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Smart 

Smart - Roadster

 (  2003-06  )
4 / 5
+ Everyday Roadster
+ Fun to drive
+ Comfortable ride
- Jerky drive
- High prices
The toy-like smart roadster is marvellous fun, with its buzzy little turbocharged engine mounted behind the occupants and sharp rear-wheel-drive handling. It offers affordable thrills and is surprisingly easy to live with.
The roadster reflects smart's styling flair and turns heads. It comes with either an electric folding fabric hood or a pop-out glass roof panel (dubbed roadster-coupe); they both look great.
This tiny two-seater is one of the smallest cars on the road, with just 80bhp from its little three-cylinder engine, but it's turbocharged to pack a big punch. With its light body and that rear-mounted engine driving the rear axle, the roadster a far more serious sports car than the cute exterior suggests, especially in top-spec (100bhp) Brabus-tuned form. Its true driveability is only spoilt by the clutchless sequential-shift gearbox - slow and jerky in fully-auto mode, fiddly and awkward to shift yourself.
Surprisingly comfortable on long motorway journeys and with good ride quality, roadster is a car that can be used every day; it's more than just a toy or a track day-only indulgence. Prices look high, but it should hold its value.

Best Vehicle Model

Coupe

Worst Vehicle Model

None