updates but most notably, modifications to the ECU and exhaust system to lower fuel consumption.
In terms of variants, while other markets received a range of trim levels, Australia had to make do with predominantly the single spec Pulse variant while a smattering of option packed special editions like the Domino, Night Orange and Final editions excited the range from time to time.
Fun fact, the brand Smart was and is actually a collaboration between the Swiss Watchmaking giant Swatch and automotive powerhouse Mercedes.
As represented by the name Smart, S for Swatch, M for Mercedes and Art because, well, its appearance.
The Smart Fortwo has been available across three generations but in this cheat sheet, we’ll be focussing on the 2007 to 2014 second generation which here in Australia has been available as a 3-door coupe or 3-door convertible, both being rear engined and rear wheel drive.
The Series 2 of the 2nd generation Fortwo landed in Australia in mid 2011, featured some minor cosmetic and equipment updates but most notably, modifications to the ECU and exhaust system to lower fuel consumption.In terms of variants, while other markets received a range of trim levels, Australia had to make do with predominantly the single spec Pulse variant while a smattering of option packed special editions like the Domino, Night Orange and Final editions excited the range from time to time.Fun fact, the brand Smart was and is actually a collaboration between the Swiss Watchmaking giant Swatch and automotive powerhouse Mercedes.As represented by the name Smart, S for Swatch, M for Mercedes and Art because, well, its appearance.
The Smart Fortwo has been available across three generations but in this cheat sheet, we’ll be focussing on the 2007 to 2014 second generation which here in Australia has been available as a 3-door coupe or 3-door convertible, both being rear engined and rear wheel drive.
The Series 2 of the 2nd generation Fortwo landed in Australia in mid 2011, featured some minor cosmetic and equipment updates but most notably, modifications to the ECU and exhaust system to lower fuel consumption.
In terms of variants, while other markets received a range of trim levels, Australia had to make do with predominantly the single spec Pulse variant while a smattering of option packed special editions like the Domino, Night Orange and Final editions excited the range from time to time.
Fun fact, the brand Smart was and is actually a collaboration between the Swiss Watchmaking giant Swatch and automotive powerhouse Mercedes.
As represented by the name Smart, S for Swatch, M for Mercedes and Art because, well, its appearance.
Exterior:
Coupe models are subject to roof problems like the paint discolouring or fading and models with a polycarbonate sunroof, the polycarbonate can fade and crack.
Convertible ForTwo’s have been prone to their roofs shrinking and this leads to the roof itself lifting at the front which can lead to water leaking into the cabin.
Models from 2008 – 2009 can be prone to overcharging their headlights which shortens the lifespan of the light itself.
The body work is mainly all plastic and therefore pretty resilient and relatively easy to repair however, as the ForTwo does spend the majority of their lives in crowded areas, they can be susceptible to some abuse so be sure to check for accident damage and dodgy repair work.
Interior:
Faulty Temperature Control Modules can tamper with the Air Conditioning’s cooling and the blower for the Heater is also known to fail.
There are also many of reports of various electronic gremlins surfacing so if buying one, make sure to check and test every button, does everything work as it should?
Mechanically:
Both the turbo and naturally aspirated petrol engines, which are made by Mitsubishi, are fairly reliable and low maintenance however oil changes are made interesting by the absence of a traditional drain plug. A vacuum oil extraction device is required which while not being complicated, can make changing the oil difficult for those of you playing with these at home.
It’s the same story with the Mercedes diesel engine. These are generally reliable but can have complications with clogged up inlet systems a EGR valves. Although that is the case for almost all modern diesels to be fair.
There are plenty of examples of petrol and diesel engined ForTwo’s that are still going strong after relatively high km’s but those examples have been well serviced. Examples that have had timing chain complications or even worse, catastrophic engine failures are generally always a result of lack of servicing. Which is hard to understand as they are quite possibly one of the cheapest cars around in terms of servicing and maintenance.
Transmission issues are by far the weakest link and most common complaint. Even when they are working correctly, many owners complain about them. When they’re not working properly, they have reverse gear selection issues, harsh or slow shifting complications or just no drive at all. Sometimes resolving this can require a simple lube, adjustment and a relearn procedure or a clutch actuator or the actual clutch itself. And in some cases, in the space of a few months, all of the above.
