Living with a smart EQ fortwo | 2020 in-depth W453 facelift driving review

The number one question we find ourselves being asked about electric cars is this: what are they like to live with? Kicking off the series is living with the smart EQ fortwo. We get under the skin of our favourite city car to find out how well it fits in to everyday life.

Which model would you like to see us living with next?

For this video we spent some time with the smart EQ fortwo edition one coupe. The key things to know are this:

Performance: 82 hp and 160 nm from the single speed electric motor.
Usable battery capacity: 17.2 kWh
Charging times: 8 hours 30 minutes at 2 kW, 3 hrs 15 minutes at 7 kW, 40 minutes at 22 kW.
Range: 71 - 82 miles. The indicated values were determined according to the prescribed measurement method – Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Figures shown may include options which are not available in the UK. For Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) figures determined with battery fully charged. These models require mains
electricity for charging.

0:00 - Intro
0:34 - Design, interior, unique features
2:45 - Test one: Practicality, plants and hammers
4:44 - Test two: Charging
10:05 - Test three: Enjoy driving electric
12:02 - smart EQ range specifications and pricing
13:01 - Summary: What is it like to live with a smart EQ fortwo?

Written and presented by Ken Pearson
Filmed by Ken Pearson and the L&L Automotive Marketing team
Edited by Ken Pearson

[vanessamae]

I really hope they come back to the US. I need to get a new one and I LOVE this one!!

[VPB]

Its my daily driver . In my third smart car and it is, by far, my favorite means of transportation on 4 wheels.

[gaming-zombie]

Smart Cars are Great Cars hopefully they make it back to the US...

[mhouslay]

Great video. We’ve had the Edition 1 EQ as in your video for over two years now and love it. Really quite nippy, super comfortable, simple to park and manoeuvre, hilariously good turning circle and the LED headlights are amazingly good. 22kw charger is great as in 15min you get a great top up. We also have been amazed at how much you can cram in the boot and having a ‘Range Rover - like’ split tailgate is super useful - and can make a handy seat as well !! This car has attracted so much positive attention and interest as well - always getting asked about it. Easy to get the claimed range. Brilliant as a second car for city or village use because of range but easily fast enough to be safe and confident to drive on motorways as well

[coffeeisgood]

Love that car. Test drove one yesterday and was 101% impressed. Wanted to use it for in-town driving but my girlfriend went into a yelling fit complete with all the animation in front of the sales person and I had to leave it on the lot. I purchased the Nissan Leaf but I really wish I could have got the Smart4two.

[marcandsebe]

I have a 2015 Fortwo 0.9L turbo and love it. Love the lights on the rear of the EQ over mine though.

[DavidHuston]

Great information!!! I have a 2015 Smart EQ and I like it a lot. Aside from range which is not a issue for me it is fantastic. I like it much better than the 2008 Smart Fortwo gas model for my purposes. Its made well and perfect for my needs.

[travisbonzpiercy]

I own a 2018 EQ and it’s a fantastic car to get back and forth to my job.

[vestro]

I have one since 2018 running it in the Canadian climate. It is only a city car repeat city car as long as people except that you can go wrong. The cost of running it including the lease is less expensive than a monthly bus and metro pass in the Montreal area. That alone makes it a bargain. The fact that I am in alone in the car for 95% of the time does not require me to have a huge gas guzzling or even electric vehicle. This is the ultimate city car for daily chores errands and to and from work no more than 60 km in the winter to and from

[wvxz]

now i really wish smart cars continued in the us 🥲

[Smartsparky]

I’ve had my Edition 1 for 4 months and love it. So comfortable and smooth to drive, I haven’t had any occasion pop up where I’ve felt stuck for range. This could just be my needs and yours may differ. But if your thinking about the electric smart I say consider your mileage first. I have not had to use a public charger as of yet. But I’m going to be trying this soon.

[dpricedp]

That's is one gorgeous ev. Love that colour scheme too. Excellent vid, informative and dare I say...smart!

[dit.p]

Most beautiful small car and the best in town

[dm]

I just took possession of a high-spec smart EQ ForTwo about two weeks ago, here in Italy.

What can I say? First, it's my second smart EQ so I know a few things about the car. My previous one was a 2019 and I did 12K km with it. Yes, it's pricey and yes the range is limited. But I am one of those people who use it for the daily commute so I find it more than satisfactory, actually ideal. That's also thanks to the parkability. I have other cars for longer journeys so the smart EQ is ideal for my in-town needs.

[eddieg]

I’m 6’4”, 228 lbs, a tall guy. I love my Smart! Lots of room. I’ve driven it from Seattle to Los Angeles (and back) many times. (2, 300 miles round trip). Great car.

[Angel_V]

Man I Love the face lift, too bad they're not available in the US anymore 😢

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Great video, always had a Smart before I went to A-Class, definitely going back in 2022. Hopefully the new version will have a slightly longer range to take the edge off, maybe 100 miles.

[scottb]

I really hope they make a come back here in Australia

[stevenlawrie]

I'm on my second petrol cabrio 451 now 453. I think I'll wait to see what tge collaboration with Geely brings about especially with range. You say a city car but I drove from Normandy to tge factory for smartimes in around 5 hours with no issues and was looking to complete tge NC500 from Devon at Easter this year.

[HKNYN]

Going to keep my 453 fourfour for a year then probably switch to one of these but the fourfour version. They look so good.