Smart ForFour buying guide
Dinky city car is now a used showroom star
EVER since Mercedes subsidiary Smart burst on to the scene in 1998, it’s done its best to offer something different. The firm’s first car was the two-seater Smart Coupé (later known as the ForTwo), while the Mk1 ForFour injected some extra design flair into the supermini segment with its quirky styling and two-tone paint schemes. When the smaller, city-car-sized Mk2 arrived around a decade after its forebear, it offered more of the same: something a bit different in a segment that’s not short of talented – but ultimately rather conservative – rivals.
Perhaps it’s Smart’s relatively low profile, or maybe it’s the car’s quirkiness, but it hasn’t sold as well as most rivals, although that’s not a reason to avoid it as a used buy.
History
THE Mk2 ForFour reached the UK in March 2015 with a choice of 70bhp naturally aspirated 999cc or 89bhp turbocharged 898cc engines; both were rear-mounted three-cylinder units. Buyers could choose a five-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox (the latter called Twinamic) alongside Passion, Prime, and Proxy trims.
A revised ForFour range arrived in September 2016, with Prime Sport and Brabus Sport trims added, and Proxy dropped. A month later the auto-only Brabus and Brabus Xclusive arrived with a 108bhp 898cc engine, sports suspension and sportier styling. The Xclusive brought leather sports seats and upgraded interior trim, automatic lights and wipers, plus a rear parking camera. In July 2017 a new entrylevel Pure model was introduced, alongside the EV ForFour Electric Drive (renamed EQ in 2018), which has a 100-mile range.
Which one?
THE smaller, turbocharged engine is the pick of the bunch, but the 1.0-litre unit is fine if you’re in no hurry. Unlike previous Smarts, the ForFour’s automatic transmission is reasonably slick, although not as good as some dual-clutch gearboxes.
Entry-level Passion gets a leather steering wheel, 15-inch alloys, climate control, electric windows and a radio with Bluetooth/USB connections. Prime adds heated front seats while Proxy features 16-inch wheels and lowered suspension. Both Prime and Proxy have a panoramic glass roof. Electric ForFours are rare, and offer less range than most rival EVs.
Alternatives
THE now-defunct Renault Twingo Mk3 is mechanically the same as the Smart ForFour, and used prices are similar – it’s certainly worth a look if you like the styling.
More conventional, front-engined rivals include the Kia Picanto and its cousin, the Hyundai i10, which have a big-car feel and come packed with equipment if you avoid
entry-level models; top-spec cars even get a heated steering wheel. The Volkswagen up!, SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo are three versions of the same car which arrived in 2012, yet they’re still desirable thanks to their relatively roomy cabins, good build quality and nippy 1.0-litre engine. The Citroen C1, Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo are three more city cars with the same oily bits; they’re plentiful, top value and cheap to run.
Verdict
THE ForFour is a characterful-looking car with plenty of equipment as standard, while the rear-mounted engine allows it to have a tight turning circle – a useful feature in a car that’s most at home around town.
Road tax and servicing are cheap, but bear in mind that you have to remove the boot floor to check or top up the oil. Also worth highlighting is that the ForFour was a slow seller when new, so your choice on the second-hand market is rather limited when compared to its more mainstream rivals.
The ForFour is worth a closer look, but consider key alternatives before committing.