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Traditionally, the smart fortwo has attracted a distinct, loyal band of urban-based buyers who really wouldn't consider anything else. This third generation version though, had wider appeal, classier, cleverer and more effective than ever in its town-targeted remit thanks to Mercedes engineering and shared development with Renault. Arguably, it was the car this model should always have been.
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History
Size matters - especially in the city where the smallest form of comfortable personal mobility is epitomised here, by smart's third generation fortwo.
Back in 1998, a different kind of little car was introduced to an unsuspecting world, a model redefining what a city runabout could be. What became known as the 'smart fortwo' quickly established itself as an icon for trendy townies before the marque somewhat lost its way by trying to also sell larger models that brand buyers didn't want.
A second generation 'W451' fortwo model, launched in 2007, helped get things back on track, but it was this third generation 'C453' version, launched in this country early in 2015, that at last properly developed that clever original concept. Here, you get the tiny body length, rear-engine layout and tight turning circle that have always defined this car. But do without the jerky transmission, tiny cargo area and unsettled ride that traditionally put people off it. There's even a lengthened forfour version if you don't like the traditional two-seater layout.
Previous financial woes meant that smart parent company Daimler needed to involve its Mercedes brand more closely in a MK3 model development programme that also needed a financial partner - Renault. Both of these things forced the smart designers to adopt a welcome, more realistic approach in creating this car and the end product was all the better for it. Under the skin lie the underpinnings of a little Renault Twingo, but enough of smart's brand equity was built upon these for that not to matter very much. A Cabrio version arrived to join the fixed-top 'Coupe' in 2016 and sportier-looking Brabus versions of both (with the 0.9 engine) arrived at the same time. The 'Electric Drive' EQ version was launched in 2017. Combustion-powered fortwo models were offered until 2019, after which an all-electric model (by now badged 'EQ') took over until the end of sales in 2023.
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What you get
A little disappointingly, due to modern safety legislation, this third generation fortwo lost the pert, funky 'one-box' shape that so defined its predecessors. Or, to put it another way, the 'one-and-a-half-box' styling acquired by this MK3 model meant that it gained a properly defined bonnet and, as a result, it looks somehow more conventional. This being the case, it's remarkable that this MK3 model remains every bit as short as its predecessors, just 2.69m in length. Otherwise, the profile of this car continues to be characterised by the colour contrast between the body panels and the emphasised outlines of a tridion safety cell that can be finished in black, white or silver. As before, there was the choice of fixed-top and cabrio body styles.
The twin-section tailgate used with both variants wasn't new, but it was something that owner feedback insisted upon, so the design was carried over from the previous model, complete with its user-friendly upper opening glass section. Smart drivers loved the fact that even in the tightest parking spaces, they could still easily load their cars. As before, the bottom section flattens into a neat picnic perch, strong enough to sit on and incorporating a useful lidded compartment. And it reveals an amazingly tardis-like cargo bay, boot space to the window line increased by 40-litres to create a total 260-litre total capacity greater than all of this car's most direct (and much larger) citycar rivals.
At the wheel, the spacial surprises continue and you'll quickly find yourself wondering how on earth something so diminutively small outside can feel so large and airy within. In this MK3 fortwo, you feel that you're in a proper car, rather than some kind of cramped urban mobility pod. Unlike older fortwos, burly folk need no longer be on intimate terms and even slender owners will appreciate the extra elbow room.
The dashboard's a two-piece affair, with the upper part trimmed in a lovely mesh-effect fabric coating that looks great, though we wouldn't want to have to try and get melted chocolate out of it. This can be colour-co-ordinated alongside the central seat facings and the middle panels in the doors, with black, blue or orange themes. Further funky touches include the four spherical air vents with their friendly clickety mechanisms. And an unusually-configured air conditioning unit, on which the desired temperature can be set on a central scale you select from with the aid of a sliding magnifying glass.
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What to look for
We are primarily going to assume here that you're looking at a combustion-powered fortwo, rather than the later EQ electric model. As a car designed primarily for city streets, it's unlikely you'll find a high mileage example that's spent a life on the motorway. Because of this, the condition of this smart and a service history are more important than the distance it's travelled. Low miles may sound good but urban driving puts more stress on a car than you'd think; regular maintenance is vital. There's also a good chance it'll have seen a few supermarket car parks and tight spaces, so look for damage to the bodywork and wheels. The good news is that the plastic panels should make repairs fairly cheap.
