Are Smart Cars Safe To Drive or Just Compact?
Smart vehicles were created by Lebanese-bred Nicolas Hayek, who is best known as the co-founder of watch brand Swatch. The vehicles were designed to be compact, economical and fuel-efficient — ideal for someone looking for transportation in the city. He partnered with Daimler-Benz to create the first-of-its-king smart car in the early 1990s. The name was formed by combining Swatch and Mercedes with the term “art”.
Interest in Smart Cars is Fueled By Rising Gas Prices
After early sales fell short of expectations, Swatch exited the partnership, which made Daimler-Benz as sole owner. Today, Smart is a brand within the Mercedes portfolio. By the late 2000s, Mercedes began selling the Smart car as higher gas costs boosted demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Consumers Love The Compact Size of Smart Cars
The Smart “ForTwo”, which is named after the amount of people it can carry, is roughly half the length of a standard car, with a measurement of just over eight feet and a width of five feet. As for its fuel economy, the ForTwo is rated at just over 30 mpg while driving in the city and just under 40 mpg while driving on the highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This was in 2016. Today, even compact gas-powered cars can meet or exceed such figures, making the tiny size of the Smart car one of its main draws.
The vehicle is so small, three of them can squeeze into one parallel parking spot.
Demand For the Smart Car Could Not Be Satisfied At First
In the late 2000s, with gas prices reaching extremely high prices, Smart cars were hard to find, as they sold out almost immediately. The first 25,000 cars were driven off dealer lots so far, another 15,000 were imported to meet demand. While early excitement helped push sales numbers, the demand wore off, with just over 7,500 cars being sold in 2015 and just under 1,280 in 2018.
Smart Cars Get a 5-Star Safety Rating
You may not believe it, but the Smart ForTwo was actually rated high in safety. Because of the car’s steel race-car type structure and extensive use of high-tech airbags, the ForTwo earned a five star safety rating by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, the organization did warn that bigger vehicles are safer to drive than a compact Smart car.
Despite its safety rating, any car has the chance of being in an accident. For those who find themselves involved in a collision, whether at fault or not, you want to take advantage of an accident lawyers free consultation. Dealing with an insurance agency on your own isn’t ideal and a lawyer can tell you what would yield the best results.
Do the Advantages of the Smart Car Outweigh the Cost?
Aside from safety risks, some believe the price of the ForTwo is too high for what you receive. Believe it or not, the ForTwo can reach speeds of up to 80 mph. For consumers who care about the environment, they would be better off investing in a traditional subcompact, which boasts similar or better gas efficiency, while also being more likely to survive an accident. These drivers could also choose a hybrid or electric vehicle (EV).
What About The Electric Version?
Today, the ForTwo also comes in an electric version, which could make it perfect for someone in search of an in-city vehicle. They can drive almost 70 miles on a single charge, making it cheaper than more costly options like the Toyota Prius or Nissan Leaf.
