Smart ForTwo EQ Coupe (2017-2020) Review and Prices

The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive is an electric version of the smallest new car you can buy. It’s a compact alternative to the likes of the Renault Zoe that could be an ideal commuter car if you mainly cover short distances and have somewhere to charge it overnight.

It shares its quirky looks with the petrol ForTwo both inside and out. You get the same minimalist cabin with a selection of mostly soft but some scratchy plastics on the dashboard and doors.

You also get a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, USB connectivity, sat-nav and Android smartphone mirroring. It’s reasonably simple to use and all the controls on the centre console are within easy reach.

Unfortunately, you might struggle slightly for headroom if you’re more than six-feet tall but the Smart’s compact body is still wide enough to carry two adults without rubbing shoulders. You don’t have to worry about leaving space for your passenger’s legs – there aren’t any back seats. Instead, you should consider the Renault Zoe if you ever plan to carry a couple of friends.

It might look identical to the standard ForTwo, but this Electric Drive model costs pennies to run – but too many pounds to buy

Thankfully, the ForTwo Electric Drive model’s batteries have been tucked neatly under the floor, so its boot is the same size as the standard ForTwo – there’s space for a suitcase and a few soft bags or you can flip the passenger seat down to carry longer items poking through from the boot.

The ForTwo Electric Drive has a 100-mile range so it should be more than capable of pottering to and from work on a cheap seven-and-a-half-hour charge. It’s happiest around town where its light steering, tight turning circle and tiny size make it a doddle to nip through tight streets and rush hour traffic.

Unfortunately, you’ll feel bumps through the seat more than in most small cars and it’s easy to feel swamped by faster vehicles on the motorway. To put your mind at rest you get automatic emergency braking and even crosswind assist, but other larger cars will provide more protection in a collision.

If you can live with this compromise, the ForTwo Electric Drive could be worth a look if you’re after a tiny car that thrives in the city.