The Smart Fortwo vs the Toyota IQ (2012 Video) 

He has to be related to James May. The way he sounds and the way he rambles on about technical stuff. It's just so perfect.

With such small dimensions, you have to admire the engineering that went into these things.

Best car review I have seen in years. Comparing both cars driven above potholes ( especially if you live in England) , tight garage/ parking space loading etc. Instead of pointless lapping around a race track and going side ways. Good work mate.

I think my Scion IQ is great. I just learned to drive at age 62 😁...this cute little bugger helped me overcome my fear of learning to drive.

That was a mistake I made during editing - it was supposed to be in the video. The IQ gearbox is very smooth and works exactly how an auto box should. It will crawl along if it is put in Drive or Reverse to assist with parking. It also has enough drive to hold the car when setting off on a slope. It can take longer to change up than I would like though.

Watching this in 2019 ...Mat is so young but always brilliant

Whilst enthusiasm is (normally) an admirable trait. I'm speaking as a person who has owned both these cars. You'll notice in my review I didn't dismiss either model..and presented a balanced personal opinion (whilst at the same time not trying to force this onto others). As I stated before, you should always buy the car that suits YOU. The Smart in the UK does not come with power steering as standard. The Brabus is a more expensive limited edition and was not the subject of this comparison.

Smart vs IQ Sounds like a gameshow

Me too, I always wanted a Smart since they first came out and I'm really glad that I managed to own one for a while.

Two words: Spot On. Bought the IQ automatic (coming from a Smart 451) thanks to this review!

This guy sounds like James May from Top Gear.

I just want to say a HUGE thank you for putting the time and effort into this video. You've picked up on a lot of areas that I missed during a test drive of the iQ and areas other reviewers gloss over. Nice to know that there's cubbies under the seats and under the boot and the turning circle demonstration made my jaw drop. Great work.

Better than the new Top Gear UK and other RU-vidr car reviewers

I honestly wish these type of cars were more popular. They are like driving a go kart and excellent on gas.

You just saved me from buying a smart Fortwo and convinced me to go with the Scion/Toyota IQ. This was an excellent review. I really noticed a dramatic difference in the cabin sound level between the two cars. IQ was much quieter. Prices here in the Midwest USA are close to the same on either car so the IQ is for me.

I find it fine for long trips. It's very relaxing to drive with the auto gearbox. It is definitely a bit revvy at certain speeds though...so try before you buy.

That's one reason I like your reviews so much! (I've seen *many* of the 'action cam' ones, and now this one [so far]) The fact that you are so logical and fair-minded is what helps so much. Nice to find someone who bases their reviews on facts, and tells it like it is!

I’ve driven both and I prefer the engaging drive of the smart car. I prefer to shift myself, lift off the accelerator when shifting, then hit it again once changed. Just like a manual. It honestly feels like a go cart. In the way of noise and the roughness of the drive... but I truly enjoy that more than any car I’ve driven. The IQ feels way more like a normal car. I drove one around Santorini and to me it felt soulless.

This "review" reminds me so much of those of James May in Top Gear! And I say it as a compliment! Excellent video as usual!

Great review even all these years later. My wife has a 2008 Smart and we are looking at a 2012-2015 Scion iQ. This really puts day to day driving with these two into perspective.

I had 3 of those Smart cars (it's the 451 variant) and was great. The panels were also designed to be interchangeable (mix n match colours) and is largely a recyclable vehicle.

I have the original Smart City Coupe from 2001, on 115k KM(71k miles), and honestly its amazing, reliable and is fun as hell, while it sure isn't fast or the best handling car, its nippy as hell and so fun!

Well done. I think I have watched most of your other videos, and have enjoyed them a great deal. It was great to see you tackle something different. Your attention to detail and sense of humor translate to car... evaluation? comparison? not review... very well. If you ever do another car video, I'll definitely watch! Thank you!

It's certainly an option. When I bought my IQ the Up! wasn't available with an auto gearbox...which was something I wanted at the time. I believe they do offer this option now. I like my IQ though, so will be hanging on to it.

