Batteries already included. This is what the packaging of many children's toys advertises... in this case, even if it is not a toy, the micro smart EQ fortwo and forfour have batteries for a little over 100 km , which for cars that rarely leave the city can be enough for a week of commuting-home-work-home.
2019 was the year in which more smart were sold in Portugal. Only 10% of the 4071 units traded were electrical, which may well mean that 2020 will be a difficult year for the micro car brand of the Mercedes-Benz Group in Portugal, as there are now no combustion engine versions.
It's all battery powered and with the access step to the range taking a brave leap of almost 10 000 euros , this is because the least expensive version of the new smart EQ is situated at almost 23 000 euros.
This is, in fact, an important transition year for smart worldwide, as the partnership agreement with Renault has ended and the new joint venture with Geely's Chinese enters into force, where the new company will be centered . The production in Hambach, France, should start to be gradually reduced for these last two to three final years of these models that have now been retouched (let's go).
The first smart-Geely will appear in 2022 and should be built on the basis of a car from the Chinese brand that has important know-how in this sector, as this is the world's largest market for electric cars — it's where most of the market is sold. that in the rest of the world together and this despite a drop in demand in recent months, motivated by a reduction in the incentive policy decreed by the government of Beijing…
More modern exterior look…
Of the three bodyworks in the range, the one that sells most in Portugal is the original, with two seats (46.5% of the mix in 2019), closely followed by the stretched version with four seats (44%) and the remaining 9.5% for the cabrio, so on this first occasion behind the wheel of the retouched smart the option fell to the coupé.
And the first thing to say about the renewed smart EQ fortwo is that the novelties can be seen at a visual level, with a front that features new bonnet, headlights, grille, bumpers and where the brand logo disappeared and came into existence the word smart. It is important to note that, for the first time, the grilles are painted in the same color as the bodywork and the fortwo and forfour have different “faces”.
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Behind the differences are less obvious, but there are redesigned headlights (also with LED technology such as the front) and a rear bumper with aerodynamic diffuser “airs”.
… interior almost unchanged
Inside we find some new coverings and the main novelty is even the increase of the info-entertainment central screen (it went from 7″ to 8″ and it has a functioning specially indicated to work in partnership with smartphones).
There are more connectivity contents and functions in partnership with the My smart application: it is now possible to open or close the car while away from it, access recharge, parking or navigation services.
Note also a new, larger compartment in front of the handbrake (with manual lever... yet...) for placing small objects like a smartphone, which has a blind to open and close, but which can be used as a cup holder/ cans.
Between the seats there is also an armrest that is best left in a horizontal position, because when you lift it, the elbow starts bumping into the vertical element constantly.
space, somewhat limited
All plastics inside are hard and the steering column only adjusts in height, not in depth, but these are normal features on A-segment models on the market — what's unusual is the price, of course...
Here, on the smart EQ fortwo, we only have two seats, of course. In the forfour there are two in the back, but it's good that the occupants are less than 1.70 m tall, otherwise they will have their knees pressed into the back of the front seats or the top flat.
Dynamics with the same pros and cons
The dynamic evaluation is similar to that of the electric fortwos that were already sold. The most fun thing of all is taking a complete turn on the axle itself, which can be done in a turning diameter of less than nine meters, which, translated by kids, means that you can reverse the direction of travel without maneuvering on a road of two single bands, one for each side.
In fact, it takes some getting used to because the feeling it gives is that the rear inner wheel is stationary and the others try to turn around, which is not exactly true. But with no other car on the market you can do this — just 2.7m long, on the one hand, and the fact that the electric motor is placed on the rear axle, which leaves the front wheels free to turn much more.
There are also no changes in the electric propulsion system: 82 hp powered by a 17.6 kWh lithium-ion battery, with autonomy with a full charge of 133 km . For those who knew that the previous generation reached 159 km of autonomy, it may seem confusing, but the difference in the homologated value only has to do with the entry into force of the new, more rigorous certification cycle (WLTP) compared to the previously valid one (NEDC).
During the kilometers we covered in Valencia city centre, I was once again very pleased with the smart fortwo EQ's quick response. It fires at every green traffic light, even leaving behind some sports cars that, offended, almost always respond to the end of the first 50 m of road, after the sprint from 0 to 60 km/h in 4.8s of the small fortwo has left everything and everyone back.
Afterwards, the smoothness of the bearing of a suspension that tends to be dry, but which no longer “informs” the drivers whenever it passes over any small insect, pleases. on board.
Something "wasting"
A negative aspect is consumption, as we easily go above 17 kWh even without leaving the urban jungle, which means that it is not easy to go beyond 100 km of “real” autonomy. We can always try to compose the bouquet by pressing the Eco button to increase the regenerative braking capacity, which makes the car slower to respond and limits the maximum speed, as well as reducing the air flow of the climate control.
However, if the driver fully depresses the accelerator, the order is given to go over the Eco setting and all available performance is back on, to avoid any embarrassment in a more “urgent” overtaking.
In addition to this stronger level of regenerative braking, there are five other levels, but these are ultimately determined by the car itself, based on information collected by a frontal radar that then establishes the distances to the preceding vehicle.
And outside the urban fabric?
If you're wondering if it's possible to walk with the smart EQ fortwo on national roads outside the urban perimeter… well… give it a go, but remember that in this context the 100 km goes much faster and, on the other hand, if the corners abound, there is a lot of noticeable lack of grip on the front axle, which easily triggers the stability control every two by three, especially on less-than-perfect asphalts.It's better to forget about motorways, because with 130 km/h of top speed you can't even leave the right lane calmly…
Small battery, faster charging
The advantage of being the electric one with one of the smallest batteries on the market is that the charging times are naturally shorter.
Six hours in a household socket (put the phone charging, the smart charging and both are vibrating with power when you wake up, just like the owner) or 3.5 hours with a wallbox, this with the 4.6 on-board charger kW, which equips the series model.
Paying extra for the 22 kW on-board charger, the same operation can be completed in 40 minutes, to go from 10 to 80% of the total charge and with a three-phase charging system. The battery has a factory warranty of eight years or 100,000 km.
Headlights can also be LED