The Rise And Fall Of The Smart Car | Rise And Fall

[@Josh-er6oz]

The title should be ‘the rise and fall of the Smart Car in the US’

[@zripster]

Why specify, it's not like anywhere else matters?

[@lucaswells933]

@@zripster Spoken like a true American

[@ttbdrummer]

Just call it bag of shit shit

[@nicopzs167]

Are all Americans this ignorant??

[@ttbdrummer]

@@nicopzs167 Yup. So the irony of me saying that it’s not lost

[@mikeselectricstuff]

They are hugely popular here in the UK, along with the Fiat 500

[@ocallaghan3865]

Fiat 500 A small car for a fancy car Unless its older than grandma

[@ijaen]

Only because on discounts and prices…

[@mbean7]

Very true

[@robertkester8276]

Would disagree, I hardly ever see smart cars, mostly mini’s.

[@paullacey2999]

Yes as a pizza delivery car or a runabout for estate agents....

[@bluebear6570]

Apparently, every car which is not a sedan, is now called SUV, although most of the are neither sporty, nor a utility.

[@baronvonjo1929]

For real. Their Crossovers.

[@dbclass4075]

@Chris I think he is referring to how most people describe body style. They think if the car has a hatch (door) = SUV. Obviously, it isn't the case, as they missed important details you described.

[@SecretOfMonkeyIsland784]

Apparently every car which is a saloon is now referred to as a sedan, although in the UK we dont use the term sedan or trunk / hood for that matter.

[@everydayfun9531]

Corolla cross exists for a reason lol 😂

[@a-dino]

The ForFour definitely wasn't an SUV lmao

[@joemacleod-iredale2888]

I’m a bit baffled by that as well, it’s just a normal hatchback.

[@Kekonomik]

It does make sense now Coz all I see is pseudo SUVs

[@govinlock8568]

Most SUV on the market today aren't SUV. Media always use SUV and crossover term interchangably, despite both of those type have different characteristics.

[@LXW-Arts]

Most SUVs in usa New ones look like station wagons all long and low.

[@MorningtonCrescent]

Newsflash!!! The world is not the US. Crazy, I know...

[@josephk6136]

You are right. The US is just the only place on Earth that matters.

[@MorningtonCrescent]

@@josephk6136 except when it comes to irony, humility and the pain of self-awareness.

[@baronvonjo1929]

Newsflash!!! This a American platform and a American account aimed at a American audience. Crazy I know.

[@MorningtonCrescent]

@@baronvonjo1929 aimed at an American audience? KZbin has global reach. Looks like this (American) channel author is ignorant of his audience. Crazy, I know...

[@baronvonjo1929]

@@MorningtonCrescent lol

[@michaelquirke1]

I am on my fifth Smart (3 of them Brabus), fantastic second car. US just do not get them. As the guy below says, hugely popular in UK and Europe.

[@cactus3796]

they are great

[@janpokos4086]

I am on my second one, my family has had one since 2007 and I wouldnt sell it for anything

[@cjodigo]

I think they are cute but they didn’t get good fuel mileage when I was looking at them😏

[@Parabueto]

@@cjodigo yeah the mileage isn't great compared to slightly bigger small cars. But I live in a terrace in the UK where parking is horrific. I just bought my first car last month and it's a smart. Purely because it's easy to drive and easy to find a parking space for it.

[@ent2220]

For me it's how bad their range is. If they could at least double it, I'd get 10 of these cars. Though preferribly tripple it.

[@mistertee5000]

After driving a Fourtwo around a big city a few times, I totally get why these cars are awesome. Not the smoothest car but it's always fun and you can literally park this thing anywhere and its big enough for day-to-day basics like groceries and maybe a Costco run. Costs almost nothing to operate too. If you have a big, insecure ego you'll probably hate this car.

[@Rudenbehr]

you’re right I hate this car

[@anthonycollins9797]

I’ve owned the Brabus versions of the ForTwo, Roadster and ForFour. I loved The Smart brand. It was clever, thoughtful design and the range topping models had just enough power to make them fun. The service at Smart Centres was great and the accessories range meant you could customise your car. It started to go wrong when the design standards slipped and the cars became increasingly bland. The cut backs at the dealers meant Smart Centres were hollowed out and I felt I knew more about the cars than the dealers did.

