Quick Drive: Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Cabriolet

 

Shocker! Smart’s charged up cabrio is stupid fun!

 

Moseying on down to the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association's 2015 ElectraFest last week, I had the opportunity to test drive an electric car. The July heat called for a convertible and the smart fourtwo electric drive cabriolet was ready to for a summer fling! This is based on a 20 minute test around town. 

 

 

Smart Aleck Smart Elec

 

Fossil-fueled smart’s aren’t renowned for performance pedigree, and when it comes to acceleration, they’re absolute dogs.  

 

Thankfully, the electric powertrain jolts a little pep into the Smart’s step, making for a driving experience that’ll win the little car some unexpected fans. 

 

Tromp on the accelerator and the Smart scoots its butt from zero to 60km in just over 4 seconds, sending yours right back into the seat! The silence of it all is a surreal sensation, doubly so with the top down, where all you hear is wind whooshing by. 

 

The ordinary steering didn’t detract from the overall zippiness of the vehicle, but the spongy brake pedal did, limiting feedback, halting the sportiness and reminding me that this was still an economy car - just one priced at $30K. The regenerative braking system was likely a contributor too, although the Smart ‘gamifies’ the experience by challenging the driver to maximize brake energy with readouts and a dial. 

 

It’s What’s Inside That Counts

 

Climbing into the smart was easy and at 6’2, I had no trouble finding a comfortable seating position. The eye-catching red seats still weren’t enough to belie their budget roots, with a somewhat hard feel and thin padding. 

 

The cabin is decidedly minimalist, with a few extra gauges popping out of the dash to monitor the powertrain. Everything is laid out logically, but I didn’t have an opportunity to play with the audio system. While the interior’s pleasant to be in, the materials and dash are not up to scratch compared to more modern vehicles. 

 

Surprisingly, the rear pillars and retracted top made rear visibility a challenge on par with my Avalanche. 

 

Penny Pinchin’ Penalty Box

 

Operation costs of an electric vehicle depend on where it lives. In Vancouver, where Tesla’s are as common as Camry’s, ‘Hydro’ rates — a term derived from B.C.’s power utility which draws its electricity from hydroelectric generation — are very affordable, and the cute cabrio requires just two cents per kilometre. For someone commuting 20,000km yearly, that works out to about $460 annually. 

 

However, the rated 109km range falls short compared to the likes of Nissan’s Leaf and BMW’s i3. The eight-hour 220V charging time is comparable to the Nissan, however this doesn’t take into account fast-charging options. 

 

And much like power costs, an electric car’s price can vary on where it lives too. At $30K, the convertible Fortwo Electric is nearly $10K more expensive than its gasoline cousin. However, manufacturer and government incentives can knock off up to $8,000 in B.C., with similar amounts in other provinces. 

 

My Two Cents

 

Despite the short dance, I left the smart fourtwo electric with a good impression, thanks to its perky drivetrain and drop-top style. The regenerative brakes do require getting used to, and the interior needs updating to match the likes of Hyundai and Chrysler. 

 

If offered another drive or even a longer-term test, I’d jump at the chance.

Interesting but wish they would give it better style on top of updating the interior. Very cool that you left with a positive impression.

Interesting but wish they would give it better style on top of updating the interior. Very cool that you left with a positive impression.

 

The 2016 model has been restyled fairly significantly, but I'm not a big fan of how it looks. At least in photos.

 

http://m.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-smart-fortwo-first-drive-review

 

The 2016 also has an improved interior, but like the exterior, I'm not sure I'm a fan. 

 

 

via Car & Driver

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