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The smart for four. The idea is not new: 2004 had already expanded smart's own portfolio and presented a four-door car with five seats in addition to the classic two-door smart. However, one had not remained true to oneself. The smart forfour was actually a Mitsubishi Colt - which is not a bad thing if it is sold by a Mitsubishi dealer. But he wasn't good as a smart. Not even with the Tridion cell painted on. No, the idea of the "smart" was different and after the rear engine was also implemented in the roadster, the Mitsubishi Colt with its front engine had to be understood as simply not "smart" enough. The experiment “smart forfour” was over after only two years.
Would you like a little more?
First ride in the new smart forfour
The new forfour is a real smart, Or a real Twingo. Depending on which manufacturer you're listening to. One thing is certain: a small car for four people will no longer be “smarter”. Because at new forfour has smart all done better than the experiment before 10 years ago.
The new smart forfour is a stretched 3.49 m smart fortwo, The basic layout remains the same, the engine is still sitting in the back, the drive axle of course. And like the "little brother", so can the four-door car with an impressive small turning circle. 6.95 m is the smart fortwo and still ingenious 8.65 m with the four-door smart. In the city there is no competitor, which makes it easier to circle around narrow streets. The 10 celebrated extra centimeters in width at the smart fortwo are also present at the forfour. However, because the forfour is 80 centimeters longer, it does not look quite as square as the smart fortwo. Almost stretched in the sidelines.
The stretch limo factor of the forfour doesn't let the second row break out into cheers. The doors, which open almost at a 90 ° angle, make for a seemingly large entrance, but the fact that you have to divide the 2.70 meter interior length by four doesn't change that.
The engine in the right place
While the Twingo and also the little brother with only two doors still has the choice, smart only offers the 52 kW (71 PS) naturally aspirated engine for the forfour to start. The small three-cylinder petrol engine is already in the fortwo no spawn from the strain of a Dynasty Dynasty and also in the 975 kilogram heavy forfour that, no wonder, not better.
Safety in series
The idea of the Tridion cell lives on in the four-door smart forfour. A combination of strong, high-strength and "superduperfesten”Steel was formed into a“ safety cell ”. The basic features of the concept come from the first smart generation and were revolutionary for such a small car. And for the youngest generation, the demands on crash safety have been increased again.
An impressive video shows the level of the safety cell:
In passive safety, however, the idea of a "safe small car" does not stop. smart is already equipping the new forfour (also for the fortwo) in series with a whole range of assistance systems and airbags. So side airbags are just as series as the knee airbag for the driver. A Crosswind Assist helps to keep the high-building box in the lane in gusts, of course, ESP and ABS are always on board. But also a cruise control is always there. Why he, modern lighting technology, however, will not remain the secret of the smart and Renault controllers. Because on the front shine H4 headlights. What I personally do for a Renault compact car, whose base price at € 9.590 (EU5 / 52 kW / no start stop) is in order. The new forfour is in the list with a base price of € 11.555 (here, however, with automatic start-stop and already classified in the EU6 emission standard), and the “city cars” of the previous generation offered more elaborate lighting technology. A step backwards that is not understandable.
But the base price is only part of the truth. The smart forfour driven during the test drives were all equipped in the proxy version and started at a base price of € 15.055 and then I expect more from a modern small car than just looks and cosmetics at hipster level! The Twingo with 71 PS petrol engine costs € 12.980 in its highest equipment level (Luxury).
Trendy colors in the interior, a mesh panel of the dashboard and the colored gadgets for the exterior paint leave me cold. Instead of the cruise control, quite witless in the city, I would have liked a light source on the front whose birth year does not date to 1965! Something nerdy, cool, technically impressive.
But: The detailed criticism does not change the genius with which the new forfour can be scuttled through the city. No alley too narrow, no curve too narrow. Parking in reverse thanks to the good overview and the best-in-class turning circle is child's play. This fits quite well that the forfour sounds a little quieter in the interior than the two-door. No wonder, the three-cylinder is indeed a good distance from the driver's ear away and like the fortwo also convinced the forfour with the comfort advantages of a wide vehicle lane. And the longer wheelbase then finally gets used to the smart 44's pitching movements around the longitudinal axis.
Practical talents
In addition to the trunk with a volume of 255 liters and the classic option of folding down the rear seat backrests, the smart also offers two special extras on the subject of “practice and variability”. The seats in the forfour can be converted into folding seats for an additional charge. Pulled once and they fold down a good 10 centimeters. This creates a greater load compartment height directly behind the front seats. A large TV screen or potted plants can be stowed there. Anyone who has a US basketball player as a friend will be happy about the foldable passenger seat back, because it creates a loading area that is up to 2.30 meters long. Alternatively, the obligatory Billy shelf can of course also be transported in this way.
Conclusion: It may be a bit more!
The smart forfour looks like the stretch limousine version of the smart fortwo. That pleases. Performance should it be a little more and the price? Well, that's when you thought smart: It might be a little more.
In the end, the new smart forfour is simply too much Twingo. That wouldn't be a problem if it were a Renault. And so in the end I have doubts as to whether the Renault dealer is not the better Discounts Has arguments.
From autumn smart forfour will then also offer the dual-clutch transmission and the turbo gasoline engine should not be too long in coming.