[@plainlybasic2300]

For what they were, and are, they are good little vehicles. It's honestly almost like an original mini Cooper, small and reasonably fun to drive

[@ocallaghan3865]

Best stick to the kei car

[@Seri-Katil]

Until you get pancaked between 2 large vehicles

[@jackpez]

@@Seri-Katil rare

[@Lakillika]

@@Seri-Katil just like any other car.

[@CarterHancock]

Not really. Compare them to a new Corolla, they get worse mileage, are smaller, and are more expensive. No wonder they failed in the US. Plus the small size isn’t an advantage in our cities since they don’t have super narrow European city streets.

[@rogerfroud300]

I've had two and I absolutely love them. They're huge fun to own and drive. I have no idea why they thought making a 4 door version was a good idea. That makes absolutely no sense. Why compete with every other car on the market when you're a niche brand? It's the perfect size for two people, it's roomy and goes great on long journeys. It's a real shame it hasn't taken off in bigger numbers.

[@barryrudge1576]

The four door version was actually a re-badged & slightly re modelled Mazda.

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

@@barryrudge1576 no. It was not. It never was. Where did you even got that idea?!? First generation Forfour shared some elements with Mitsubishi's Colt/Mirage of the same time and second generation shares a lot with the current Renault Twingo. Not Mazda.

[@mx7250]

I only recently found out that they are also planning to release another suv in 2022, which is such a shame in my opinion! They've been doing great with producing small cars so why would they make "normal-sized" cars now

[@kevinfletcher1999]

Just buy two and hitch one up like you would a caravan when you need 4 seats. 😂😂😂

[@edwardchester1]

Same logic as the various Mini versions. You get to a certain point of brand recognition that people want the name but not the actual car. I just don't think Smart had the brand quite yet.

[@fangtakahashi8686]

Owning a 453, Loving it. Smart company should've focused on countries/areas with parking problems and lowered the price to make it more popular.

[@michaelzeng77]

Americans think they are the only country in the world lol. Here in Italy and most western European contries, every major city is filled with them! Plus they are mostly electric as smart only sells the electric version no. The size and convenience of this car far outweigh the dangers as we only can only drive under 30 miles per hour in cities

[@bryanm.4869]

Smart has never been profitable even in Europe

[@NWCI]

Generally, the us version is heavier and not as fuel efficient and European models. Also streets in the US is much wider and speed is faster. Some cities you can go up to 60 mph (100kmh) in town and highway speeds up to 80 (130kph). What makes it un favorable it's about the size of the tires of Simi trucks.

[@maxnewts]

@@NWCI in that case don’t blame the car, blame the people who designed the streets that way. Clearly other countries have managed to make the Smart Fortwo work, so it isn’t the problem of the car companies, more the people who didn’t bother with making streets safe enough to use them.

[@NWCI]

@@maxnewts you're not going to change a whole country's infrastructure because of one car. Actually I feel clustrofobic driving in Europe's streets, specially England

[@louieg7676]

Marketing these small cars to US was a bad idea since it's vast thus people usually travel over greater distances and faster speed. Smart cars are just right in Europe and Asia. Add a little space for groceries and stuff and it's perfect for urban transport.

[@MichaelMorrissey]

I drove one (in Atlanta of all places) for 3 years, and it was the most fun car I've ever owned. It's just a complete mismatch for the US market; that, combined with some weird dealership setups really killed it (I was not able to test drive an electric Smart; I was told dealerships couldn't have any test drive vehicles on the lot). I understand the economics, but it's a tragedy they're no longer available in the US.

[@Brainwave000]

I have one of these and a Land Rover, they're the perfect pair, where one fails, the other thrives!

[@RFJersey]

And they are both unreliable.

