Just How Smart is The Smart Car?

The Smart car, created by the makers of Swatch and the Daimler-Benz company, is new to the U.S. but is not new to Europeans. The original Smart car premiered in Europe in the early 1990’s. I was in Germany in 1998 when I saw my first Smart car. These diminutive, fuel-efficient vehicles invoked first an amused grin, and then curiosity. The one I remember most vividly had a custom paint job—zebra stripes—that made it look even more like a child’s toy than Smart cars look anyway, even without cutesy paint jobs.

In the small countries of Europe, parking can be a serious issue. Easier parking was one motivating factor leading to the smart car design. Smart cars take up much less space than normal-sized automobiles. At only a little over 8 feet long, two smart cars can be parked in an area along the street normally reserved for one larger vehicle.

A decade ago, I told my European friend that I would love to see the Smart cars in the United States but that I doubted they’d ever catch on over there because they were so small. The U.S., I said, likes its cars big and powerful. Something like the Smart car would never catch on in a time of the SUV and Pickups. It appears I may be proven wrong.

Smart car sales have taken off rapidly in Canada since its introduction there, and interest is increasing in the U.S. as well. The Smart car is even (slightly) smaller than a Mini Cooper, making it the smallest vehicle currently for sale in the U.S.

But what about safety? So far the Smart car has done exceptionally well in crash tests. The car is designed to create a buffered zone around the driver and passenger. These tiny cars also come with collapsible steering column (to help prevent chest injuries in collisions), antilock brakes and airbags.

Smart car advantages: Highly fuel-efficient. Compact design allows for easy parking. Smart cars are inexpensive. Smart cars can be easily customized in fun ways (flash back to Volkswagen Bugs)

Possible disadvantages for U.S. drivers: Small design can mean driving next to an SUV or Hummers disconcerting. Smart cars don’t have much get up and go.

Smart cars are ideal for city driving—particularly in metropolitan areas where parking is difficult to come by and traffic is stop and go. As a second car to be used exclusively for driving around town, I believe these are perfect. I personally wouldn’t want to take them on the highway with semi trucks and sports utility vehicles.

By: Korey M.
Published: 05/15/08