When I saw the miniature, my first thought was "oh, a crashtest between two small cars, let's see". My eyebrow raised when I saw this is a video from Techmoan, and I LOL'd when realised what this video is about 😂

Thanks, glad I could be of help. Not being mechanically minded, I instead tried to concentrate on the things that weren't obvious from the brochures or covered in any of the reviews that I'd seen, the more practical things that matter to a owner rather than a test driver. Got to say that I'm really enjoying this car..only negatives, the engine is a bit revvy at times and the mpg is mid 40s at best (so far).

i have owned three Smart Fortwos (all the earlier turbo charged versions)and tried the IQ just after it was released but just didn't feel special to me. Few things i thought i would make people aware of, at least on the older 600 and 700cc turbo cars- not all models had the auto mode, only Passion or better specs. It has an automated manual gearbox, rather than a more standard auto gearbox which is why a lot of reviewers disliked it, but you get used to it quite quickly. The full glass roof on the smart helps to make it feel very spacious. I am 6'5" tall and fit very comfortably inside, on one occasion i even managed to buy a washing machine and take it home with me. The Smart has a split-fold tailgate, the bottom metal part is strong enough to sit on, and you only have to open the upper glass part to stick the shopping in the boot. Although there is no power steering, it is not heavy as the weight of the engine is at the rear.

I own one myself (1,0 engine) and I wouldn’t change it for anything , I’ve driven it to the city and even mountains and it didn’t let me down. I bought it second hand and I easily can fit 3 more people in it because I’m tiny and I can pull my seat really frond. Great first car , would highly suggest it ☺️🙌🏻

Hy I'm planning on trading my 2008 smart fortwo for a 2010 IQ, for city commute, I see that you have a mini now, it was also an option. Having experience with all of them what would you advise, if you could? A similar video with the mini would be great. I like the iQ for the higher driving position and fuel economy, over the mini, and presence of servo, and emergency seat, over the smart... Thanks!

I agree this is the best compare review for these two cars. another example why owners make the best reviewers. they don't have an agenda. I always like the honest unbiased reviews of products so consumers can make an informed decision before purchasing. Toyota products typically get a lot of bad reviews because professional reviewers have an agenda. but still Toyota ranks among the best in sales. proof that their buyers don't pay attention to bad reviews. they know they're great cars.

You have always been the best "Dashcam " guy on youtube. Now you are making the most Practical car reviews ! And I am looking for a iQ

This is awesome!! I also own a Smart 450 (after using a 451) and the IQ was a car I will consider next as well. This helps make up my mind! You explained certain aspects that no one else has bothered doing- in two words- Thank You!!

So do I. I'll cut and paste my earlier answer "The Smart is an official Minichamps model from a Smart showroom. The IQ was off eBay. They are both 1:43 scale models"

The MX5 was a really well made, quality car, with a nice engine. The fuel economy was a bit hard to live with, given the current fuel price. I was disappointed about the amount of interior space....there was wasted space behind the seats that was impossible to use. The car was very long for the amount of useable space inside. A Mini could fit four people and some luggage in a space much shorter than the MX5 took up. It was also too low for me to get into and out of with my dodgy old back.

Subscribed straight away because your review was just so in depth and realistic. Everything you said was straight to the point, very structured . Looking forward to watching to more of your uploads.

Great review; clearly shows the perks and perils of each model and focuses on the specificities of IQ (e.g. the interior space such as the space allocation for the 4th passenger). Keep up the great work!

Wow, those roads are frighteningly narrow PS - Really high quality vidoe editing and presentation.

You say the gearbox in the iQ is a conventional automatic, but it's actually a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Really helpful, thank you. My lovely little Smart car was killed too! Rear-ended in the floods. It had power steering and I loved the soft-touch automatic gears, which meant I could manually change up, to overcome the issues you mentioned with the slow automatic response, but it would still change down for me when approaching junctions, etc. Very handy. I'm considering an iQ as a replacement, and your review has been so helpful in making comparisons. Thank you 👍👍

I had my garage built between two existing detached houses, so the space was limited by this. The IQ3 (as well as all the other IQs) currently qualify for zero road tax, based on their emissions. The IQ has stability and traction control.

I had a Smart Car and traded it in for my Scion IQ Love it

he sounds awfully similar to a sick james may...

Wow! Incredible amount of work gone into this I am actually comparing the two for visiting patients in London (my Lexus Jeep is a bit cumbersome & hard to park in some areas/drive ways). My sensible head says the auto 1.33 iQ, my petrol head says an 84bhp 1 litre Smart with a remap, new exhaust & filter & maybe an uprated turbo & springs...

