Smart Forfour

Smart Forfour: Which Version Should You Buy?

Choosing a Smart Forfour starts with one major decision. The first generation, produced from July 2004 to November 2006, offers front-mounted engines, FWD and twelve Mini 5-doors versions, including Gasoline and Diesel choices. The second generation, produced from July 2014 to August 2019, switches to a rear engine and RWD across seven Mini 5-doors versions, with Gasoline and Electro powertrains.

Choosing a Smart Forfour starts with one major decision. The first generation, produced from July 2004 to November 2006, offers front-mounted engines, FWD and twelve Mini 5-doors versions, including Gasoline and Diesel choices. The second generation, produced from July 2014 to August 2019, switches to a rear engine and RWD across seven Mini 5-doors versions, with Gasoline and Electro powertrains. Its restyling, produced from September 2019 to December 2021, continues as a Mini 5-doors model but offers only the electric EQ. Across the three catalogue entries—two generations plus the restyling—the decisive differences are power, performance, consumption, transmission, weight and drivetrain layout.

Smart Forfour generations: what changed?

The first generation has the broadest engine range. Its twelve versions span 64–177 hp, use 1,124–1,499 cc engines, and include three- and four-cylinder layouts. Buyers can choose Manual or Robotic gearboxes, but every version is FWD with a front, transverse engine. The range includes economical Diesel models, mainstream naturally aspirated Gasoline engines and the 177 hp turbocharged 1.5 MT.

The second generation narrows the combustion range to 898 cc and 999 cc three-cylinder engines. Its seven versions include five Manual or Robotic Gasoline specifications and one electric AT specification, while the name 0.9 DSG covers two different outputs: 90 hp and 109 hp. Every listed version is RWD; all Gasoline versions and the AT electric version place the power unit at the rear. Compared with the first generation, the fuel tank falls from 47 litres to 28 litres on combustion versions.

The second-generation restyling has one version, EQ, produced from September 2019 to December 2021. It is an 82 hp Electro model with 160 Nm, a 1-speed Automatic gearbox and RWD. It retains the earlier electric car’s 12.7-second acceleration time and 130 km/h maximum speed, but ground clearance rises from 120 mm to 132 mm, a difference of 12 mm.

Smart Forfour engine specs

The strongest power-per-litre result comes from the first-generation 1.5 MT (177 hp), at approximately 120.6 hp per litre. The second-generation 0.9 DSG (109 hp) is close at approximately 121.4 hp per litre, despite producing 68 hp less overall. Among the naturally aspirated choices, the first-generation 1.5 MT (109 hp) produces approximately 72.7 hp per litre, while the second-generation 1.0 MT (71 hp) produces approximately 71.1 hp per litre.

Performance and economy: acceleration, top speed and mpg data

For maximum performance, the first-generation 1.5 MT (177 hp) is unambiguous: its 6.9-second time is 2.9 seconds quicker than either 109 hp first-generation 1.5 and 3.6 seconds quicker than the second-generation 0.9 DSG (109 hp). Its 221 km/h maximum is also 31 km/h above the 109 hp 1.5 versions, although its 6.9 L/100 km combined consumption is the highest listed.

For the best combustion-engine balance, the second-generation 0.9 DSG (109 hp) combines 10.5-second acceleration, 180 km/h and 4.6 L/100 km. It matches the 95 hp first-generation Diesel versions for both acceleration and combined consumption, while adding 14 hp but producing 40 Nm less torque.

The lowest listed combined consumption is 4.2 L/100 km, shared by the second-generation 1.0 MT (71 hp), 1.0 DSG and 0.9 DSG (90 hp). Of those, the turbocharged 0.9 DSG (90 hp) is the quickest by 4.0 seconds versus the 1.0 MT (71 hp) and by 5.0 seconds versus the 1.0 DSG. Electric consumption for AT and EQ is not measured; both record 0 g/km CO2 in the supplied data.

