Buying a smart car isn’t so smart

Alternatives you should consider before your next fuel sipping purchase.

As it stands, the Smart ForTwo is this summer’s big hit. With gas prices in the States looking more European by the day, our vehicle choices are following suit and the manufacturers know this. Across the pond where $4.00 gas would be a bargain, the Smart, and other vehicles like it, have been common place for some time now. With a market on alert and fuel prices to boot, the U.S. is now the staging area for a new wave of cutting-edge fuel-efficient vehicles.

As you may have noticed by now, the Smart car is sweeping the nation and picking up a pretty substantial following. While it is hard to argue with a $12,000 (base price) car that achieves such impressive fuel economy—33 city/41 highway—we do think there are a few large flaws with the Smart.

Put simply, while achieving better mileage does often require sacrifice, we feel that the Smart cuts far too much in the way of power, comfort, and cost when compared to other alternatives. With 45.4 cubic feet of passenger volume (compare to the “small” Civic coupe with 83.7), a whopping 12.8 second 0-60 mph time (compare to a golf cart), and an MSRP no less than other viable alternatives on the market, we have a list of 5 vehicles to consider before you make the “Smart” decision.

New: Toyota Yaris
Base Price: $11,550
29 city/36 highway MPG

Consider this: More space, more comfort, and more pep—which still isn’t a lot of pep, but what do you want(?!)—all for about $100 less that you’re going to pay for the Smart. Take into account Toyota reliability, resale, and the fact that a gang of angry teenagers probably can’t up and walk away with your Yaris like they can with the Smart, and you’re starting to get the picture.

New: Honda Fit
Base Price: $13,950
28 city/34 highway MPG

Not quite the value of the Yaris on paper, but if you’re a Honda fan or you just want a little more amenities, then the Fit is for you. Again, consider Honda’s reputation and resale as well as the “cute” factor, and you have a sure-fire winner here. Remember the name, as most of what you need to get in it will “Fit”.

Used: Honda Insight
Price: We’ve seen as low as $13,000
48 city/58 highway MPG

Yeah yeah, we know… it’s a used car. But consider this car’s track record and we’ll think you may see the light. While it’s no Cadillac when it comes to interior space, we think the gas mileage will win you over. With some owners reporting upwards of 70 mpg, we see the Insight the #1 choice if you’ll consider a used vehicle. Cool factor? Sure, it’s reported to have the lowest coefficient of drag of any production vehicle to date! (Make sure to get the 5-speed if you can, it’s a bit better on gas as the CVT was primitive in those days.)

Used: Honda CRX HF
Price: We’ve seen as low as $1,500
41 city/50 highway MPG

This one’s for those looking for a REALLY cheap alternative who don’t necessarily need the latest and greatest. The ultra-light Civic CRX HF boasted a super-efficient 1.3-liter inline-4 engine and very little in the way of luxuries. A simple formula, yes, but it’s one that has proven successful time and time again. While the CRX is no luxury cruiser, you will be surprised by the amount of room it offers, both in the passenger compartment as well as the rear hatch area.

New or Used: Motorcycle
Price: Find them dirt cheap used or starting at $3,500 new.

Ok, ok. We know most of you aren’t in the market for a motorcycle, but we through this in here to make a point. With the Smart you sacrifice a lot of comfort and would almost surely need another car to get any type of hauling/road tripping done (unless you travel extremely light). Likewise, a motorcycle offers very little in the way of luxuries, but more than makes up for this with insane fuel economy. Our suggestion? If you’re bent on getting great mileage and are looking into a Smart, consider a motorcycle instead. Even brand new you can snag a 250cc bike that will get you 70+ mpg for around $3,500. Subtract this from the Smart’s $12,000 base price and you’re left with $8,500 to get an old Civic or Corolla for those times you absolutely need a car.