Best review for any car ever. I like how you emphasized important comparisons. Great video.

I like the original Minis too, I really would have liked the Mini Rocketman concept to come to fruition, but unfortunately they decided not to bring it out.

I own a IQ. Best car ever. As a visiting nurse, I beat the shit out of it. Never a problem, great on gas. Anybody tells you different is full of shit.

Your video's are always so informative and I've watched pretty much all of them. I ended up watching a few of your reviews for Mini Video Camera's as I wanted one for Mountain Biking and have been subscribed ever since. Hope to see some great technology from you in the future.

Good comparison. I like that you simply highlighted the highs and lows rather than declaring one better than the other. Honestly I think they're an even match. Both cars are tailored for different city drivers and offer a special uniqueness.

best comparison so far

Why all the hate for the IQ. I just had a test drive in a 1ltr IQ2 today. I was amazed at the acceleration for such a small engine. I had to stop and lift the bonnet to make sure they had not given me a 1.3 to try. But, no, it only had three cylinders. It was a fantastic drive. I think others need to drive it before they dismiss it as a gimmick or pointless. A similar spec Yaris is more expensive. If you don't want a micro car then don't buy one. If you do, the IQ is the best.

Great video, one of the best car comparos I've seen. Nice demonstration of features/dimensions/ride, and you have a good narration voice. Thanks - interested in both these cars.

Great review, Matt and a nice change of pace from the usual gadgets. :)

Great video. Hard off to you. The gf recently bought a Brabus edition Smart. What a great looking little car. I love taking it on the freeway. People get enticed to race me because I pass them easily. Great little car. Fun fun fun.

So which foot do I put the blue one on?

I haven't had the chance to drive a Scion, but I had a diesel Smart for three days a few years ago. I was really impressed with how well it was screwed together, possibly the most solid car I've driven ever. By the end of my time with it, I had the shifting down perfect. Most of the shifting happens with the accelerator pedal. It became fun. I would have bought it, but didn't have the money.

Great, I have had several of each of these cars and your review is spot on.

0:05 wow, didnt realise the smart car was THAT small

Still love my Smart Car. Thanks for this video. Very cool....

I had a smart car originally but three weeks after I bought it I was in a accident where I rear ended a truck going 20 miles an hour the truck was stopped. No damage to the truck but my smart car was totaled. It seemed to me that the insurance company didn't want to fix it was just a throwaway car to them. I'm now in a Scion IQ it is a nice car I prefer the Smart car. I felt like I was sitting higher in a smart car.

Great video! We absolutely needed to see something like this as we're comparing these two models of cars ourselves in order to decide which one to buy our daughter as a first car! So Thank You for being so clear and thorough! Much appreciated video!

I live here in Southern California and I've had my IQ for about almost 5 years and love it. I did notice that after I bought aftermarket rims that were wider than the stock ones the car did run a lot smoother and less bumpy. I would like to know where you got that IQ toy car

