2016 Smart Fortwo First Drive Review: Much Improved. Good but not Great 

I’m actually pretty impressed with the new styling for the 2017 smarts. They improved it a lot

I love mine. I have a 5 speed and drive in a city, country, and highway. Mine will scoot down the road when some are still at the red light. It is an absolute joy to drive. My ac is fine in Georgia summers. I would buy another in a heart beat!

Thank you!!! Of ALL the reviews on this car, you are the only one who pointed out this car has too small of an A.C. for us desert dwellers!

I'm so in love with Smart cars

5:55 My OCD went crazy when i noticed the glass case still open.

It's always been rear engined, rear wheel drive. It's not new to this new model.

I test drove a 2016 electric and liked it a lot, but the range isn't good enough for my needs. Then I tested a 2011 gas powered one because I love the style, and since it's only me most of the time, why have all that extra weight/bulk to shift around? I've heard the the Smart ForTwo transmission makes it feel like you're in a car with someone who is learning to drive a manual, but is pretty inept at it. I'd say that was about right, and I'd also say I was never that bad at gear changes, even from lesson #1 in a manual! Using paddle shifters on that 2011 made no difference to the response time at which the car shifted, and the gear stick itself was only marginally better. Maybe all that stuff was broken... I love the styling, size and potential nippiness of this car, leaving aside the lack of power delivery and unwillingness of the transmission to change gear til it's revving much higher than it needs to, BUT the engine is also awful to get to. The Mercedes mechanic I spoke to says they frequently have to drop the engine to work on it and costs rack up fast. When stuff goes wrong (and it WILL!) it's going to make you sweat and wish you had something else. And I drive a MINI, so I speak from that uncomfortable experience of having to have 2 engine repairs done inside 6 weeks. Unfortunately, despite loving diminutive cars, the truth is a suitable engine design and access bay must be present in order to keep repair costs down.

I think it's cute. Much better looking then the previous design.

The last time I saw one of these the guy had fixed a giant motorized wind up key to it to make his Smart look like a wind up car. Even he knew it was a joke.

Hello from UK. This is a fantastic little car & I have owned the Renault Twingo which is this cars twin, like the Smart ForFour (which you don't get state side) is very spacious little car & can seat four people unlike the fiat 500. The engine is transverse not longitude mounted. All 3 generations of Smart ForTwo are rear engined. I was stunned by the engine, 900cc 3 cylinder turbo unit, very zippy and as Roman stated, when the turbo kicks in, way hay. I get between 55-70 MPG, but I'm not sure how it translates state side as our gallons are different to yours. Lovely 5 speed manual & fun to drive. Turning circle is brilliant too. I can recommend this car.

Ceramic window tint is key to keeping out the summer heat 👍

Up to $20k??? For a go kart? I'll stick with a traditional small hatchback, my Fiesta ST

I'm 6'4 I need to review one of these to see if I can fit in it!

4:45 The donut scene🤣🤣🤣

I recognize that bridge! Welcome to Portland!

Will you be doing a giveaway because I would absolutely LOVE one of these smart cars!

"Youthful and hip" where I'm from the only people that drive Smart Cars are old people, lol.

In the environment for which it was designed, to wit, an urban conurbation, the Smart car is excellent. If you want to do a 4,000 miles round trip to the Arctic, it may be advisable to consider a different car.

Looks pretty good

the engine is just NOW mounted in the rear? hmmm, I wonder where they used to be?

I'm liking that 2016 Pilot parked at 1:57!!!!

Is the Forfour coming to the states and with a manual. Oh and with proper rear windows instead of pop outs?

Looks like it shakes a lot even when just idling at a stop light

I own one love it with a passion LOL!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Hummmm...the engine has always been mounted in the rear of the car. I should know, I've owned one since 2005 (though I just sold it). Costly car to own, think Mercedes parts and labour. BTW, no cabriolet no deal. It was expensive but fun with the roof down.

