2017 smart fortwo Review

We think the upper-mid Prime trim is a good way to go. Its leather upholstery, heated seats, ambient lighting and panoramic glass roof add an air of luxury to a car that is otherwise draped in unappealing plastics and an overwhelming sense of thrift. The top-end Proxy doesn't cost much more, but we...

The new twin-clutch transmission dramatically improves drivability over the previous generation but still delivers subpar smoothness within the 1 to 20 mph range. This is unacceptable for a city car. The EV fares much better because it provides uninterrupted acceleration.

The new three-cylinder engine has decent midrange power now that it's turbocharged, making it a more effective tool for threading traffic. It'll hit 60 mph in 10.1 seconds, which isn't fast but is slightly quicker than the class average. The EV feels quicker from a stoplight.

Stopping distance tops subcompact performance at 110 feet, but the experience is unsettling. Under hard braking, the front end wiggles and rear tires may skid, which is the last thing you want during panic stops. The transition from the EV's regenerative to mechanical brakes is not noticeable.

The Fortwo's steering is direct and responsive without being darty. It's surprisingly stable at higher speeds. There isn't much road feedback, but this isn't a performance car, so the tuning and effort are good for its purposes.

A high center of gravity, relatively narrow track and skinny tires conspire to keep handling abilities very low. This isn't a car that you can sling around turns. The Fortwo's stability control skews conservative for safety reasons, cutting power and applying brakes if it senses a whiff of danger.

The new twin-clutch transmission dramatically improves drivability over the previous generation but still delivers subpar smoothness within the 1 to 20 mph range. This is unacceptable for a city car. The EV fares much better because it provides uninterrupted acceleration.

You might assume the Fortwo gets dinged on comfort due to its smallness, but size doesn't factor in here. Seat comfort is compromised for aesthetics, and the suspension is much too stiff to provide any peace over rough city roads.

The cushions offer decent padding but have minimal lateral and lumbar support, and a seam on the bottom cushion is noticeable and distracting. There's zero padding on the door armrest. The optional inboard armrest is worth getting.

With an extra-short wheelbase, large road bumps are an adventure. Hit them with some speed, and you'd leave your seat if you weren't strapped to it. The ride is continuously busy because of the stiff suspension tuning. Not recommended for extended highway use.

Road and tire noise is mostly quelled, but the Fortwo's flat front nose pushes air like a mini bulldozer, which makes it sound windy outside at all times. In the cabriolet, noise is even more apparent. Hearing the engine work in back would be excusable if it made more pleasant sounds.

Some cost-saving measures, such as the nonadjustable cupholders molded into the hard plastic center console, are laughably obvious. But there are some redeeming qualities to the Fortwo's interior, such as generous passenger leg- and headroom and a cabin design that feels modern and fun.

The stereo is basic but easy to use, offering USB and auxiliary inputs to pipe your music through the cabin speakers. The climate controls are also straightforward and are done up in a creative and stylish fashion. Simple does work.

Wide door openings and a low step-in make this tiny car surprisingly easy to get into. However, the doors are long, which might hamper your ability to easily open them in tighter parking spaces.

The Fortwo creates a mirage of roominess inside. The steering column doesn't telescope, but the high roof and useful amount seat travel mean 6-foot drivers will fit relatively comfortably. But then another 6-footer climbs into the passenger seat and you realize how narrow the car really is.

Thin front roof pillars and big glass provide good forward visibility, but the rearview mirror is narrow and big rear roof pillars create big blind spots. The Cabrio's tiny rear window makes it even harder to see out back; no rearview camera is available. Optional park assist systems recommended.

With the exception of the seats and headliner, not one surface in the cabin is soft to the touch. A chic and trendy-looking interior design makes the hard plastic appear less cheap, but it's hard to pick out anything of real quality in this cabin.

You don't buy a Smart expecting much in the way of storage solutions, but the Fortwo does the best with what it's got. The pull-out drawer from the center console is clever, as are the storage nets behind the seats. The bottom edge of the soft top folds up to increase the cargo opening.

There are two small central cupholders and a decent-sized holder in each door. There's a net behind the seats that will carry light items just fine. A small tray slides out from the central console on the passenger side, which is good for keys, coins and other small things.

The passenger seat cleverly folds flat for longer cargo items, and 9.2 cubic feet of trunk space eclipses the Mini Cooper's 8.7 cubic feet. The Cabrio's cargo area measures 8.9 cubic feet, decreasing to 6.7 cubes when the top is rolled down. Only small convertible sports cars offer less.

The free Cross Connect app that turns your phone into an audio and navigation controller is an inventive way to integrate touchscreen controls with a very basic radio setup. The 7-inch touchscreen is a worthy upgrade, but it won't be available until well into the 2017 model year.