Smart Forfour Cost: Decoding City Car Value

The Smart Forfour stands out in the crowded city car segment with its distinctive styling and clever packaging. Many prospective buyers are drawn to its charm and practicality but often find themselves asking: how much does a Smart Forfour cost? This isn't always a straightforward answer, as its pricing can vary significantly depending on whether you're looking at a new electric model, a used petrol variant, or comparing it to its numerous rivals. Let's delve into what makes the Forfour unique and whether its price tag truly reflects its value.

What Exactly is the Smart Forfour?

The Smart Forfour is a stylish and compact five-door city car, essentially a more grown-up version of the iconic two-seater ForTwo. While it might appear to be a standalone creation, it shares its fundamental rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive platform with the latest generation Renault Twingo. This shared DNA, however, doesn't detract from the Forfour's distinct identity, which is heavily influenced by Smart's parent company, Mercedes-Benz. It's designed to compete with popular city cars like the Volkswagen Up!, Skoda Citigo, Hyundai i10, Toyota Aygo, and Peugeot 108, but aims to offer a more premium and customisable experience.

One of the Forfour's most striking features is its design. With a choice of around 40 different colours that can be paired with contrasting 'tridion safety cell' shades, the level of personalisation available is truly remarkable. This high degree of customisation means it's quite possible that no two Forfours on the road look exactly alike, allowing owners to express their individuality. Inside, the bold colour schemes continue, often complementing the exterior. The materials used are generally of good quality, and the gauges and displays are designed to evoke the premium feel found in larger Mercedes models, even if the touchscreen infotainment system is shared with the Twingo.

Interior Space and Clever Practicality

For those familiar with the previous generation of the Smart Forfour, the amount of room in this current model will be a pleasant surprise. While it's still a city car and not necessarily the top choice for six-foot adults embarking on a long journey in the back, it offers interior space that is competitive with most alternatives and significantly less cramped than before. The rear doors, in particular, are a highlight; they open almost at right-angles, making it incredibly easy to load children into car seats or simply access the rear cabin.

The secret to this generous interior space lies in its rear-engined layout. By positioning the engine at the back, more room is freed up for the cabin. However, this innovative design comes with a trade-off: a smaller boot compared to many of its rivals. The engine sits directly under the boot floor, and as a result, the floor can warm up slightly, making it less ideal for transporting frozen groceries. Despite this, the Forfour boasts some clever party tricks for practicality:

• The rear seats can be easily juggled about to provide extra space or even fold completely flat, expanding luggage capacity to a respectable 975 litres.
• The front passenger seat can also collapse, creating a remarkably long, flat load bay measuring up to 2.2 metres.
• The high boot floor is flush with the boot lip, simplifying the process of sliding long or heavy items in and out.

These features, while not eliminating the smaller standard boot, certainly enhance the Forfour's versatility for urban living.

Driving Dynamics: Agile in the City, Less So on the Motorway

Given its rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout, keen drivers might expect the Forfour to offer a sporty, Porsche-like driving experience. After all, this configuration has been used with spectacular success in performance cars. However, in the Smart Forfour, the results are quite different. Rather than being sharp and agile, the Forfour has been intentionally set up to prioritise safety and security. Smart has succeeded in this regard, but it means the car isn't as enjoyable to drive as, for example, a Volkswagen Up! when pushed on winding roads.

Where the Smart Forfour truly shines is in its natural habitat: the city. With the engine and gearbox at the back, there's no need for a long bonnet, which typically makes cars trickier to park. This design also allows the front wheels to turn to an astonishing degree, giving the Forfour an incredibly tight turning circle. It can perform a U-turn in a space that's just a little over twice its own length, making it exceptionally easy to manoeuvre in tight urban environments. Add to this a raised driving position that provides better visibility than many lower-slung rivals, and the Smart Forfour feels remarkably safe and commanding for a car of its size. The main drawback of this setup is that it can suffer from more body lean in corners and is somewhat susceptible to crosswinds at higher speeds.

Engine Options and the Cost Factor

When the Smart Forfour was available new with a petrol engine, buyers had a choice of two three-cylinder units: a 1.0-litre engine producing 70hp and a turbocharged 0.9-litre engine putting out 90hp. Both offered fuel economy figures of just over 50mpg. While the 70hp unit was perfectly adequate for city driving, the more powerful 90hp turbocharged engine provided a useful extra boost in performance, making it the preferred choice for those who spent more time out of town or on the motorway, despite being a few hundred quid more expensive.

However, the petrol Smart Forfour is no longer available to buy new. Smart has fully transitioned to an all-electric lineup. The only new Forfour you can now purchase is the all-electric, zero-emission Smart EQ Forfour. This transition to pure electric power has been relatively straightforward for Smart, as the Forfour’s mechanical layout perfectly accommodates the battery and electric motor where the fuel tank and petrol engine used to be. This means the EQ Forfour retains all the practical benefits and city-driving prowess of its petrol predecessor, but with the added advantages of silent operation, instant torque, and zero tailpipe emissions.

The Price Puzzle: Is the Forfour Expensive?

