There has been some talk about the Smart FourTwo, which is beginning to hit American markets right now. In a nutshell, the smart is the smallest mass-produced passenger car to hit American roads ever. Features include interchangeable plastic body panels, a 1 liter 3-cylinder engine that likes nothing lower than 91 octane gas, a top speed of 90 MPH, and City/Highway fuel consumption of 33/41 gallons (EPA 2008). While the Smart is a product of Swiss Company Swatch Group and German Automaker Mercedes-Benz, Smart cars are prohibited on the German Autobahn for safety reasons.
Its chief competitor in America is the Honda Fit. The fit seats up to 5 passengers, instead of the Smart’s puny 2. The fit also has a slightly larger 1.5 liter 4-cylinder engine. Unlike the Smart, which has a hybrid transmission, the Fit is available in the basic automatic and 5-speed manual transmissions. Also unlike the Smart, which comes with a built-in air compressor and can of tire-fixing-foam, the Fit comes with a compact (see: doughnut) spare. The Fit’s EPA City/Highway fuel mileage rating is 28/34.
Considering that the two cars fit in the same price range, and the fact that the Fit adds the “luxury” of three more seats, a spare tire, and an optional manual transmission, I can say that the sacrifice of a little gas mileage is a no-brainer.