Although the ForTwo is considered to be fairly reliable overall, the list of small annoying mechanical issues they can suffer from can
Exterior:
Coupe models are subject to roof problems like the paint discolouring or fading and models with a polycarbonate sunroof, the polycarbonate can fade and crack.
Convertible ForTwo’s have been prone to their roofs shrinking and this leads to the roof itself lifting at the front which can lead to water leaking into the cabin.
Models from 2008 – 2009 can be prone to overcharging their headlights which shortens the lifespan of the light itself.
The body work is mainly all plastic and therefore pretty resilient and relatively easy to repair however, as the ForTwo does spend the majority of their lives in crowded areas, they can be susceptible to some abuse so be sure to check for accident damage and dodgy repair work.
Interior:
Faulty Temperature Control Modules can tamper with the Air Conditioning’s cooling and the blower for the Heater is also known to fail.
There are also many of reports of various electronic gremlins surfacing so if buying one, make sure to check and test every button, does everything work as it should?
Mechanically:
Both the turbo and naturally aspirated petrol engines, which are made by Mitsubishi, are fairly reliable and low maintenance however oil changes are made interesting by the absence of a traditional drain plug. A vacuum oil extraction device is required which while not being complicated, can make changing the oil difficult for those of you playing with these at home.
It’s the same story with the Mercedes diesel engine. These are generally reliable but can have complications with clogged up inlet systems a EGR valves. Although that is the case for almost all modern diesels to be fair.
There are plenty of examples of petrol and diesel engined ForTwo’s that are still going strong after relatively high km’s but those examples have been well serviced. Examples that have had timing chain complications or even worse, catastrophic engine failures are generally always a result of lack of servicing. Which is hard to understand as they are quite possibly one of the cheapest cars around in terms of servicing and maintenance.
Transmission issues are by far the weakest link and most common complaint. Even when they are working correctly, many owners complain about them. When they’re not working properly, they have reverse gear selection issues, harsh or slow shifting complications or just no drive at all. Sometimes resolving this can require a simple lube, adjustment and a relearn procedure or a clutch actuator or the actual clutch itself. And in some cases, in the space of a few months, all of the above.
Although the ForTwo is considered to be fairly reliable overall, the list of small annoying mechanical issues they can suffer from can become very long.
Recalls:
- 2 June 2015 – The steering rack may have been secured to the vehicle cross member with incorrect bolts. 26 Smart Fortwos were affected.
Exterior:
Coupe models are subject to roof problems like the paint discolouring or fading and models with a polycarbonate sunroof, the polycarbonate can fade and crack.
Convertible ForTwo’s have been prone to their roofs shrinking and this leads to the roof itself lifting at the front which can lead to water leaking into the cabin.
Models from 2008 – 2009 can be prone to overcharging their headlights which shortens the lifespan of the light itself.
The body work is mainly all plastic and therefore pretty resilient and relatively easy to repair however, as the ForTwo does spend the majority of their lives in crowded areas, they can be susceptible to some abuse so be sure to check for accident damage and dodgy repair work.
Interior:
Faulty Temperature Control Modules can tamper with the Air Conditioning’s cooling and the blower for the Heater is also known to fail.
There are also many of reports of various electronic gremlins surfacing so if buying one, make sure to check and test every button, does everything work as it should?
Mechanically:
Both the turbo and naturally aspirated petrol engines, which are made by Mitsubishi, are fairly reliable and low maintenance however oil changes are made interesting by the absence of a traditional drain plug. A vacuum oil extraction device is required which while not being complicated, can make changing the oil difficult for those of you playing with these at home.
It’s the same story with the Mercedes diesel engine. These are generally reliable but can have complications with clogged up inlet systems a EGR valves. Although that is the case for almost all modern diesels to be fair.
There are plenty of examples of petrol and diesel engined ForTwo’s that are still going strong after relatively high km’s but those examples have been well serviced. Examples that have had timing chain complications or even worse, catastrophic engine failures are generally always a result of lack of servicing. Which is hard to understand as they are quite possibly one of the cheapest cars around in terms of servicing and maintenance.
Transmission issues are by far the weakest link and most common complaint. Even when they are working correctly, many owners complain about them. When they’re not working properly, they have reverse gear selection issues, harsh or slow shifting complications or just no drive at all. Sometimes resolving this can require a simple lube, adjustment and a relearn procedure or a clutch actuator or the actual clutch itself. And in some cases, in the space of a few months, all of the above.
