Smart EQ Fortwo Review 2026
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Smart EQ Fortwo Verdict
Affordable electric car. Very low running costs. Fun to drive around town.
Two seats and a tiny boot. 70-mile range. Expensive compared to a petrol Smart Fortwo.
Find out more about the Smart EQ Fortwo
The Smart EQ Fortwo is an electric two-seater capable of covering just 70 miles between charges. Almost a polar opposite to the Mercedes-Benz EQC, the electric Smart is ideal for those who want to bimble around town with minimal running costs without the requirement for any great practicality.
A rival to the Renault Zoe and the Skoda Citigo-e iV, the EQ Fortwo starts at around £16,500 following the Government's plug-in car grant, making it considerably more expensive than a petrol-engined Smart Fortwo. It's still pretty much the cheapest electric car around, however. It's also exempt from the London congestion charge, while road tax is also free.
Unlike the Zoe, you buy the battery with the car - which means no monthly battery rental fees. Charging takes 2.5 hours using a standard 7kW home charger, which a 22kW fast charger will take it to 80 per cent in around 40 minutes.
You get the same funky looks as the standard Smart Fortwo, while buyers can choose from coupe or cabriolet versions. The latter is unique - there are no other electric convertibles on the market, meaning it's the ultimate choice for eco wind-in-your-hair motoring.
Inside, you'll find just two seats, and a tiny boot. It's a fairly basic yet quirky cabin, with everything logically laid out. The seats are comfortable enough and access is easy thanks to wide opening doors.
The EQ Fortwo is powered by an 82PS electric motor positioned in the rear of the car, driving the rear wheels. Instant torque (all 160Nm of it) means it will surge forward around town, taking 11.5 seconds to reach 62mph. It's really good fun in an urban environment, with good visibility and a tiny turning circle allowing you to dart in and out of traffic easily.
Top speed is limited to 80mph, although the electric Smart soon starts to feel out of its depth at higher speeds.
As one of the cheapest routes into an electric car, the Smart EQ Fortwo is a likeable choice. Its limited range will put off many buyers, as will its restricted practicality. But for its niche audience - urbanites who lives and work in the city - it's a strong choice.
Reviews for Smart EQ Fortwo's top 3 rivals
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Smart EQ Fortwo handling and engines
If you've never driven an electric car, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how easy and fun the Smart EQ Fortwo is to drive around town. It has a single-speed gearbox with maximum torque available as soon as you press the accelerator - meaning it surges forwards with no hesitation... no seeking for the right gear, no waiting for the revs to build, it will just go.
There's little in the way of noise and the Fortwo's compact dimensions means it slots into gaps easily while parking is a breeze. A tiny 6.95-metre turning circle helps - although you might be surprised at how poor rear visibility is, especially on the convertible model when the roof is left up. Fortunately a rearview camera is available as part of the Premium Plus pack.
The Fortwo's compact dimensions results in a rather harsh, jiggly ride - picking up lumps and bumps in the road and passing them into the cabin.
Once above 30 or 40mph, the EQ Fortwo soon starts to run out of oomph - and on the motorway it feels well out of its comfort zone. Its tridion safety cell means it will be more safe than you'd expect in a high-speed collision, but it still feels unnerving when you're in front of a lorry with very little car between you and it.
Driving at high speeds will see the remaining range drop at an alarming rate. It's safe to say that this isn't a car intended for the motorway commute.
Charging the EQ Fortwo is simple, using a charging port positioned where you'd find a fuel filler cap on a normal car. A four-metre-long charging cable can be plugged into a conventional three-pin socket and will charge the car to 80 per cent in around six hours.
For faster charging, a five-metre cable enables faster 7kW charging, topping it up in around two and a half hours. A public rapid charger - such as those used at motorway services - can charge it to 80 per cent in less than 40 minutes.
Smart offers a mobile phone app which lets you monitor the EQ Fortwo's charging status remotely, as well as adjust climate control settings.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22kW | - | 11.6 s | - |
Smart EQ Fortwo interior
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 2695 mm |
| Width | - |
| Height | 1555 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1873 mm |
There's plenty of room in the cabin for two people, with two comfortable seats providing a fairly high and upright seating position. The wide-opening doors make access easy, although the steering wheel can be adjusted for height but not reach. It's worth trying for size before parting with your money.