Roman, Would you really consider the Sm4Too over a Honda Fit with a MT or even (GFB) a CVT? The Fit will park in fairly small spaces, has outstanding interior space capability and has got to leave ya feeling a bit safer in the slightly larger car. Fit LX is only a VERY small increase in price over the Sm4Too.

you guys should test the Lincoln lineup

Very nice video! Keep saving...♥

I think it looks much better than the last gen, but the front bumper really cheapens the look. They could've made it a lot sleeker, but instead it comes across as a puffer fish grinning.

Any overheating issues with the rear engine?

MPG??? Am I crazy and missed this, or did you leave out the main reason you would buy this car.

Why not show parking parking or next to a curb? Because it can't

Wouldn't man made leather come from babies?

The front end of that thing is disturbing. Looks like a hungry cartoon car.

You can buy a brand new Corolla for 16k and a civic for 17k

Was seriously thinking about getting one but after hearing the A/C can't cool the tiny cabin in 91 degree weather outside and the fact getting on a freeway I need a 10 second start, those points killed it for me. Unfortunately, the Scion iQ has been discontinued so next step up or down is the Mitsubishi Mirage but a lot of negatives there so it seems that the auto industry is not making a serious effort to properly design and engineer tiny cars.

If you beleaved this guy you would be put off buying a smart i have a smart for two circa 2016 model turbo dct and after having the older smart models its a great improvement and and with paddleshift its quite quick and with lowered ride height in my edition it holds the road as good as my old rover mini.

But where is the key to wind it up?

What does the horn sound like?

Just me or video image quality seem better on this vid.

it's really fun to drive,but the transmission is funky though

Apparently, anybody who provides incorrect information on TFL is to be given the bum's rush. So, if that is the case, it's going to leave just Nathan and me. All in all, I think it's an excellent idea.

Take it up the Ike Gauntlet please!!!

Why do oeople keep saying they can get a bigger car for the same price. Obviously if you don't need a car this size, then get the bigger car for the same money. This car will only make sense if you live in tight urban environments where even an extra foot of car length means getting a parking space or not.

hasnt the engine always been on the back?

Когда сделают, как для себя, тогда будет great.

Always buy a car that is a couple yrs old unless you get a REALLY good deal(year end clearance).That way you don't eat all that depreciation.

I like that it's easy to park, but it's gas mileage is horrendous.

Is it reliable?

What type of places do people really need something that tiny? I'm not trying to be smart alek but I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around wanting or needing a car that small. Especilliy sense I do believe their are bigger more comfortable cars that probably get just as good mpg's. To me it almost looks like a child's toy.

Why on earth would anyone pay $15000-20000 for this make shift coffin? Shit!! You can buy a world class low mile used car for that much.

It looks like they stole the tail lights from the keep renegade.

I'm pretty miffed about the fortwo.. my dad had the 08 and is in the market for a new car. tho i see quite a bit more than I'd expect seeing around (I'm in nyc) bc of the shitty reputation of the last one, so i expected it and hoped it would be a vast improvement. it still seems shitty. at least they apparently fixed the nauseating lurch when the gears shift.. i drive stick smoother than that and get nauseated in my dad's 08 model. my rsx with coilovers on nyc roads (terrible) rides smoother lol. i get car sick and can only last 15 minutes at a time before I'm clawing at the windows and hanging outta the door for fresh air lol

So there's no automatic transmission?

who's traverse is that?

just saw a 2016 Smart in orange and black. The owners were anything but hip and youthful. Probably 70.

My 88 Ford Sierra has 90hp.

I feel like the Chevy Spark would be a lot better. More horsepower, more room and the msrp is less than the Smart Fortwo.

We've got pot holes that would swallow that car!!! I still want 1!!

Still makes my original Honda insight look like a super car!!!

is this car smaller than fiat 500?

2050 pounds with 100 lb-ft of torque... I mean that's not HORRIBLE. But only 33/39 mpg? That's... pretty shit for those what it is, and for the size. I know the Renault Twingo is only a manual, but it gets a combined (couldn't find just a city and highway) of 4.4 liter/100km, which is 53.4 mpg. If they can have a turbo 1 liter and get that kind of mileage (plus it weighs 300 pounds more than the Smart Fortwo) this is not very enticing. I guess what I'm saying is they really should have tried to get 40mpg city out of this thing. If you don't? I just don't think incentive is there for an American to buy this.

