The Test: The awesomeness of the 鈥檚 petite 22.8-foot turning circle isn鈥檛 apparent until you whip a U-turn on a two-lane road in downtown Portland without scraping the curb. And the short 9.7-foot length means you鈥檒l find parallel parking everywhere.
While tiny cars usually deliver a skittish ride鈥攖he prior edition was downright terrifying on the highway鈥攖he entirely revamped Smart Fortwo feels confident. That鈥檚 partially thanks to a wheelbase that鈥檚 four inches wider than the outgoing model鈥檚.
No, it鈥檚 still not large enough for weeklong road trips, with just enough room behind the two front seats for a couple of suitcases. Flip the front passenger seat forward and you gain a hair more, but it鈥檚 not quite enough for a mountain bike. Still, this fuel sipper with a diminutive 0.9-liter engine is perfect as a cheap, useful commuter that happily makes day trips to the trailhead and back.
The Verdict: America鈥檚 tiniest two-seater gets slightly less tiny and a lot more confident.
$14,650; 34 mpg city/39 hwy