[@Brainwave000]

@@RFJersey I have had zero problems with either I’m happy to report :)

[@alexandersanchez9224]

@@RFJersey sometimes not ALL cars people on the internet say internet are bad, the people on the internet doesn’t always tell the truth, unless your talking about your own experience with Smart and Land Rover.

[@jackpez]

@@RFJersey reliability isn’t everything 😐

[@Lakillika]

@@RFJersey What makes you say that? Personal experience or personal bias ?

[@spidercrawl21]

They’re still very popular in France Italy and Germany from what I’ve seen. Have a lot of colleagues who have them. Extremely convenient for city driving and parking.

[@amirmoradi9595]

I did a three year lease on a 2016 Smart EV. I liked enough that I would have been willing to buy it. Problem is the dealership wanted to sell it for $15k to me. I don't know who would pay $15k for a 3 year old used car with only two seats and a range of 50 miles. Nice car, way overpriced

[@j_laskada]

I own two Smart Fortwo and I've owned a lot of others cars.. believe me. They are really great cars. Small, handy for the city, low fuel consumption and cheap to mantain.

[@TugaDev]

As a smart car techie im making a small newsletter to solve online most of smart cars litle problems!

[@wiredwebmaster]

@@TugaDev - Awesome. Do you mind posting a sign-up link (or website) in the comment section? Thanks!

[@ricklipford8762]

I have a 2010 smart car love it never had a bit of problems with it very reliable great gas mileage

[@brucekennedy5274]

I love them, but there’s no getting away from the fact they are so niche. If you want a little runaround you’d be hard pressed to choose one over something like a VW Up (or similar) which would cost the same, or less and be far more useful. If they make them electric and mega cheap they could be on to a winner in China tho - I hope they keep going, I always smile when I see one.

[@JayParkKanal]

Just because it's not popular in the US, it doesn't mean it's a failure

[@eddieg6436]

I had my 2008 Smart Fortwo for 13 years and LOVED it! I’m in the U.S., I’m 6’4” tall, 228lbs, a big, TALL guy, and I LOVED the Smart (and had plenty of room). As an American, I can honestly say that MANY Americans are very short-sighted, ignorant, and CLUELESS when it comes to the how genius the Smart car is (among many other things!). I plan on buying a 3rd Gen. Smart soon……I LOVED mine!!

[@barryrudge1576]

I'm 6'3" tall and occasionally drive the wife's smart car. As you say as much room up front as any four door salmon until you turn you head to look at the rear and see how close the rear window is to you, Much like driving half a full size car.

[@eddieg6436]

@@barryrudge1576 Due to the raised seating height, the Smart reminds me of being in the front seat of a minivan (with the van chopped off behind front seats). I’ve driven my Smart on the freeway from Seattle to L.A. (and back) twice!

[@Rapscallion2009]

It's the same in Europe. People buy 2 Tonne SUVs just to ferry their kids to school. I do wonder when the current SUV fashion will end. It will at some point.

[@manuelvenegas4737]

I have one and absolutely love it and plan to never rid of it. It's just too easy for the city.

[@dressshoeguy]

I had two of them and loved both of them but once I had to take my second one to the dealership due to a stuck ignition key it turned into a 1100 dollar repair turning off my love for the car altogether in 2019 and eventually trading it in for a used 2017 Hyundai Accent. The mere fact that the Smart car was no longer sold in the US and with very little mechanical support as not many independents would work on those cars was a deal breaker. Shame too they were a blast to drive and I could park them anywhere and being single it was a perfect fit for my lifestyle. If only the US would have gotten off the SUV kick they and many other small cars and sedans would find their place in the US.

[@stickynorth]

I drive a Smart Fortwo here in Alberta and despite its multiple, annoying quirks its still so fun and easy to use that I prefer it over any other type of whip, TBH... I've driven everything from Matrix's to Intrepid's and cargo vans and nothing beats the seat position and spaciousness of the Smart Fortwo cabin... If you are alone which most of us are in our cars most of the time. Even with a passenger it's not terrible due to the offset seating which puts the driver ahead of the passenger by a few inches to maximize shoulder room and views... My only major beef is the European-level heating and AC... Alberta frequently pushes +40c in the summer and -40c in the winter which is about 20 degrees warmer and colder than the car is comfortable in most weather. If its in the +20c to -20c zone? No problems at all...

