HAS TO BE Q? (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_smartfortwoelectricdrive_2018

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 43

If the smart fortwo is the perfect citycar, then with full-electric drive, you might think that it would be even more perfect. Potentially, what we have here is the ideal combination for urban mobility. But does it make sense as a used buy?

Modelsword count: 6

Models Covered: (2dr city car EV])

Historyword count: 392

Back in 2017, while other manufacturers were just getting to grips with electric power, the Mercedes-owned smart brand had been perfecting it for over a decade. Which is why by then they were already on the fourth generation 'electric drive' version of their fortwo. This was the smallest battery-driven production model you could then buy. The diminutive size of this little contender certainly supported its maker's claim that this was the most suitable full-electric vehicle for urban use, a proposition that smart had been developing since 2007 when it pioneered cars of this sort by building 100 fortwo electric drive city runabouts to be tested around the streets of London. Following the success of this trial, a production 'electric drive' derivative was developed for the second generation fortwo range and launched in 2009. Sales of this variant exceeded all expectations, as was also the case with the MK3 fortwo 'electric drive' model announced in 2012, the first all-electric vehicle from a European importer to be sold in China. All of which encouraged smart to broaden its horizons when it came to further developing this technology. There was of course an 'electric drive' version of the much improved 'C453'-series generation fortwo - the car we're looking at here, the battery-powered version of which was launched (with 'Electric Drive' branding) in 2017. And this model's much improved all-electric powertrain was made available right across the company's model line-up. This meant buyers could have it not only in cute fortwo coupe and cabrio variants but also in the four-seat five-door forfour model too. As you'd hope, the engineering and usability of this car took a decent step forward with this 'C453' model. The driving range increased from 90 to 100 miles, charging times more than halved and there was even a clever radar to monitor traffic conditions on the move and adjust energy recuperation accordingly. Add in provision of a clever app that allows you to pre-set charging times and pre-heat or cool the cabin before you set off and there was the potential for a really state-of-the-art battery-powered proposition here. What really hampered this car though, was its tiny battery and consequently tiny driving range. In 2019, combustion versions of the fortwo and forfour models were dropped, with only the full-electric versions continuing - with EQ branding. These sold until the end of 2023.

What You Getword count: 297

Styling-wise, full-electric cars tend to be divided into a couple of categories. There are those that like to trumpet their eco-minded credentials with futuristic design. And then there are models like this EQ fortwo that restrict references to their milk float mobility mandate to subtle - or as in this case, not quite so subtle - badging. As we've said elsewhere in this Review, this technology was fitted to all three of the smart brand's bodystyles - the fortwo coupe and cabrio and the five-door forfour hatch. At the wheel, you'll quickly find yourself wondering how on earth something so diminutively small outside can feel so large and airy within. The cabin of the electric drive variant was hardly changed at all over that of an ordinary combustioned-engined smart. In fact, the only initially obvious difference is the way the dinky little circular pod on the right of the dash top (which normally houses a rev counter and a clock) was changed into a power meter that as you drive, shows the charge you're using and the battery power remaining. Most eyes though, will be drawn towards the centre console, which on electric drive models is dominated by a standard smart Media-System, featuring a 7-inch touchscreen display and a TomTom navigation set-up. Otherwise, your main tools of operating functionality are housed in the semi-circular binnacle you view through the three-spoke leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel. At the back with everything open, you get an amazingly tardis-like cargo bay, boot space unaffected by the electric drive powertrain because the battery is tucked away beneath the car. With both fortwo body styles, luggage room to the windowline is rated at 260-litres, while if you load to the roof, there's 350-litres in a fortwo coupe and 340-litres in the cabrio model.

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