It's all pretty basic inside, feeling more like the Renault Twingo on which it's based rather than a Mercedes-Benz city car. There's little in the way of premium finishes, although there's a reasonable amount of kit as standard - including a seven-inch navigation system.
The navigation is a bit frustrating to use, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard - meaning you can use navigation apps on your phone instead.
A large speedometer positioned behind the steering wheel gives you no excuse for speeding, while a small pod positioned on the dash tells you how much electricity you have left. Buttons on the steering wheel allow you to control the audio and cruise control.
It's a strict two-seater. Buyers with even the occasional need to carry more than two people should look at alternatives like the Smart EQ Forfour or Renault Zoe.
There's a reasonable amount of storage, though, including two useful cup holders, a tiny glovebox and some small door pockets. An official 350 litres of boot space (340 litres for the convertible) sounds pretty good compared to conventional city cars like the Volkswagen Up, but it's an awkward shape, leaving little room for shopping bags.
Standard specification (from launch):
The Smart EQ Fortwo Prime Premium features heated seats, leather upholstery, cruise control, 15-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, smart media system with navigation.
Opting for the Prime Premium Plus pack adds ambient lighting, a centre armrest, LED head and taillights, front fog lights, automatic lights and wipers and a rear-view camera.
Smart EQ Fortwo models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 2695 mm |
| Width | - |
| Height | 1555 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1873 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1095 kg |
| Boot Space | - |
| Warranty | 8 years / 62000 miles |
| Servicing | 9000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | - |
| Insurance Groups | 10–11 |
| Road Tax Bands | A |
| Official MPG | - |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
Currently on sale
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| Brabus Line 22KW Charger 17.6kWh Auto 2dr | - | - | - |
| Edition Bluedawn 22KW Charger 17.6kWh Auto 2dr | - | - | 11.6 s |
| Exclusive 22KW Charger 17.6kWh Auto 2dr | - | - | 11.6 s |
| Premium 22KW Charger 17.6kWh Auto 2dr | - | - | 11.6 s |
| Racing Green Edition 22KW Charger 17.6kWh Auto 2dr | - | - | - |
On sale until May 2021
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| EQ 22KW Edition 1 Auto 2dr | - | - | 11.6 s |
| EQ 22KW Passion Advanced Auto 2dr | - | - | 11.6 s |
| EQ 22KW Prime Exclusive Auto 2dr | - | - | 11.6 s |
| EQ 22KW Pulse Premium Auto 2dr | - | - | 11.6 s |
Model History
- June 2017: Smart EQ Fortwo priced from £16,420
- January 2020: Prices announced for updated EQ Fortwo
- July 2021: Limited edition Smart EQ Fortwo Racing Green Edition priced from £25,495
June 2017
Smart EQ Fortwo priced from £16,420
Smart has announced its EQ Fortwo coupe will start at £16,420 including the £4500 plug-in car grant. The EQ Fortwo Cabrio starts at £18,560, while the EQ Forfour costs from £16,915.
An 82PS electric motor works at the rear of the smart EQ and transmits its power via a single-speed gearbox to the rear wheels.
The smart EQ has a range of approximately 96 miles, while its maximum speed is electronically limited to 80mph to maximise the range.
The standard 7kW charger means the car can be charged in 2.5 hours using a wallbox. The optional 22kW charger means the car can be charged in 40 minutes using a wallbox.
The EQ fortwo coupé can travel from 0 to 62 mph in 11.5 seconds.
With maximum torque of 160 Nm from almost zero revs, the smart EQ has exceedingly responsive acceleration. The EQ coupé and cabrio has an ultra-small turning circle of 6.95 metres.
With the ‘smart EQ control’ app, key information can be accessed via smartphone, tablet or PC and functions such as pre-entry climate control or intelligent charging can be controlled remotely.
Standard specification is based on the well-equipped prime model, which includes heated front seats, cruise control, leather upholstery and 15-inch alloy wheels. Every EQ model also comes with charging cables for both domestic sockets and public charging stations; rear parking sensors; smart media system with satellite navigation and active brake assist.
For £595 customers can add the premium plus equipment line, which includes ambient lighting; centre armrest; LED headlights and tail lights; front fog lamps; automatic lights and wipers; and rear view camera.