[@annrobinson7766]

I have a Smart EV. Love it. It’s a great city car.

[@apexerman1]

Ah, the little Smartie. I've owned my 2016 453 Fortwo for three years now and it's still a hoot to drive. Short wheelbase, punchy turbo three-banger, ridiculously tight turning radius... it really delivers the go-kart feel. Alas, the car was never going to make it in North America whose citizens love SUV's, trucks and crossovers, but for those that get it, it's a little pocket rocket of fun.

[@TugaDev]

As a smart car techie im making a small newsletter to solve online most of smart cars litle problems!

[@MrHazzard12345]

Just got rid of our fiat 500 due to a common selespeed issue, £1800 to fix. Replaced by a smart fortwo and must say what an absolute pleasure to drive. fast, efficient and a shite tonn of fun to drive.

[@Ricotraficante]

this video actually makes me wanna get a smart car now

[@cactus3796]

u should they are great

[@TugaDev]

@@cactus3796 As a smart car techie im making a small newsletter to solve online most of smart cars litle problems!

[@cactus3796]

@@TugaDev nice, there is a website called evilution that does that already tho

[@alanboas810]

I always have been intrigued by the Smart brand of vehicles. They are extremely stylish. I ended up with a Fiat 500 which I love but still can't stop staring at every Smart I see.

[@barryrudge1576]

My wife as owned a Smart car diesel for 5 yrs and a granddaughter who loves her Fiat 500 both excellent city/commute cars

[@baronvonjo1929]

Stylish... right...

[@maxnewts]

@@baronvonjo1929 have you not seen the 2021 model? It’s pretty much a MERCEDES micro-car.

[@jonathanb1579]

I have one and I had 2 models before I love smarts but the only problem is that they’re too expensive for the average family.

[@eurosonly]

I'm amazed that the size remains mostly the same as the first gen models. and they keep getting better in the visual department unlike mini. The suv looks really cool.

[@GlobeOil0030official]

I saw one on my way to work and one pulled into the parking lot at my place of work. It reminded me that these vehicles exist. I completely forgot about them.

[@Larry]

Always remember Jeremy Clarkson reviewing the FourFour Smart car, there's so little space in the back, he said it's only worth buying if you have two friends that don't have any legs! :D

[@chrissey663]

I've had my smart for two 2016 over a year now it's the best car I've had, easy to park £30 to fill up and it last 400 mls, And no tax. I can get 4 large bags of shopping in the boot. So much fun and don't think I'll ever get rid of him (sid)

[@rayspencer5025]

I was skeptical of SmartCars until I drove my 2016 gas powered manual 5-speed 453. It was immediate LOVE! Though not always a practical car (it is no mini-van or pick-up), I have never enjoyed driving any other car so much. It is a total blast every day! It is way quicker than you would think, and has a smaller turning radius than a Harley-Davidson. I would buy another in a heartbeat. When the dealership dropped my "Zippy" off he was grinning. "Wow, that was fun. And it has a little growl to it." he said.

[@apexerman1]

Great description. When my tech rep at the dealership delivered my car, he was like, 'That thing is really fun!" He was a relative new guy, so he didn't have much experience with Smarts. I think he understood the meaning of street-legal go-kart. ;-)

[@rayspencer5025]

@@apexerman1 I have abunch of stickers on my "Zippy", and one says "Street Legal Go-cart".

[@apexerman1]

@@rayspencer5025 -Excellent!

[@Vatierville]

I think as the push for electric cars is more intense, I think the Smart Electric drive just may pick up!

[@bobm4623]

If only they had ironed out the roadster problems.

[@ajharmiah2692]

What were the problems with the roadster? Is that the 2 seater that sort of like a mx5?

