By car and driving

Does Smarts forfour Plus A 1.1-Litre Engine Equal A Perfect Ten? Steve Walker Does The Sums

The original Smart car shook-up the citycar market with its unorthodox two-tone styling. Now its called the fortwo and has been joined by a gaggle of other Smart products, including the forfour 5-door try saying that with a mouthful of Jacobs crackers. Funky design and a fun-loving outlook have played a major part in endearing Smart cars to trendy urbanites throughout the land. All forfour models share in these key characteristics, so why stump up for the range-toppers when the entry-level 1.

1-litre models do it all for less?

Buyers arent motivated to walk into a Smart showroom by the performance, driving dynamics or practicality of the cars. They head down their because of the way Smart products look and what owning one would say about them to the world at large. The 700cc engine in a standard Smart fortwo produces laborious acceleration and the gearbox lurches between ratios but buyers still love the car because of the far-out colour schemes, the cute front end and the miniature dimensions. The forfour is a more rounded proposition than the fortwo with proper-sized engines, rear seats and a usable boot but its the look of the car that will remain the big selling point.

Thats why many will settle for the entry-level 64 or 75bhp 1.1-litre powerplants. The 75bhp output of the car we tried seemed to be a reasonable total for an entry-level supermini. This engine will power the car up to a top speed of 103mph and the 0-62mph sprint will detain you for all of 13.

4s if youre suitably slick with the 5-speed manual gearbox. These performance figures sound adequate and on the road they are. The forfour is by no means the liveliest 1.1-litre supermini around but in normal urban driving the engine doesnt sound unduly troubled.

The manual gearbox is the one that most will choose given Smarts patchy record with automatic transmissions but then the 1.1-litre isnt the engine in the range that will appeal to keen drivers. Many people picking the 1.1 may prefer the simplicity of the 6-speed softtouch automatic system.

Here you can either flip the gears up and down yourself or slide the lever over and let the drivetrain take the strain. Changes here are less smooth than in the best automatics from other manufacturers but with practice, you can avoid the worst of the jerkiness.

"So long as theyre not expecting too much by way of performance, buyers should have few complaints"

Its claimed that an average fuel consumption of 51mpg is possible but most owners undertaking mainly urban journeys will get closer to 40 miles for their gallon of unleaded. Overall, theres nothing particularly impressive about the 1.1-litre unit but its up to the task of punting the forfour around and so long as theyre not expecting too much by way of performance, buyers should have few complaints. Cast an eye down the Smart forfour pricelist and youll be pleasantly surprised.

The 1.1-litre purestyle model starts at £7,295, while the air conditioned coolstyle starts at £8,595. The 75bhp models start at £10,370, which is a tad expensive by entry-level supermini standards but most would expect to pay a premium for Smart street cred. The next powerplant up in the Smart forfour range is the four-cylinder 1.

3-litre and its £1,000 more expensive model for model. This is a premium that buyers planning on undertaking longer journeys on a regular basis may feel inclined to fork out for because the extra capacity and 20bhp power hike do make a tangible difference. Those more concerned with style than substance, however, will do better to pick a 1.1-litre and spend the extra money on some choice optional extras from the forfours gargantuan accessories catalogue.

Most models feature disc brakes all round, ABS with brakeforce distribution and ESP stability control, which is reassuring to know even in these 1.1-litre variants. There are twin front airbags, side airbags and seatbelt pretensioners as well, so the car certainly isnt lacking in the safety department. A CD player is included as is central locking, an immobiliser and a height adjustable steering wheel.

Step up to the passion and you get alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, air-conditioning to help combat the resulting greenhouse effect, and front fog lights as well as various other cosmetic enhancements. The vast range of options is such that the forfour can be personalised to a great extent with various colour schemes and appendages adding to the cars individualist appeal. You know youre in the Smart as soon as you sit down into the forfours driving seat and thats not because youve just walked in to the Smart showroom and asked a Smart salesperson if you can have a look at the latest Smart supermini. Its because so many of the styling themes are carried over from the fortwo.

The plastics used are of impressive quality and the seating is firm but supportive. The circular instruments are a nice touch but the electric window controls between the seats could have been more conveniently located. Outside, the car is similarly distinctive. The two-tone design forms the impression of a framework into which door and bonnet panels are set adding to the chunky, modular appearance.

Its certainly unlike any other supermini on the road but the detailing does get a little fussy in places, especially around the front end, and fans of simple, clean lines on cars may find themselves nonplussed by the forfour despite its fashionable billing. The Smart forfours unique style will be central to its appeal. Different competitors do performance, space, practicality and price that little bit better but none are quite as smart as the Smart. The 1.

1-litre models deliver the sought-after image more cheaply than models higher up the range and for this reason they should prove popular.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Smart forfour 1.1-litre range
PRICES: £7,295- £10,370 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 3
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 13.4s / Max Speed 103mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 40.4mpg / (extra urban) 61.4mpg / (combined) 51.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, side airbags, ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 3752/1684/1450mm