With a medium-term future still uncertain (there are even rumors pointing to its disappearance), for now Smart is making great strides towards its first major revolution since the appearance of the fortwo in 1998: the total electrification of the range.
Although the goal of total electrification points only to 2020, the truth is that today smart has electric versions of both the fortwo (as in the previous generation) and the forfour. And it was exactly the electric version of the fortwo that we had the opportunity to test.
Aesthetically similar to the combustion engine version, the EQ fortwo it maintains the “cuddly” air that it is recognized for, and the unit we rehearsed also featured several Brabus details (courtesy of the special nightsky edition series).
Inside the Smart EQ fortwo
With a youthful look, the interior of the EQ fortwo reveals a good build quality that stands out due to the fact that we don't have the sound of the engine to distract us from possible parasitic noises. The materials are, as one would expect, mostly hard, however, the use of fabric in a large part of the dashboard disguises this fact.
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Ergonomically speaking, everything in the Smart works, the only thing to regret is the limited number of closed storage spaces. The infotainment system not only has quite acceptable graphics, it is also easy and intuitive to use.
The infotainment system is simple to use and complete, even offering information about your driving style.
However, the biggest surprise that the small EQ fortwo has in store concerns its space. A real surprise for those who have never sat inside a Smart, the Living space offered by the little German is quite acceptable, transporting comfortably, and without “shortness of breath”, two adults and their luggage.
The fortwo EQ turns out to be more spacious than the reduced dimensions suggested.
At the wheel of the Smart EQ fortwo
With a comfortable and easy-to-find driving position (even though the batteries make the floor appear higher than we expected), once behind the wheel of the EQ fortwo, one of the benefits gained thanks to its small Dimensions: Excellent visibility.
Agile and easy to drive, the EQ fortwo is the ideal companion for getting around town. Its small dimensions make any maneuver a simple children's game and its agility makes it even fun to drive in an urban environment as we weave through the traffic.
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Parking, of course, is also no longer a problem, making it even fun to discover the smallest space where the EQ fortwo fits. When we get to the curves, despite being safe and stable and having a direct (but not very communicative) steering wheel, the short wheelbase ends up offering a somewhat bouncy behavior.
This brings us to the EQ fortwo's biggest point of interest: the electric motor. With 82 hp of power and 160 Nm of torque (delivered straight away), this one comes and goes to make the EQ fortwo shipped and even to leave more powerful cars behind.
The problem is that the 17.6 kWh battery that powers it ends up resenting the enthusiasm of the right foot and sees the load (and consequently the autonomy of around 110/125 km real) disappear quickly, in which case we cannot manage it well, the joy of driving the fortwo EQ around town quickly turns to anxiety looking for a shot.
The tested unit had several Brabus details.
Is the car right for me?
Agile, small, comfortable and fun to drive, the Smart fortwo EQ is the ideal companion for those who travel almost exclusively in cities. There, the German city dweller feels like a fish in water and comes and goes for "orders", the only problem being the (very) reduced autonomy which is closer to the actual 110 km than the advertised 160 km.
Added to this, the advertised charging time of six hours in a “normal” outlet to reset 80% proves to be too optimistic, helping to further increase the state of anxiety we get whenever we have to travel more kilometers with the Smart.
Thus, the EQ fortwo turns out to be the ideal car for all those who do very few kilometers daily, who don't mind following a pre-defined route to the letter and walking (almost) always with a light foot.