Small, but fantastically strong: unique tridion safety cell is joined by ESP, Active Brake Assist, Crosswind Assist, Hill Start Assist and five airbags as standard.
The optional Winter package includes heated multifunction steering wheel; heater rear seats in the fourfour and enhanced interior insulation. Costing £295 for the fortwo coupé and cabrio prime and for the forfour prime costing £495.
January 2020
Prices announced for updated EQ Fortwo
The updated Smart EQ range is now on sale, with prices starting from £16,850 for the smart fortwo coupé (including PICG grant of £3,500; total price £20,350 excluding grant). The forfour is priced from £17,285 (£20,785 excluding grant), and the unique fortwo cabriolet starts at £20,420 (£23,920 excluding grant).
The smart electric drive features an 82PS electric motor powering the rear wheels via a single-speed gearbox. All smart EQ models have a range of around 70 miles, while maximum speed is electronically limited to 81mph.
The 96-cell lithium-ion battery is coupled with a – now standard - 22 kW on-board charger, meaning that charging can take less than 40 minutes (from 10 to 80% charge) using a rapid charger, and can be charged in less than six hours using a home wall box.
The new smart EQ range features a re-designed exterior with new front bumper and grille painted in body panel colour, and new halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights and new halogen taillights. There are four model lines available; passion advanced, pulse premium, prime exclusive and the edition 1.
Standard specification on all models include multifunction leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors, smart media system (navigation, seven-inch touchscreen, charging station finder, Bluetooth, automatic climate control, DAB, Android Auto and Mirrorlink), acoustic presence indicator and comfort package.
The passion advanced is available on both the fortwo coupé (£16,850 incl. PICG) and forfour (£17,285 incl. PICG), and comes with 15-inch alloy wheels in a four-spoke design painted black with a high-sheen finish and upholstery in black fabric with double-stitching in white.
In addition to the passion advanced, pulse premium offers 16-inch five-twin-spoke alloy wheels painted black with high-sheen finish; brushed stainless steel sports pedals with rubber studs; storage net on centre console; and rear view camera.. Coupé and forfour models come with a panoramic roof and sunblind, while the cabriolet comes with a draft stop.
Prime exclusive models feature 16-inch eight-Y-spoke alloy wheels painted black; full-LED headlights (for the first time on smart); ambient lighting; automatically dimming interior mirror; heated seats for driver and passenger; and dashboard and door centre panels in black fabric and accent trim in black and leather upholstery.
Available on fortwo coupé and cabriolet, the limited edition smart EQ edition 1 comes with a specially selected colour package in asphalt grey; radiator trim in black; black high-gloss decals; BRABUS spoiler and side sills; and 16-inch BRABUS alloy wheels in high-gloss black with a red accent. The fortwo edition 1 coupé is on sale for £23,790, and the cabriolet is £26,210 (incl. PICG).
July 2021
Limited edition Smart EQ Fortwo Racing Green Edition priced from £25,495
Exterior highlights for the Racing Green Edition include LED headlights, 16-inch BRABUS Monoblock XI black alloy wheels with Silver undercut, a panoramic glass roof and exclusive Racing Green Metallic paint.
Inside, there are BRABUS Tailor Made hand-stitched leather seats finished in Cognac Nappa leather with diamond stitching on the seatbacks and bases, plus a Racing Green top stitch.
The dashboard and door centre panels are also finished off in Cognac Nappa leather with Racing Green top stitching, as is the three-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel, which gets Racing Green double stitching.
Other interior highlights include aluminium BRABUS sports pedals and handbrake lever, a BRABUS gear stick and aluminium BRABUS door sills. There is also a carbon fibre-look trim for the centre console surrounding the eight-inch touchscreen smart Connect media system, which includes Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay®.
The smart EQ features an 82PS electric motor powering the rear wheels via a single-speed gearbox. All models have a range of around 70 miles, while maximum speed is electronically limited to 81 mph.
The 96-cell lithium-ion battery is coupled with a – now standard - 22 kW on-board charger, meaning that charging can take less than 40 minutes (from 10 to 80% charge) using a rapid charger, and can be charged in less than six hours using a home wall box.
The smart EQ fortwo coupé Racing Green Edition is available from £25,495 OTR including the £2,500 government Plug-in Car Grant.