Advantages of the smart car over the IQ: It stands out on the road compared to the IQ. Plastic panels can be hit or kicked hard and will not ding. Try that on the IQ. I’ve had someone open their door and hit my smart pretty hard, but it didn’t leave a mark. Afterwards a friend asked me about it, so I kicked my door as hard as I could. Again, no marks or dings. Pretty cool! Try that on your IQ! Has a split tailgate, not the cheap and less useful hatchback. Groceries and other items won’t fall out like they do with a hatchback. I know because our van is a hatchback. And nothing falls out on an incline with the smart. Try that with the IQ. And stuff can be stacked up safer in the smart than in the IQ. Can maneuver through spaces the IQ can only dream about. (The smart is 6 to 9 inches narrower and about 12” shorter in length than the IQ) I once had an IQ try to keep up with me, but I was able to get through an opening between two cars that the IQ could only dream about! Takes up less room in a garage. Much more room for other things, like my library, Soloflex, Treadmill, Total Gym, cabinets all around, etc. etc. Has a sunroof. Don’t know if that comes as an option for the IQ. Manual transmissions are just more fun to drive! Has a ledge that sticks out from the dashboard: great for pens, pencils, cellphones, etc. And it looks awesome! More fun being able to say “I have a Mercedez” rather than “I have a Toyota”. Can sit on the tailgate. Can stand on the tailgate. Can climb over something from the tailgate. Oops! IQ doesn’t have a tailgate. Hatch does not go up as high as the hatchback of the IQ so much less likely to hit something. Has a tridion safety cell so is much safer in a rollover crash or if something falls onto the smart as compared to the IQ. Soft top/cabriolet version available. Brabus version available. This adds all kinds of features. MHD version available - a pretty clever idea! Electric version available. Diesel version available in some countries. Gets between 60-80 mpg! Costs less than the IQ. Can change body panels. Sits up higher than the IQ. It’s a two seater. Much better for one-on-one relationships. Never have tag-alongs! With seat down and tailgate down, can lay down in the smart. Great for looking out the moon roof or for a drive-in theater, or just relaxing. In an accident the engine is in the back. It won’t be pushed into you from the front and is designed to go under you if hit from the back. I like that! Lots of smart clubs around. By the way, I also have a 2009 smart, but mine has power steering. Also, I would never have bought a car that I had to 100% of the time remember to fold the side mirrors in just to get out of my garage. Forget one time and....oops!, just lost a mirror! (My wife did that once with her 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse!) Additionally, my car has never had a rattle, nor have I heard of that, so I think it’s just your particular car. Oh, it also appeared in your video that there is lot more window space in the smart, which could also be seen in the toy cars. And I would hate that annoying reflection in your car. Very annoying! Yes the IQ has some advantages also, but you’ve already covered those - at least in your opinion. By the way, I also like the Mini Cooper. Updated 2/24/2020 My 2009 smart fortwo now has 102,884 miles on it and still has not had any problems! Oh, I'm 6'5" tall, 250 lbs with a 36" inseam (see my videos), and I've got plenty of room! Updated 4/2022 At 128,000 miles I finally traded in my 2009 smart fortwo. It still had not been into the shop for anything (other than normal maintenance.) I now have a 2016 smart fortwo, third generation. It has much smoother transmission gear changes, is a six speed, has a crazy turning circle of less than 23 feet (radius less than 12 feet), a built-in smart phone holder, the plastic panels keep their color now - even if chipped, air vents that remind me of the Martian ships in the original classic sci-fi movie - War of The Worlds. It’s also 25% faster with its turbo. I miss my old smart car, but this newer version is fun in ways that cannot be matched by any other car that I know of. Fun, fun, fun! And if you’re into large format photography, like me, you’ll notice that the new instrument display, when turned off, looks like a monochrome viewing filter, such as was sold by the late Fred Picker of Zone VI Studios. Very cool!

It's very good, its a CVT gearbox so I can't feel any change up or down. It does still rev a bit up a hill at low speed, but that's pretty standard for a smaller engine.

my smart overheated 2 months ago, dealer either replaced the thermostat with another bad thermostat or gave me a $900 car wash. don't trust it over 20 miles. just put $500 down for a 2014 Scion iQ with 16K miles. i remembered your review from 3 years ago. Scions being toyotas are super reliable, so i am replacing my smart with an iQ, thanks bro!

My god, for the first two minutes of this video, I thought you were James May

wish they sold the IQ sport in Australia

I own an IQ with CVT transmission and I love it, I have also recently had after marketCruise control fitted to it which makes it even better. Im a big bloke (22 Stone and 6foot tall) and have had two fully grown passengers, the guy in the back said it was comfortable enough for shortish journeys but he thought that he might become travel sick due to the lack of visibility for a longer trip.

your video comparison of these two interesting small cars was very informative and well done. Thanks for your work.

love the iq 😍😍😍

I think the smart looks cool and has terrible engine and transmission. The IQ seems to be a great little car and looks terrible.

I had a gearbox(TCU) upgrade done and this really improved the gear changes. It has a manual style gearbox with a clutch, this is why you will feel the changes. Great comparison tempting me towards a Toyota

Andy from Big Car sent me here to watch this video today. Been a few years since the last time I watched this one so it's interesting to hear how Mat's voice has changed.

I thought this was James May talking!

As an ex Smart owner I often wondered if the IQ was an improvement on it!

Very enjoyable and thorough review.

It's a 1:43 Minichamps model...bought from a Smart Dealership (they have a catalogue of things like this). You can of course buy minchamps models in other places too, but I needed a specific colour that was only available from the Smart dealers.

