Comments on: Smart Car – Update No 3

By: R J Adams

R J Adams — Thu, 12 May 2011 00:49:21 +0000

Matt Globe – you can count yourself lucky. The EPA only rates it at 41 Hwy*

*http://www.smartusa.com/models/pure-coupe/overview.aspx

By: Matt Globe

Matt Globe — Wed, 11 May 2011 18:22:50 +0000

I have a 2009 Smart Pure. I have owned it for over two years and I drive it 35,000 miles per year. I check the gass mileage every time I fill up, and I can tell you that if you drive sensibly, your gas mileage averages 45-48 mpg

By: smart car

smart car — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:34:35 +0000

i always thought they were good for mpg, thats all the remarks ive heard and read?

By: R J Adams

R J Adams — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:05:37 +0000

Stephen – the first Smart Cars were imported under license by a company in Santa Ana, California (G and K Auto) with only limited body mods, and none specified for the engine. You are right that the original Merc-designed engines were replaced on US models from January 2008 with the non-turbo Mitsubishi 3B21 engine. The car was also increased in overall size, so is basically a different car from its European counterpart.
The question outstanding, of course, is why the car was altered to such an extent, given it was not found legally necessary with the earlier versions, and in particular, why was the power unit replaced, with an attendant loss in fuel economy?

By: stephen

stephen — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:57:53 +0000

I heard the first gen.(pre2008) smart cars that were imported from Europe to the US and was getting 45-50 mpg and could only be bought under a used car title. However the new 2008 smart car is getting half of that. How can that be possible? The answer is simple the engine is not the same. Diamler Chrysler chose to go with a “dumb down” made for American version rather than import them from Europe. I was told it was replaced by a Mitsubishi based engine. The best part is no one seems to care that they have been fooled.