Pros and cons of a smart car

When people are thinking about making an expensive buying decision, especially with something as new and unusual as the smart car, they often want to know the pros and cons of the various options they are considering. This article will examine the pros and cons of a smart car.

There is no doubt that the smart fortwo car has a passionate following. Before coming to the United States in 2007, he had already enjoyed great success in Europe for several years. But with its small size, there are also a number of concerns.

Advantages of a smart car

There are many benefits to consider; Don’t let its small size fool you!

• Environmental friendly. This small car is not only fuel efficient, averaging around 40 mpg, but it also has several other eco-friendly features. The smart fortwo car uses innovative, recyclable and low-consumption materials in its construction. In fact, 95% of the vehicle is recyclable and the dashboard material is made from recycled synthetic materials.
• Easy to park and drive. The smart car has a very small footprint. At less than 9 feet long, it’s almost 3 feet shorter than the already diminutive Mini Cooper. Of course, a big reason for that is that it’s only a 2-seater. But the small size means this car is very easy to park, especially in tight spots or short spots where other cars wouldn’t fit. It also has a large turning radius which makes it very manoeuvrable.
• Appearance. No one can argue that the smart fortwo car is not unique in its design and appearance. Check one out and you’ll never forget it whether you like it or not! The first impression of many people is that it is so cute. When Mercedes Benz brought the smart fortwo car to the United States, they updated its look to be more cutting-edge, with more chrome, a slightly longer hood section, and updated headlights and dash area. You can also change the plastic body panels to give it a completely new color, or buy a car wrap with some kind of unique print or design.
• Safety design. Most people’s first reaction when they see this little car is something like “How could such a small car be safe on the road?” What makes the smart car so unique, however, is Mercedes Benz’s attention to safety. From the innovative tridion safety cell, a kind of safety cage, to its 4 airbags and advanced braking system, the smart car is designed for safety. Crash tests have consistently proven Mercedes’ safety claims. Anecdotal evidence, as published on the safeandsmart.com website, also supports those claims.
• Surprisingly roomy inside. Another surprising benefit of the smart car is its spacious interior. There is plenty of legroom for both driver and passenger. Headroom is also great with guys up to 6’6″ fitting comfortably in the driver’s seat. Cargo area is also plenty roomy for a small car. We fit a 50lb black lab and 2 other dogs in our hatch when And we have brought home as many as 8 grocery bags and a case of soda when we go grocery shopping.
• Perfect commuter car. The smart fortwo car was originally designed as a “city car” for crowded European city dwellers, and that’s its greatest value in the United States as well. It’s a great commuter car, with its spaciousness, solid fuel economy, and spirited performance on the highways, not to mention ease of parking.

Cons of a smart car

Of course, no car is perfect for everyone, and this one is no exception. It has some features that could be improved, as well as some aspects that make it the wrong choice for certain people.

• size against other cars on the road. Despite its considerable safety features, there is no doubt that the smart car is much smaller than any other vehicle on the road. Therefore, there is a good chance that if you are involved in an accident involving a large SUV or truck, you could lose out. However, there are stories of smart cars outperforming larger vehicles in an accident. One advantage of its small size is that it could avoid collisions that a larger vehicle couldn’t.
• No cruise control. As mentioned above, the smart car was designed as a type of urban car. Perhaps that’s why, despite other high-end features, it lacks a cruise control option. If you plan to ride in it or your trip involves highway driving, chances are you’ll miss cruise control.
• unusual transmission. Smart cars have what is called an “automated manual transmission.” What that means is that you have the option of going fully automatic or using a modified manual transmission. Most people find that keeping it in automatic means slightly slow gear changing. However, that is easily fixed by switching to automated manual mode. This is a clutchless manual transmission, which means you’re in charge of using the shifter or paddle shifters on the steering wheel to change gears, but you don’t have to coordinate with a clutch. Manual mode is very easy to use, even if you’ve never operated a stick shift before, and provides a much faster gear changing experience.
• Limited passenger seats and cargo space. Smart cars only have 2 seats: the driver’s seat and the passenger seat. So they’re not meant to be family cars. And while the cargo hatch area is surprisingly roomy, it’s still less than 8 cubic feet. Therefore, you will not transport lumber or large furniture on it.
• Gas mileage could be higher. For such a small car, you would expect much better gas mileage. Yet the smart car was rated the most fuel-efficient gas-powered car in the United States by the EPA in 2010. And even at 40 MPG, it’s considerably more fuel-efficient than most trucks and SUVs in the US. roads today.
• Requires premium fuel. The smart car requires premium fuel, which can be expensive due to its small engine size. Smaller engines tend to run better with a higher grade of fuel. You might consider gas mileage the tradeoff for more expensive gas.

When weighing the pros of a smart car against the cons, I find that the pros win out. For what it’s designed to be (a 1-2 person vehicle), the Smart Car is a great value with many added benefits. It could be better? Sure, as with most products, there is definitely room for improvement. But, if you want a forward-thinking, upscale, fuel-efficient small car, I would definitely encourage you to consider the smart fortwo car.