I changed from a Smart to an IQ. It's all good except for fuel efficiency and fun. my Smart was very fast, as I had it chipped. My IQ is sluggish and not as zippy. Also, the fuel gauge goes up and down at will. Not very accurate! I love small cars, and I love my IQ. I can park it anywhere, do U turns etc. Road tax exempt. I can transport 2 adults and 2 hobbits. It feels like a big car, and handles well. I can't fit a roof box, though, which sucks.

Fair and honest review and comments. Great respect Techmoan. I did have a bunch of comments tumbling around in my head, but really who cares? I see Smart cars here in the US and to be honest they look ridiculous and quite deadly among the larger vehicles typically found here. Our roads are covered is large semi-trailer trucks, full size pickups right down to smaller cars and the smaller cars are still typically 2x the size of a Smart Car. Also our typical highway speed is 60-75 MPH. I personally do not think a crash in a Smart Car is survivable at those speeds up against the mass they would be impacting. I haven't seen any data on this, but it has to exist somewhere. I have been to the UK and the driving conditions there (I mainly drove between Maidenhead and London and there about) is much different. These cars make a lot more sense there. At 6' 5" I have no hope of fitting into one of these. This is not unique to the Smart Car. I have issues fitting into most vehicles especially when more than 2 passengers are a consideration. I did test drive a Mini Cooper and I must say I really like them. The first time I saw one was when I was in the UK before they came here and I fell in love with it immediately. I was very serious about buying one back in 2002 or so, but with a family on the way I bought something more practical. Anyway thank you again for the look at these two interesting vehicles. As you say everyone's needs are different.

Funny, that question was on my list as well when I was looking at the IQ.The short answer is no, but it's less important on the IQ because of the way the gears are engaged. The Smart won't crawl along in 1 or R, without you having to press the accelerator. The IQ is a normal auto so the idling engine revs will move it slowly. Therefore on a hill start, it's already pulling itself a bit, so won't roll back quickly when you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator. You get enough time.

I loved the tape idea. That's exactly what i needed.Thanks a lot for the video !

I'll stay with the Smart 451 over the Toyota IQ, and the semi-auto gearbox of smart is a little slow at changing in auto but can ba used in manual mode

I'm glad you made this. I have a smart and love it but you are right they need a better suspension. But since it's a mercedes you have to already know that they have lousy suspension. Their cars are made like tanks and are just supposed to last. Japanese cars are the best on the market as we all know. They last forever and have the best suspension and stick shifts. Yet I still love my smart.

I never had an Audi. My cars so far have been a 1979 MG Midget, a 1989 Toyota MR2 T-Bar, 1996 MG-F, 1998 Ford KA3, 2002 Mercedes A-Class, 2007 Mini, 2009 Smart, 2011 Mazda MX5, and this 2012 IQ3. I've always had small cars, often 2 seaters, being a two person family, it makes little sense to carry around an additional two empty passenger seats for most of the time.

Thank you for all your reviews, top notch work :)

You should have gotten a Reliant Robin!!

I had both cars and the iq is miles beter than the smart

No that's not been a problem or me. I have experienced this issue in other cars though, like my old MX5. The drivers seat height can be adjusted (in my version anyway), but the passengers is fixed.

good review nice to have a real person who has lived with both cars and tell me which i should buy

I can never picture myself in that IQ. My Smart is perfect for me

Think I'll stick with my F-250.

A very well presented, serious review and comparison of these two cars. Thanks.

Excellent review.... I hadn't even heard of the Toyota IQ, but had considered the Smart Fortwo. Now I'm going to have to see if I can find the Toyota here in the states.

I like my iQ

I'd also prefer the IQ. Itls smarter than smart. 2 seats are not enough

Thats the RD32II and it's mounting kit - you can find a review of this cam and the head mounting connection kit on my channel. The in-car sound comes from the RD32II too (which is why it's a bit out of sync with the footage of me from the Extreme cam that I attached upside down to the window and flipped the footage during editing).

Thanks for the best comparative review on the internet. Superb.

makes my mini cooper seem huge

I have a smart fortwo and am very interested in getting a toyota IQ. I am very interested in knowing if the IQ handles better than the smart car. How do you find it around corners, and is it zippier than the smart? It must be so wonderful to have a car that doesn't hesitate between gears!

You really are very good at what you do. Keep 'em coming, please :)

What a great and very detailed review. Best car comparison ever. Great work!