About Smart EQ ForFour
A small step for mini lovers, a big step for the Smart ForFour. Smart has made a few changes from the original 2004 Smart ForFour, which wasn't a big success, to the EQ ForFour. The EQ ForFour is very much a city/town car created to reduce CO2 emissions, especially in urban areas.
The transition to pure electric power has been straightforward for Smart. They replaced the engine and the fuel tank with an electrical engine, which is impressively done right, practicality being unaffected by the switch to battery power.
The exterior is Designed and built in collaboration with its rival Renault Twingo, the new Renault Twingo same four doors supermini city car. A facelift for 2020 resulted in mostly visual changes, adding a smoother bonnet, larger grille, new lights, and different wheel designs.
From the front, the futuristic towncar design is completed by its square Full-LED headlamps with main & dipped beam, integral indicator & daytime running lights, more robust shoulder line,, and larger honeycomb grille.
The interior is upgraded with a new 'floating' touchscreen infotainment system lifted from the Renault Twingo, dominating the dashboard on top-spec models. Also, it has newly designed cupholders and a place for smartphones, giving a high-quality feeling. The older version and discontinued petrol-powered Smart ForFour had a dash-mounted rev counter.
The new EQ version has an easy-to-read power and charge dial. For more fun, Smart added the option for Android Auto, but unfortunately, it has no Apple CarPlay. The entry-level Pure model version is well equipped with a 3.5-inch color instrument panel display, LED daytime running lights, climate control, USB and aux connections, Bluetooth, cruise control with a speed limiter, stop-start and electric windows fitted as standard.
Some features are also available such as a panoramic roof and heated seats. For a town car, the navigation system is essential to be good, so the smart has a TomTom-based satnav. In terms of practicality, the rear seats are best to be used by children, being a bit too tight for adults.
Performance is quite good if considering the Smart EQ ForFour is a four-seat full-electric city car. It’s agile around town. It has 82 horsepower and a healthy 160 Nm while offering zero emissions, smooth power delivery, and a range of up to 99 miles from a single full charge, which is pretty decent.
The new ForFour has nothing to deal with the previous model. The new model of ForFour has Crosswind Assist (fitted as standard) moderates braking when the car encounters a strong gust of wind, which is a significant improvement. Other features, including a forward collision warning and lane-keeping assist, are also available.
Safety also improved, the ForFour scored four stars overall, with the new high-strength steel chassis also proving to be as strong and as safe as a Mercedes C-Class in frontal collisions, making it a good choice for those who want small towncar with zero emissions.