It took a long time. With the complete conversion to the battery-electric drive, Smart 22 Years after the first City Coupé arrived at Nicolas Hayek’s original idea. In the urban ultra-short distance, only the electric drive offers a high degree of efficiency and consistent emission restrictions.

But as a four-door? Doesn’t a Stretch Smart water down the cheeky cross-parking to the orthodox city mini? Or is the Forfour an intelligent four-seater, slightly shorter than Volkswagen’s three-part up vocals (3490 vs 3600 mm) and thus the smartest Smart? Which of course also means that the best Smart would be a Renault Twingo.

Smart EQ Forfour exterior view (9 pictures) The body of the Smart EQ Forfour is identical to that of the Renault Twingo. It is 80 cm longer than a fortwo and one centimeter shorter as an Up-Mii-Citigo from the Volkswagen group. (Image: Florian Pillau

) Unexpectedly, the Smart scores points when entering. In this discipline, the Seat Mii electric (test) also surprised positively. After all, one approached him skeptically in Spartan mode. When getting in the Mii is better for your back than mine 20 Years old BMW 3 Series E series 46. The Smart takes my 84 – year-old mother in noticeably more relaxed : The higher seating position combined with sufficient headroom at the entrance make you shine. A friendly introduction to the Smart.

Surprising room comfort In the rear, however, the destination is not as surprising as the way. Once you have climbed the two-seater bench, the knee freedom is naturally restricted. The fact that Smart cannot do magic is shown by a front seat backrest, which rubs a little more on the knee in the Up comparison. After all, the Renault-Benz is also a little shorter. However, you have to expressly praise both small cars for how easily they can accommodate four adults even over longer distances.

With 91 liters of trunk volume, the long Smart pulls clearly the shorter one behind the Volkswagen construction. With 91 liters of volume and an adjustable loading floor, the three group microcars outclass the Smart. The Forfour offers the same maximum volume with the rear seat backrest folded down with 696 liters. In terms of space, it is on a par with the Volkswagen and an adjustable loading floor (standard on the Up, Mii and Citigo) is no longer missing, as it automatically creates a flat surface. For the purchase of bulky goods, we recommend the Smart with the optional foldable passenger seat back.

Loving details Details reveal a simultaneously loving and knowledgeable look at everyday life. A belt with Velcro fastener on the passenger seat is used to fix small items. The storage package installed in the test vehicle contributes a practical network on the passenger side of the center console. The “passion” equipment line of the test car includes pompadour pockets on the front seat backrests and practical storage compartments in the doors with nets. The “exclusive” package of the test car includes a center armrest. The sitting position is pleasantly upright, comfortable and found in a few seconds. However, the upholstery gives too few contours and too much foam appearance – not an uncommon phenomenon in small cars calculated with a sharp pen.

The smart cockpit can only be treated here by retreating into the lens. You like it or you don’t. The billowing half-circle speedometer can be read off properly and gives plenty of space for an unadorned, but pragmatic on-board computer. The power meter Mickey Mouse ear, which instead of a rev counter shows the power output, is at best unnecessary. But that’s just part of smart folklore.

All operating elements are ergonomic and self-explanatory. You can quickly get to grips with the media system with built-in 8-inch touchscreen included in the expensive lines and packages without having to consult the operating instructions. In the multimedia sector, Smart traditionally has more expensive and more comprehensive solutions than the competition for small cars. Android Auto and Apple Car Play are part of the media package, as is a rear view camera with a large picture.

Smart EQ Forfour space (6 pictures) The sitting position is good, the Easy entry. The switch for the seat heating is an ergonomic outlier. The belt for securing utensils on the passenger seat, like the net on the center console, is a good, practical idea. Both belong to an expensive equipment package. (Image: Florian Pillau) In terms of multimedia and connectivity, the Up, Mii and Citigo cannot keep up. A reversing camera is only available for the VW and with a comparatively tiny picture. For Volkswagen’s smallest, multimedia is limited to a smartphone holder with an app. However, this is standard at Volkswagen, while in the equipment package hierarchy from Smart the connectivity package requires at least just under 2000 euros presupposes. On the other hand, there is not even a USB plug as standard.

3600 High-quality options Sensible optional extras such as seat heating in the rear or a large, electrically opened fabric roof are only available in this class in the Smart Forfour. The outrageously expensive “prime” equipment line even includes leather upholstery. The windy trunk cover made of poorly laminated egg cartons, however, would not even dare to offer Lada. With every removal and installation, the feel of the precarious is presented – and not stylish urbanity.

The new mobility is started like the day before yesterday. This is always the case with cost-sensitive electric city vehicles. So the key is turned in the ignition lock until you are startled by a warning buzzer, like with the egg boiler. In the lower left part of the huge speedometer, which takes over the entire instrument cluster here, the “ready” indicator appears in green. The Forfour sets itself in motion with the usual ease that is always required for electromobility. The maximum 60 kW put a smile on your face, even if the pedestrian warning noise makes the light-footed Smart seem to groan and groan. A sound check seems to be desirable.

One-pedal driving is not possible with the Smart. In normal mode, the recuperation should adapt to the vehicle in front via radar. In practice, however, you hardly notice any of this. The maximum recuperation power that is available in the efficiency-optimized ECO drive program (only 41 kW power) is set, does not brake approximately to a standstill. That is a matter of taste, but an adjustable recuperation would have been nice.