The original Smart ForFour car was launched in 2004, but it lasted only two years in production before it was axed, and we’ve never seen it on UK shores again. It is back after an 8 year absence with quirky styling, clever packaging and a ‘made for the city’ attitude.
It only costs £495 more than the ForTwo; the ForFour is also brilliant value as you get much more for your money. You may ask where exactly these two models differ. The difference is in the wheelbase as it has been stretched by 621mm and the length of the body by 800mm. The ForFour comes into direct contact with a bunch of well engineered and highly rated rivals in the shape of the Hyundai i10 and Skoda Citigo.
The front tyres are skinnier than the rears and soon run out of grip, while the 89bhp, 900cc turbo and five-speed manual gearbox come together to make it pretty quick. The cabin and interior design are shared with the ForTwo and even in basic Passion spec there’s a lot to like. The multi coloured dash, heavy multifunction steering wheel and unique centre console layout add a sense of fun.
The 180-litre boot is a bit small, but you can make the rear seats more upright to free up some valuable space. The bench also folds completely flat to give 975 litres. The seven-inch navigation system, heated seats, reversing camera and panoramic roof alone added a whopping £1,840 to an already premium price tag.
As a city car, the ForFour makes significantly more sense than its little brother. The flexible seating and boot arrangement are a real highlight, while the way it drives around town puts it one step ahead of its class rivals. But, the ForFour is still too expensive. The cars from Hyundai and Skoda offer more space and a broader breadth of abilities for less.
