Skip advert
Advertisement

Smart Forfour Brabus

Now I've got used to the Smart's ways, I'm really enjoying driving it. It will never be as good to drive as, say, Henry's Golf, but the more miles I cover in the Forfour, the more I appreciate it.

Now I've got used to the Smart's ways, I'm really enjoying driving it. It will never be as good to drive as, say, Henry's Golf, which is just such a fantastic all-rounder, but the more miles I cover in the Forfour, the more I appreciate it. As long as those miles are on country lanes, that is. It holds the road well on its 17in Brabus Monoblock VI alloy wheels, making winding roads great fun. Motorway driving, however, is noisy, making talking to passengers nearly impossible without shouting at them. And Radio 2 has to be turned up very loud for me to be able to hear Terry Wogan's dulcet tones! The gearbox is quite notchy, but works well in partnership with the 1468cc turbocharged engine. The Smart will sit quite happily at motorway speeds, although it is off-putting watching the bars on the petrol gauge disappear quite so quickly. The Forfour's quirky interior has lots of appeal, but it does have its faults too. Why does it need two clocks, for example? I only need one to tell me I'm running late - two just stress me! And who was the smart alec designer who thought it would be clever to put a 'secret compartment' in the driver's footwell, and then hide the owner's manual in there? I hope dealers point this out to buyers, and that owners don't struggle to find it in an emergency. Overall, though, I think the Forfour is a great little car. It won't appeal to everyone, but it definitely has my vote.

Running Costs

Date acquiredSeptember 2005
Total mileage6378
Mileage this month733
MPG this month30.0mpg
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best cars of the 2010s – the modern classics that defined the decade
Best 2010s cars
Best cars

Best cars of the 2010s – the modern classics that defined the decade

The 2010s saw kerb weights and bhp figures begin to rise significantly. Happily, it was still a decade shot through with bonafide thrillers
24 Oct 2025
Ferrari 296 Speciale review – does it live up to its legendary name?
Ferrari 296 Speciale – front
Reviews

Ferrari 296 Speciale review – does it live up to its legendary name?

Lighter, more powerful and with serious downforce the new Speciale is the most hardcore 296 yet
24 Oct 2025
Meet the man who turned a Lotus Exige into a 270mph hypercar
John Hennessey
Features

Meet the man who turned a Lotus Exige into a 270mph hypercar

From tuning his Mitsubishi 3000GT to manufacturing the 1817bhp Venom F5, John Hennessey is the ultimate power broker
23 Oct 2025