Although the ForTwo is considered to be fairly reliable overall, the list of small annoying mechanical issues they can suffer from can become very long.
Recalls:
- 2 June 2015 – The steering rack may have been secured to the vehicle cross member with incorrect bolts. 26 Smart Fortwos were affected.
Body style:
- 3-door coupe
- 3-door convertible
Engines:
- 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Power:
- 52kW – 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 62kW – 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Torque:
- 92Nm – 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 120Nm – 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Transmission & drivetrains:
- 5-speed semi-automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Fuel consumption:
- 4.4 – 4.9L/100km
Length:
- 2695mm
Width:
- 1559mm
Height:
- 1542mm
Kerb weight:
- 750 – 780kg
Body style:
- 3-door coupe
- 3-door convertible
Engines:
- 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Power:
- 52kW – 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 62kW – 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Torque:
- 92Nm – 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 120Nm – 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Transmission & drivetrains:
- 5-speed semi-automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Fuel consumption:
- 4.4 – 4.9L/100km
Length:
- 2695mm
Width:
- 1559mm
Height:
- 1542mm
Kerb weight:
- 750 – 780kg
Body style:
- 3-door coupe
- 3-door convertible
Engines:
- 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Power:
- 52kW – 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 62kW – 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Torque:
- 92Nm – 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol (pulse, pulse mhd, pulse Night Orange, Domino Edition mhd, mhd Final Edition)
- 120Nm – 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol (pulse)
Transmission & drivetrains:
- 5-speed semi-automatic, rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Fuel consumption:
- 4.4 – 4.9L/100km
Length:
- 2695mm
Width:
- 1559mm
Height:
- 1542mm
Kerb weight:
- 750 – 780kg
Warranty:
3 year/unlimited kms
Servicing:
12 months/15,000kms – 1.0L 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol
12 months/20,000kms – 1.0L 3-cylinder petrol
Model range, pricing & features
If you are genuinely considering buying a Smart Fortwo, congratulations, it takes a very confident and secure human to embrace such a unique and polarising car into your life.
However, unless you absolutely need such a short vehicle, or you’re just a dedicated fan that loves what the Smart ForTwo represents, there are other cars you should also consider like any of the plethora of tiny Japanese Kei cars landing on international shores or more specifically, the Suzuki Alto and Daihatsu Charade.
While the Alto and Charade cannot match the Fortwo in terms of style and simply the cool factor, and they are a little larger in size, they are just solid little nuggets that arguably offer more car for the money.
However in saying that, there really is nothing else like the Smart Fortwo but the difference between these being tiny and fun or big and headache can be a very close call, so sure buy one but please be extremely careful.
If you are genuinely considering buying a Smart Fortwo, congratulations, it takes a very confident and secure human to embrace such a unique and polarising car into your life.
However, unless you absolutely need such a short vehicle, or you’re just a dedicated fan that loves what the Smart ForTwo represents, there are other cars you should also consider like any of the plethora of tiny Japanese Kei cars landing on international shores or more specifically, the Suzuki Alto and Daihatsu Charade.
While the Alto and Charade cannot match the Fortwo in terms of style and simply the cool factor, and they are a little larger in size, they are just solid little nuggets that arguably offer more car for the money.
However in saying that, there really is nothing else like the Smart Fortwo but the difference between these being tiny and fun or big and headache can be a very close call, so sure buy one but please be extremely careful.
If you are genuinely considering buying a Smart Fortwo, congratulations, it takes a very confident and secure human to embrace such a unique and polarising car into your life.
However, unless you absolutely need such a short vehicle, or you’re just a dedicated fan that loves what the Smart ForTwo represents, there are other cars you should also consider like any of the plethora of tiny Japanese Kei cars landing on international shores or more specifically, the Suzuki Alto and Daihatsu Charade.
While the Alto and Charade cannot match the Fortwo in terms of style and simply the cool factor, and they are a little larger in size, they are just solid little nuggets that arguably offer more car for the money.
However in saying that, there really is nothing else like the Smart Fortwo but the difference between these being tiny and fun or big and headache can be a very close call, so sure buy one but please be extremely careful.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of October 14, 2022.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
Read our full terms and conditions here.
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We'd be cautious
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