[@techgeekout]

@@ajharmiah2692 yeah, i was half looking to get one as my first car. Iirc the main problem is the gearbox is an automated manual which is just a bit crap, too unresponsive. Also the engine is tiny, 0.8L(ish) but that doesn't really matter since it was so light

[@samefacebutadifferentperson]

@@techgeekout those are not what killed it. They are notoriously not waterproof & the electrics are easy to fry. Warranty claims were made on pretty much every sale. Made no sense to continue. GM boss tried to redesign it “Project Kimber” but its been dormant since early 2010s.

[@philipmorris3684]

Cool little car , I own a brabus 451 does everything I need, easy to park easy to run and great fun.

[@sarahfink13]

I am on my second Smart. I love driving them. So much fun. I have the EQ now ,and it's a great little city car.

[@rrad8106]

We rented one while visiting Block Island RI a few years back, and it was a delight to drive. Perfect for the narrow roads of BI. An electric version sounds appealing, but ya know... back in 1998, Ford did a prototype of the Ford Ka that had a small pick-up like back end. If the Chinese designed an electric version of the ForTwo with a pick-up back end, I could see one of those in our garage.

[@losmeets98]

I drive a 2016 ForTwo as a commuter car, great fun to drive an very handy in the city. It's bouncy on short bumps, but handles the highway surprisingly well. It's cheap to tax, insure and fuel up!

[@ncisfan1002]

I own one of these! Gas model, of course, and I got it second-hand. Perfect for when you live in a multi-household street where people park like a-holes and leave no space for a normal car... but a space a Smart can fit in :)

[@criaghuges4445]

So what have we learnt here? The world doesn’t revolve around America

[@Imperial_Dynamics]

exactly. That what made me click the video... when i read the title i was surprised.. "when did Smart cars fail" i thought, "that's silly". Then I realised it was an American video.

[@FLRSKLVR]

We see a lot of them all over Europe. They are often used for car sharing services as well (the electric ones) for a private buyer they are quite pricy.

[@chrisylink]

I wish they were more popular here in the U.S. I've always wanted one. Still thinking about it not gonna lie.

[@E-Ma]

Title should just be "smart stands for swatch, Mercedes Benz, art"

[@bryanm.4869]

To all the europeans here (I'm also european), Smart has never been profitable even in Europe. Also, Cars Insider is from the USA so they talk about their market which makes sense.

[@vasopel]

yes reports say that the "smart" brand hasn't been all that profitable for many many years, about the other thing...well youtube is a site that all the world visits so videos (and video titles) should be made with that in mind ;-)

[@MrJafredderf]

Well, I've had mine for a year and it's terrific and I live in North America.

[@GroupNebula563]

I, personally think these are *exquisite cars*

[@TheFakesChannel]

i can agree

[@GroupNebula563]

@@TheFakesChannel *wen* did you get yours?

[@TheFakesChannel]

@@GroupNebula563 8.3.12

[@giovannil8244]

The Smart car (even the newest model) is one of the most common cars in Rome, which is also the city with the most Smarts globally. Here the Smart car will never die

[@clockclocky5365]

Cause the streets are made for mostly vespas and people not huge cars just look at the poor Ferrari Roma stuck in. Street

[@giovannil8244]

@@clockclocky5365 actually in Rome the streets are not that narrow, like in the video of the Ferrari Roma (except in some parts of the city center). The real problem of a lot of neighborhoods is parking spots availability, so people often buy Smarts

[@gap9992]

We had a ForTwo petrol and now a ForFour EQ. In the UK we have narrow roads and small parking spaces so the Smart is fantastic for local runs. I can't see how the car would make sense in the USA where you have loads of space. The EQ would be hopeless as an only car due to its 60mile range, unless you only ever drive short distances from home. For us it's only used for local runs and is brilliant for that. It's really well equipped and good value with all the discounts on offer. It's much better to drive than the petrol versions. We have had the car for 6 months and I have only seen one other on the road - so that says a lot about sales I think !

[@novelenterprise]

For a car so tiny, why does it cost so much, seems like it should be under 10k

[@Biscuit9891]

bc it's made by mercedes benz and they are built well.