Smart Forfour dimensions, weight and wheels

No exterior length, width or height is measured in the data, so those Smart Forfour dimensions cannot be compared here. Kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, tank size and wheel sizes are available.

First-generation kerb weights run from 945 kg for 1.1 DSG to 1,065 kg for both Diesel DSG specifications. Gross weight is 1,450 kg for most versions and 1,460 kg for the 109 hp 1.5 MT and 1.5 DSG. Ground clearance is 120 mm where measured and not measured on the other first-generation specifications. Every first-generation version has a 47-litre tank. Recorded wheels are 175/65 R14 and 195/50 R15; wheel sizes are not measured for several versions.

Second-generation combustion cars weigh 950–1,095 kg at the kerb and 1,390–1,460 kg gross. Each has 120 mm ground clearance and a 28-litre tank. Recorded wheel sizes span 165/65 R15, 185/60 R15, 185/50 R16, 205/45 R16 and 205/40 R17. The AT weighs 1,200 kg kerb and 1,570 kg gross, with 120 mm clearance; tank capacity is not measured.

The restyled EQ also weighs 1,200 kg kerb and 1,570 kg gross, but has 132 mm clearance and 185/65 R15 or 185/60 R15 wheels. Its tank capacity is not measured.

Weight per horsepower sharpens the performance comparison. The first-generation 1.5 MT (177 hp) carries approximately 5.5 kg per hp. The second-generation 0.9 DSG (109 hp) carries approximately 10.0 kg per hp, while the 950 kg 0.9 DSG (90 hp) carries approximately 10.6 kg per hp. The electric AT and EQ each carry approximately 14.6 kg per hp. At the other end, the second-generation 1.0 MT (61 hp) carries approximately 15.9 kg per hp.

Which Smart Forfour version should you choose?

Choose the first-generation 1.5 MT (177 hp) if acceleration and maximum speed take priority. It is the only 177 hp version, produces the range-high 230 Nm and reaches 221 km/h, but its 6.9 L/100 km combined figure makes the performance trade-off explicit.

Choose a first-generation 1.5 MT (95 hp) Diesel or 1.5 DSG (95 hp) Diesel if torque and measured fuel economy matter together. Both produce 210 Nm, reach 100 km/h in 10.5 seconds and use 4.6 L/100 km combined. The Manual weighs 965 kg; the Robotic version weighs 1,065 kg, so the Manual carries 100 kg less while delivering identical listed acceleration and top speed.

Choose the second-generation 0.9 DSG (109 hp) for the strongest later Gasoline specification. It produces 170 Nm, reaches 100 km/h in 10.5 seconds and tops out at 180 km/h. Compared with 0.9 DSG (90 hp), it adds 19 hp and 35 Nm, cuts 1.4 seconds from acceleration and raises top speed by 15 km/h, while combined consumption increases by 0.4 L/100 km.

Choose the second-generation 0.9 DSG (90 hp) when 4.2 L/100 km combined consumption matters more than maximum output. It offers the same economy as both 71 hp 1.0 versions but is substantially quicker. The 0.9 MT is 0.7 seconds quicker still, although its combined use rises to 4.3 L/100 km.

Choose the second-generation 1.0 MT (71 hp) over 1.0 DSG when acceleration matters: both produce 71 hp and 91 Nm and return 4.2 L/100 km combined, but the Manual reaches 100 km/h in 15.9 seconds rather than 16.9 seconds. Choose the 1.0 DSG instead when its 6-speed Robotic gearbox is the deciding specification.

Choose AT or the restyled EQ only if the Electro powertrain is central to the decision. Both have 82 hp, 160 Nm, a 1-speed Automatic gearbox, RWD, 12.7-second acceleration and a 130 km/h maximum. Their fuel-consumption figures are not measured. Between them, EQ provides 12 mm more ground clearance; otherwise, their listed kerb and gross weights are identical.