Smart Forfour (2014 – 2019) Review

Smart Forfour (2014 – 2019) At A Glance

4/5

+Excellent turning circle. Very easy to park. Compact size. Low emissions. Proving to be more popular than Renault Twingo stablemate.

-71PS engine lacks grunt out of town. More expensive than rival cars.

Insurance Groups are between 2–12
On average it achieves 77% of the official MPG figure

At face value the Smart Forfour seems pointless, since most people would only buy a Smart for its tiny, two-seater layout - but in reality the Forfour is arguably a better buy. It is still very small, but it comes with the added practicality of a bigger boot, two more seats and numerous practical touches to make urban life easier.

In towns and cities the Forfour feels just as compact, lithe and nimble as the smaller Fortwo, with a tight turning circle that makes small spaces and multi-storey car parks a doddle. The light controls and short length make town-driving incredibly easy. Go for an entry-level 71PS 1.0-litre engine and there’s enough zip for narrow streets, but at higher speeds it feels out of breath and lacks any punch.

Thankfully, if you spend time on motorways and dual carriageways the 90PS 0.9-litre turbocharged petrol engine is perfectly capable, offering noticeably more torque and far better performance. Both engine options are clean and frugal, with emissions below 100g/km and official economy figures of 67.3mpg for the 71PS engine and 65.7mpg for the 90PS engine.

Obviously the main difference between the Fortwo and the Forfour is the addition of two rear seats. These have space underneath for storage, or they can be folded in two ways. Either the seat bottoms can be flipped down for storing tall items or the seat backs can be folded forward to give a good-sized, flat load area of 975 litres.

This added practicality comes at the expense of size – the Forfour is 800mm longer than the Fortwo. However in reality the Forfour is noticeably shorter than a Ford Fiesta, so it never feels like a large car. If you like the Smart styling and urban capability but the Fortwo’s lack of space has been offputting, the Forfour is precisely what you’ve been looking for.

The price is fairly steep though – rivals like the Volkswagen Up are just as practical and are as cheap to run, but cost less to buy. Similarly the new Renault Twingo, with which the Forfour shares the majority of its major components, is cheaper to buy. It is still easy to recommend the Forfour though, thanks to good levels of standard equipment and quirky styling. 

Smart Forfour 2016 Road Test

Smart Forfour Electric-Drive 2017 Road Test

Real MPG average for a Smart Forfour (2014 – 2019)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

77%

Real MPG

34–56 mpg

MPGs submitted

67

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Which cars are cheapest to insure for a reformed drink driver?

"Which cars are cheapest to insure for a reformed drink driver?"
You would need to look at ones with the lowest insurance group rating and smallest engine size: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/insurance/top-25-lowest-insurance-group-cars/
Answered by Tim Kelly

What are the shortest four-seater cars with the best steering lock?

"What are the shortest four-seater cars that can be reversed into a 25-foot long parking space?"
Renault Twingo and Smart ForFour. They are not only shortest but also have the best steering lock, made possible by being rear engined.
Answered by Honest John

Is there anything similar to a Ford Fiesta with higher seating position?

"I have been very pleased with my Ford Fiesta 1.25 which is now almost 6 years old. I'm thinking of replacing it soon but would like a car with a more upright seating position. Is there anything that compares favourably? I only drive about 5000 miles a year, most of which is locally."
Suzuki Ignis, KIA Venga, Hyundai ix20, Ford B-Max, Renault Twingo, Smart ForFour.
Answered by Honest John

Which cars have a small turning circle?

"I would like a small city car with an automatic gearbox and a small turning circle to be able to park in a small, tight corner parking space. I see you have suggested the Toyota Yaris in the past but newer versions appear to have larger a turning radius. Any suggestions?"
Two choices: Renault Twingo with EDC or Smart Forfour with EDC. Same car underneath. Nothing else has such a tight turning radius.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

What does a Smart Forfour (2014 – 2019) cost?