[@StellaLunaStar94]

I bought my smart car in January of 2020. Still happy with my purchase. Although when something breaks, the parts sometimes have to be shipped from France

[@mrpmj00]

It's great for cities with small cars like Paris when I saw it in 1999. BUT not American cities where you can get killed in it among large cars/trucks.

[@Time782]

I just bought a 2017 gasoline 453. I could not be happier with it. As a "North American Fat F*ck myself" I reject the SUV and all that it represents. Seriously, buy a car that gets you where you need to go and brings you back with what you need for your family. I can go to COSTCO and meet the need of a family of three. I never need to fight for a parking spot. I spend $40 bucks on gasoline a month. The demise of Smart in North America is a reflection of how disgusting we are as consumers.

[@loufrank2518]

this car should come back for sure

[@julien.le.createur]

The smart forfour was basically against what the brand is. They made a 4 seater car that takes a nornal amount of space.

[@michaelmcclure4263]

Americans love for SUV's? No, American vehicle manufacturers love of giant trucks and SUV's. They're huge, expensive, and it's all about the money.

[@HandyDan]

Well I'm American, I live in the 5th largest city and I absolutely LOVE my 2015 451 Electric Smart car! I don't know why America is fixated on gas Guzzling big cars when My little car turns heads at every light. People smile and take video and pictures of this RARE car 5 times a day. I'm kinda glad they're not popular, I have a Unique ride!

[@y2kmadd]

Because families usually consist of more than 2 people. That is why they fail in the U.S.

[@HandyDan]

@@y2kmadd True, however 90% of SUV and Extended cab trucks have only the driver in it on workdays. So I use my car to take just myself to work.

[@michaelsavino5700]

I currently own two Smart cars here in the US. My wife and I each have one. Smart could have sold more cars here had they bothered to advertise at all here. They sold cars here without advertising at all. What manufacturer decides to introduce a new product without advertising it? In addition when Smart chose to go electric this vlog failed to tell you that the range of the new electric vehicle was only 68 miles. And they wonder why no one here in the US bought one? They should have never given up on the gas version of the car. It's a wonderful little car that didn't deserve the failed decisions regarding it made by it's manufacturer.

[@Twmpa]

The concept was brilliant but there was a huge drawback - the price. It has always been the case that for the price of a two seat Smart, or often less, one could buy a large choice of small 5 door, 5 seat hatchbacks. Nowadays in the UK, it appears that Smart has now become a niche provider of expensive electric cars where, even in the tiny two seat form, prices start comfortably north of 20K. At best, I would give the brand, which has NEVER been profitable, another 2 years before Daimler axe it altogether outside of China.

[@RoVanRooster]

A Smart isn‘t a Car. Greetings from a German Automotive Engineer.

[@macrichardson7440]

We love ours. We bought it and had a custom size trailer ordered so this would be our tow car behind our motorcoach. It's perfect. Americans all think bigger is better.... which is their biggest problem.

[@parissun1]

I love my little car, so easy to maneuver thru town and fun to drive. It

[@TugaDev]

As a smart car techie im making a small newsletter to solve online most of smart cars litle problems!

[@FilipnoSimulationGamer]

1:00 what car is that

[@joeyhillers9460]

I’ve had 2. They are great little cars and I’ve been in an accident with my latter one. No problems at all, just waiting to get it fixed and I’ll be driving again

[@dm5374]

I have a 1 month-old smart ForTwo EQ with all the options. It's my second EQ and I adore it for my city commute. Its usefulness pretty much stops there: for other needs I have other cars.

[@johnnyzee383]

I own a Smart electric..and I can tell you from someone who has owned at least 80 cars in my life, its a great little car. Where the company made a mistake was when they axed all the ICE versions to go electric, they kept the same 2013 battery technology and thought the public wouldnt notice..I can get 130 km range in the summer and 85 in our Canadian winters...well, im retired and its perfectly fine for me, but to the public this limited range would have been wholly insufficient..and I think that is where they made a mistake..I make batteries for ebikes and small vehicles, and I can put enough cells in the space where they have these pouch cells and double the range, because the technology has far surpassed what it was in 2013. So with a range of 260 kms in the city in the summer and 160 kms in the winter thats more like it..

