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

This Lotus-inspired sports car has 429bhp and real driver focus: meet the SC01
Small Sports Car Company SC01
News

This Lotus-inspired sports car has 429bhp and real driver focus: meet the SC01

The Small Sports Car Company SC01 has pipped Caterham and Tesla to the post as an electric sports designed to deliver genuine driver thrills
29 Jul 2026
I put budget tyres to the test in the wet, and the results were terrifying
Cheap tyres
Opinion

I put budget tyres to the test in the wet, and the results were terrifying

Skimping on tyres may save you a few pounds, but at what cost, ponders Barker
30 Jul 2026
BMW M3 Touring (E46) review – driving the perfect super estate that never was
BMW M3 E46 Touring front
Reviews

BMW M3 Touring (E46) review – driving the perfect super estate that never was

BMW toyed with the idea of an E46 M3 Touring, making just one prototype. A UK company has picked up where it left off
30 Jul 2026