It was the 4th of March 1994, when the world first got a glimpse of what would eventually become the Smart Car. An unusual tie-up between Mercedes-Benz and watch manufacturer Swatch resulted in a city car the likes of which had rarely been seen before.
It would be wrong to call the Smart an instant hit. But the tiny two-seater, with its engine mounted in the boot, ‘Tridion’ safety cell design and body panels that could be clipped on and clipped off to change the whole car’s look, soon became a regular sight on the streets of European cities, where space was at a premium.
The Smart’s ability to be parked end-on in a parallel bay meant it could squeeze into the dinkiest of gaps. But this wasn’t some dour commuter hatchback; it felt fun and funky, an early example of a car being designed to express its owner’s personality. No wonder, then, that when the Smart brand came of age, it spawned a range of models cut from the same cloth.
These days, the Smart badge mostly adorns much larger, family-oriented electric SUVs. But Smart hasn’t forgotten its roots; the original two-seater is set to return next year, badged as the #2. Prices will start at £20,000. If you can’t wait, or can’t stretch to that new model, though, there’s good news: second-hand Smarts are surprisingly affordable.
How about a 2016 Smart ForTwo (the name given to the two-seat model before it was changed to #2)? The example I found on CarGurus is finished in a striking combination of red and black, and being the high-spec Prime Premium version, comes with leather upholstery, climate control, cruise control, and even a panoramic roof.
It’s done just 44,000 miles, and is going for a very reasonable £6,995, which is £768 below its CarGurus Instant Market Value, or IM, which is our estimate of a car’s actual worth based on the selling prices of similar models. And that means it’s one of the best-value ForTwos on the market.
Mind you, the best deals on Smart cars are to be had on the older versions, like the 2012 example I came across. On for just £2,500, this one’s a whopping £1,423 less than its IMV: in other words, almost half-price.
With a minuscule diesel engine, this ForTwo is capable of more than 80mpg, making it a perfect antidote to today’s high fuel prices. Tax will cost just £20 a year, too, so this is a car whose running costs will match its diminutive stature. And being the Passion version, it comes with satnav, climate control and a panoramic glass roof. That’s a lot of kit for the price.
But what if you need to move more than two people? Ah, well, that’s where the Smart ForFour comes in. An extended version of the ForTwo with, as the name suggests, seating for two extra people in the back, it’s a great little car that manages to remain city-friendly while improving on the practicality of the original.
This one features the frugal 1.0-litre petrol engine – capable of an astonishing 66mpg – and comes with climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, a digital radio and a full service history. It’s yours for just £4,495, which is £714 less than its IMV.
Mind you, it isn’t only the smaller Smarts that make such smart buys. How about a 2026 #5? This electric SUV is the largest model in the Smart range, big enough to haul a family and their clutter about with ease, and with a very useful range of 288 miles.
This one’s a Pro version with just 1,445 miles on the clock – nearly new, in other words – and comes with all the mod cons you’d expect to find in a modern electric SUV. Fresh out of the showroom, it’d have set you back just shy of £40,000.
Yet on CarGurus, you can buy this very car for just £29,990. That’s £6.80 off for every mile this barely-used Smart has covered. And that’s why smart car buyers buy their Smarts second-hand.
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