[@notouriosdja]

iv owned one, apart from the awful gearbox, there good for running costs wise and easy to park anywhere

[@PopParlor]

LOVE my 2017 Fortwo. Futuristic, comfortable. A beautiful car. U have no idea how roomy and comfortable those cars are. A snap to drive. Lol

[@andrewdavis1331]

I am now on my third FourTwo….and I absolutely love it…and so do my kids….easy to park, superb fuel economy and a whizz to drive around town…… I have one of the last petrol ones, before they went all Eco and only produced electric ones……I will drive mine until it turns to dust …and that comes from someone who has owned all sorts of MB cars, Aston Martins, big SUV’s and sports cars……they so remind me of my first car (an original mini) and the amount of fun you have with them……I still look for a Brabus version to add to my driveway…..no they are REALLY quick….😀😀😀😀😀

[@WaffleEater53019]

Just an update: Multiple major Chinese cities has canceled special treatment policies including free license plate for EV shorter than 4.5m or cheaper than 20k. Meanwhile there’s no way Daimler can compete with likes of GM Wulin who makes cars for $8000

[@17addidas]

FALL ??? Sounds like "Clickbait " Its a hugely popular city car . Often as delivery and services such as home nursing and care . They are everywhere to be seen here in Germany . ....Even more now with their electric versions . As for the North American market ... small city cars have always had acceptance difficulties

[@RyanSargent]

"Mini SUV" is not a term! Especially from a car oriented channel. The Forfour was a hatchback.

[@patriciaitalia]

I own and love a 2009 smart for two. I bought it because it was inexpensive. I didn't think about the fact that maintenance would be expensive. Because so many garages don't bother learning how to work on smart cars, you either get gouged by the Mercedes Benz dealer, or you get gouged by garages making you pay for the time it takes for them to figure out how to fix them. Even though it is 12 years old, it only has 51,000 miles on it. It takes bumps like you're off-roading without shocks, and it has failed the emissions test twice because of the computer systerm, but I still love my car. I will be sorry to see it go, but this "inexpensive" car is about to break me.

[@Tacosmix]

I have a 2001 cabrio. I use a local garage in netherlands that knows how to deal with a smart. Not the cheapest, but no big problems so far. Just regular maintenance and sometimes replacing something. Makes it by far the cheapest car I ever had. 187 K km now. Buying it was a bargain at 1500 euro only. Being able to open the roof is so much fun! Intend to drive it till it falls apart or gets to expensive to repair.

[@patriciaitalia]

@@Tacosmix I'm glad you have been lucky enough to find a good garage. I guess there just aren't enough smart cars in the US to get garages interested in learning how to fix them. I recently spent over a thousand dollars on the O2 sensors. That's ridiculous, isn't it? I really don't want to get rid of mine. In some ways, with there being only 51,000 on the odometer, it still feels like a new car! Congratulations on your good fortune. Maybe by the time something major goes wrong with mine, there will be someone who knows how to fix it without charging me enough to send their kids to college!

[@Dcc357]

I got to fix oil leaks on one and drive it around. The automated manual sucks. You gotta be crazy to drive one of these in more suburban areas of the US because there are tons of fast drivers

[@etcarief]

They should sell it in Japan considering kei cars is booming there

[@RaffiJaharian]

They did make a kei car version for Japan but it failed miserably

[@shivamarya5225]

They're pretty overpriced for what they are. You can literally get cars that size for one third the price and better fuel economy and space, even the ones with better interior cost half that.

[@skigod9]

i built a lifted smart on 30 inch tires.... loved that thing

[@Seri-Katil]

It's not ideal for North America. It's better suited for Europe/UK, Japan and China.

[@chunkemonke398]

What’s frustrating is that it’s actually ideal for certain parts of NA, most notably NYC

[@kennethfelipe823]

I have a 2016 smart car. I love it. I do not love having to go to Mercedes for the oil change. I do not love having to pay 500 bucks every 10,000 miles.