This brings us back to the central question of cost. While the Smart Forfour offers a unique blend of style and city practicality, it has always been perceived as being on the more expensive side, especially when compared to its platform-sharing sibling, the Renault Twingo, or indeed, most of its other city car rivals.

When new, the petrol Forfour was not significantly more expensive than the smaller ForTwo, which was a positive. However, it was noticeably dearer than the functionally similar Renault Twingo, despite their shared underpinnings. This premium pricing strategy continues with the electric EQ Forfour. While electric vehicles typically command a higher purchase price due to battery technology, the EQ Forfour is still considered quite expensive within its segment. This means that if budget is your absolute top priority, there are certainly more affordable alternatives available, both new and used.

At least, the Forfour tends to come with a generous level of standard equipment, which somewhat justifies its price point. Even the most basic 'Passion' models typically include features like automatic climate control, a leather steering wheel, and cruise control. Moving up to 'Prime' models adds luxuries such as a retracting fabric roof and black leather seats. Smart also frequently releases limited edition models, which can offer even more unique styling and equipment, often proving to be a worthwhile consideration for those looking for something truly special.

Comparative Overview: Smart Forfour vs. Rivals

To help you understand where the Smart Forfour fits in terms of cost and features, here's a comparative look at some of its key aspects against rivals and its own variants:

Frequently Asked Questions About the Smart Forfour

How much does a Smart Forfour cost?

The cost of a Smart Forfour varies significantly depending on whether you're looking at a new or used model, and whether it's petrol or electric. New petrol Forfours are no longer sold, so you'd be looking at used prices, which can range widely based on age, mileage, and condition. The new Smart EQ Forfour (electric) typically starts at a higher price point than its petrol predecessors, reflecting the cost of electric vehicle technology. While specific figures fluctuate with the market, it's generally considered to be one of the more expensive city car options, particularly the electric model, compared to rivals like the Hyundai i10 or even its platform-mate, the Renault Twingo.

Is the Smart Forfour a good car?

Yes, the Smart Forfour is a good car, especially for urban dwellers. Its strengths lie in its incredibly distinctive styling, surprisingly spacious and versatile interior (thanks to the wide-opening doors and folding seats), and unparalleled manoeuvrability in tight city spaces. It's also well-equipped even in base trims. However, it’s not without its drawbacks: the boot is smaller than many rivals, and it’s not as engaging to drive on the open road. Its premium price point, particularly for the new electric version, is also a consideration. Ultimately, its 'goodness' depends on your priorities and how you plan to use the car.

What type of car is a Smart Forfour?

The Smart Forfour is classified as a five-door city car. It's designed primarily for urban environments, offering compact dimensions, excellent agility, and a focus on practicality and ease of use within congested areas. Despite its small size, its five-door configuration and clever interior packaging aim to provide more versatility than a traditional three-door city car.

Is the Smart Forfour a pure electric car?

The latest generation of the Smart Forfour, sold new, is indeed a pure electric car, known as the Smart EQ Forfour. Smart has fully transitioned its new vehicle lineup to electric power. Earlier models of the Forfour were available with petrol engines, but these are now only available on the used market. The Forfour's unique rear-engined mechanical layout has proven highly adaptable to electric power, with the battery and motor occupying the space previously used by the fuel tank and petrol engine.

Why is the Smart Forfour no longer available new in petrol form?

Smart, as a brand, made a strategic decision to transition entirely to electric vehicles. This move aligns with growing environmental concerns, stricter emissions regulations, and a broader industry shift towards electrification. By focusing solely on electric models like the EQ Forfour, Smart aims to position itself as a pioneer in sustainable urban mobility, offering zero-emission solutions for city driving. Therefore, petrol Forfours were phased out of new production.

What are the main advantages of the Smart Forfour?

Key advantages of the Smart Forfour include its highly distinctive and customisable styling, surprisingly spacious interior for a city car, excellent rear passenger access thanks to wide-opening doors, incredibly tight turning circle for unparalleled city manoeuvrability, and a high level of standard equipment. The folding seats also add significant practicality for carrying longer items.

What are the disadvantages of the Smart Forfour?

The primary disadvantages of the Smart Forfour are its premium price tag compared to many rivals, a smaller boot space due to the rear-engined layout, and a driving experience that, while safe and secure, is less engaging or sporty than some competitors, especially outside of urban settings. It can also exhibit more body lean in corners and be affected by crosswinds.

Final Thoughts on the Smart Forfour's Value

The Smart Forfour, whether in its used petrol guise or as the new electric EQ model, remains a truly unique proposition in the city car market. It’s a car that prioritises style, urban agility, and clever interior packaging. While its price point has always been a topic of discussion, particularly when compared to its platform twin or more mainstream rivals, the Forfour often justifies its cost through its high level of standard equipment, premium feel (influenced by Mercedes), and its sheer ease of use in the urban jungle.

If you're looking for a compact car that stands out from the crowd, is exceptionally easy to park and navigate through tight streets, and offers surprising interior versatility for its size, the Smart Forfour could be an excellent choice. However, if your budget is tight, or if you frequently embark on long motorway journeys where a more engaging drive or larger boot capacity is paramount, then some of its alternatives might indeed suit you better. For city living, though, the Forfour remains a compelling and charismatic option.

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