The things to look out for are the same as they are with a smart forfour. There have been quite a few problems with engines, so you really need to insist on that service history we mentioned. Quite a few problems have been reported with the 5-speed automated manual transmission too. We've had reports that gears won't engage or slip out of place. On your test drive, you might notice difficulty in shifting gears - or perhaps the car will skip between ratios. This could be a sign that the clutch is faulty - or it could be a damaged solenoid. Another cause may be a malfunctioning speed sensor delivering the wrong data to the gearbox. If the gearbox feels jerky, it could be a sign of insufficient gearbox oil - or perhaps the oil has lost its quality and needs changing. We also come across reports of the gearbox leaking, which means oil seal damage.
What about all fortwo models including the electric version? Well we've come across reports of the vehicle bottoming out because the suspension is poor. Walk away from cars that do this because the cost of repair is quite expensive, shock absorbers being particularly pricey. We also heard that the brakes wear out fast and pads need to be changed frequently. A normal lifespan for brake pads is about 40,000 miles but on a smart fortwo, you can only expect 25 to 30,000 miles. Otherwise, it's just the usual things: check for alloy wheel scrapes and interior child damage. On the cabrio version, obviously check the powered roof mechanism thoroughly. We'd close it and put it through a car wash to check for leaks too.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on 2017 fourtwo 0.9 inc. VAT) An air filter is £14-£16, front brake pads are in the £27-£40 bracket, while front brake discs are in the £75-£87 bracket. Wiper blades are in the £4-£23 bracket. And an alternator is in the £243-£300 bracket. A fuel filter is around £13. Replacing the battery and shock absorbers can be extremely expensive.
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On the road
This third generation fortwo was initially offered with a stick shift, which you might think odd after so many years of smart telling us that truly urbanised motoring really needs an automated change. Original MK3 fortwo owners could also have that, even with the entry-level 71bhp 1.0-litre model, providing they paid the significant premium necessary to have the three cylinder petrol unit mated with the brand's 'twinamic' 6-speed auto 'box.
We'd be inclined to stump up the extra for the other, much pokier three cylinder petrol engine on offer to MK3 fortwo buyers, a Renault TCe powerplant that at 0.9-litres, is smaller in size than the base smart-derived unit but, thanks to a turbocharger, is much beefier in delivery. It was also optionally available from new with the 'twinamic' automatic gearbox and delivers 90bhp with, more significantly, a 50% increase in pulling power, torque rising from the feebler engine's 91Nm to a far more acceptable 135Nm.
Just as impressive is this car's astonishingly tight turning circle, achieved through the use of different tyre sizes front and rear, along with the fact that because there are no driveshafts going to the front wheels, those wheels can be angled out to 45-degrees. As a result, the previous model's already-impressive 8.75m turning figure was improved to a scarcely believable 6.95m, which is really handy when you spot a parking space on the other side of the road and need to dive in quick smart. It's abilities of this kind that open up a whole new dimension of town travel at the wheel of this car.
From 2019, smart introduced the all-electric EQ fortwo, which then sold all the way to the end of sales in 2023. This used a rear-mounted 80hp motor powered by a small 17kWh battery offering just 81 miles of range.
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Overall
The smart fortwo has never been more relevant and in this MK3 form will remain as appealing as ever on the used market to the trendy townies who'll continue to appreciate its quirky charms. Yes of course, there are more sensible small car choices from the 2015-2023 period you could make for the money but then, let's be honest: if you really want to get about town sensibly, you shouldn't be buying a car in the first place. You should be getting the bus.
Fashionable urbanites to whom that doesn't appeal will be as attracted to this third generation fortwo as they were to its predecessors. It remains the quintessential citycar, stylish, cheap to run, supremely space-efficient and easier to get around in and park than anything this side of a moped. Yes, many rivals are larger - and some are cheaper, either to buy or to run. None of them though, are made for the metropolis in quite the same way as this smart was been. No other small car is quite so perfectly tailored for the town. You'll need to buy carefully on the used market though.
In summary, assuming you agree that life should be fun as well as cost-effective. And provided that you really don't need more than two seats and minimal luggage space, this smart in this MK3 form became a more sensible prospect, yet still has what it takes to put a smile on your face. In today's often dismal world, that makes it a car worth having around.
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