Americans can put that toy car on bed of their real car a.k.a. pick up truck ;-) Smart has never turned a profit but still they insist keeping it alive.

a suzuki cappuccino has a 0.6L turbo 3cyl and it's faster than this. AND IT'S 26 YRS OLDER! what gives?

I LIVE IN PORTLAND, OREGON. 😳

Hi All. I bought my daughter a 2013 SmartCar FourTwo Passion. She rear ended a car going 12 mph and "totalled" the car. This is not something I would have expected from a Mercedes-Benz. The car is crap and I believe very unsafe. My daughter hurt her knees and her head but was not hospitalized. I contacted Mercedes Customer Support and it was virtually non existent. I will never buy anything from Mercedes again. Awful unsafe car from a company that does not care about its customers! Very disappointing. DO NOT BUY!

youthful and hip??? this guys probably doesn't have friends

This car should be electric only

ELIO will be 84 MPG

I don't know why the people of the USA say that there country is America. America is a content and on top of that the USA is located in north amirica. and if the people of the USA can call themself American so can a Mexican or a colombian because they are all located in the America contenet

HAHA he pouches it and cars going the speed limit pass him

How do you lock the hood? If all you need to do is pull two clips to open it, some swine could cut it off after they get access to the straps that hold it on! If the hood can't be locked, then Mercedes have no right to expect people to keep replacing stolen hoods. Ensuring a car is securable is surely the responsibility of the car manufacturer. We are getting a new forfour passion next week and this just occurred to me. If the hood can't be locked, I will not be pleased with Mercedes one little bit!

My Matte Grey 2013 Smart Electric is better

spend less and get more...Mitsubishi Mirage beats this car all around!

Reasons why I would like this car. -its small -it's cheap Reasons why i won't buy this car -it's not small, they made it wider -it's not cheap for what you get -takes only premium gas? no thanks Stick with making over priced cars for the rich Mercedes. You still don't impress me.

15,000-20,000? Seriously just get a fiesta st

"This is not something you want to bring to the drag strip." ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pvbF6kDhWyU.html

not for 20k too much forget mercedes benz

I'm mechanically incline and these cars have a very poor design . For example to change a thermostat on this car is a nightmare not to mention they cost $200.00. The starter, try to find a rebuilt starter because the new ones are just crazy expensive. The starter is very very badly designed , they can't last the cables are exposed so the corrosion set in and you have to change the whole starter. If you could get brushes for the starter then you could change the cables but never the less who in the world would have such a bad design . If the car worked half the time it would not be so bad. I had mind up to 45,000 KM's and was always broken I never seen such a poor design . The other thing is the gas millage a Toyota Yaris as better millage and a much better car. The resale value is worth nothing for these cars. The car it self was fun to drive specially down town parking was a joke. But they are always broken can;t rely on them. Like the rebuilt starters there is hardly none available because they all lose there cables. I guaranty that anyone who as one of these will have starter problem and that;s only the beginning . A SMART car top of the line AC , Blue tuth, mags, gas, passion coup 4 years old 45000 km's $4000.00 and that is in immaculate shape I wouldn't pay $1000.00 IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE WORST CAR ON THE MARKET TODAY. Don't take my word ask anyone who as one for more then five years. The list goes on the actuator is another problem these are not automatic they have an automatic clutch not the same thing. The older diesel models would heat up in 6th gear . I repair car and this is the worst car out there today. The other thing is when we have certain problems with car we call the dealership for advice and always get it but Mercedes wont give us the time of day.

"Is now in the back" FOOL it's always been in the back

Kind of expensive for what ur getting

The front is hideous. We should have been given the CDI. Either way these things are absolute junk

Soooo cute tho

~👆 and there is the opera

Once these depreciate to $1000 bucks or less then it'll be worth it.

So in other words this car is not Worth of shit

These cars are still a joke and oh so ugly

so impractical and dangerous.

HAHAHAHAH "Changing yourself the gears can be not engaging, but annoying" Roman, you´re quite screwed (and wrong)

Wtf

It's a porsche!!!

I'd give that transmission 3 years, tops lol. #German "engineering"