[@vasopel]

why do you have to go to Mercedes for the oil change? and why is Mercedes charging you 500$ for an oil change? :-O

[@kennethfelipe823]

They have a special tool well removing the oil now for the 2016 model. They also fill up your fluids give you a diagnostic and all that crap. That’s the first 10,000 miles. The second 10,000 miles there’s another 500 and change.

[@vasopel]

@@kennethfelipe823 I just checked on the internet to make sure, no there is no "special" tool, any mechanic that's worth he's salt can replace the oil filter and change the oil, try to find a mechanic that has good reviews or has knowledge of European cars, stop going to the dealership.

[@kennethfelipe823]

@@vasopel I literally took it to three they need a special tool to change the oil.

[@kennethfelipe823]

@@vasopel I also tried to change my battery GuessWhat I need a special tool to change that too and it was so complicated.

[@ChiliBurgr]

My 2008 1.0 mhd fortwo has 100.000 km and never failed me. I believe it's one of the most reliable cars ever made.

[@dhirenderkumarcarandgadget5520]

A dream always ends in morning

[@themichal2298]

I was torn to buy smart as my first car but decided for 3-door Corsa.

[@maxnewts]

The Smart Automotive Brand and legacy is iconic. Fight me.

[@mertcanyldz2342]

I've forfour model from 2005. It's really great car, I just made another 500km yesterday. It's already over 250 thousand km and I must say it's wonderful for 3 cylinder car.

[@alexicehouse4919]

The problems with city cars in the US, are that they are neither cheap to buy or to maintain and run. Some manufacturers sell them like fashion icons instead of entry level economic cars. One exception is chevy spark，which is still around. Even spark’s fuel economy is below civic or corolla, let alone some hybrids.

[@jacquelinebrunder2384]

I guess people decided it was far from smart to pay double the price of a full sized car for a half sized car.

[@MircoWilhelm]

The For Four wasn't an SUV but a simple re-skinned Mitsubishi hatchback. Which in turn had lead to a lot of quality issues. Hence the sharp drop in sales. For the current smart models, they had turned to a corporation with Renault which offered the same car under their brand as a four-door.

[@ΓιώργοςΦούντας-Μουσταφέρης]

Americans can't fit inside them anyway. In Europe Smart are very popular.

[@robgindc1]

Informative, except that you missed the targa/convertible coupe (Europe only) that was in a few movies.

[@isuller]

If you want to buy a city two seaters you literally have no other options. I don't think it'll go away - we had two so far and we loved both. We still have the EQ version as a "second car" although we use it more than we use our "first car"...

[@nabilm2941]

It's also worth mentioning that Swatch and Smart founder, Nicolas Hayek, is also Lebanese.

[@bannedinfinity5789]

LOL

[@Biscuit9891]

i have a 2012 smart car and it's built like a tank. mpg is up there too, however i have to part ways with it due to the scarcity of parts since they don't sell them in the US. had mine for almost 8 years and will miss driving it. have no clue why they ditch the gas powered one for EV, dumb mistake.

[@mgrella63]

Ive owned 2 of the Smart ForTwo Cabrios!! Loved them Both!!! Great Cars!!I miss them here in the USA! Hopefully they thrive in China

[@ilovehotdogs125790]

imagine hoping the economy goes down just to sell this crap.. not for the people.

[@forevermidi_com]

I own a 451 pulse since 2008, I love my car; thought to jump on the new model but it's too...big! 🤨

[@chinabluewho]

It still boggles my mind that todays cars get 100 HP from a 1 liter engine.

[@maxnewts]

@@chinabluewho Yeah, I know, AWESOME right!! especially when you think the weight of them and the improved brakes, suspension and handling are all now better quality and more reliable.

[@S-Ltd1000]

You completely forgot to mention the roadster.

[@AtheistOrphan]

The Switchblade?

[@Jamesaroni123]

I still want it.

[@sgsuper1150]

Governments killed this car. Uk taxed them at £190.00 and a long diesel estate cars, 5 meters long taxis at £35.