 
The Smart car has been around for over 10 years; it is currently being manufactured by Mercedes-Benz. The car is incredibly small; the two-person model is only 2.5 metres long from front to back (half a metre shorter than a Mini Cooper). The doors make up three quarters of the car's length. It's almost as wide as it is tall. The Smart car is obviously very easy to park. The plastic body panels on the car are replaceable. You can change them after an accident, or whenever you want, even with a different colour. The seats apparently are quite comfortable, with sufficient legroom, and headroom is adequate for most passengers thanks to the car's tall stance.  The cost of a Smart car ranges from $17,000 to over $19,000. It comes equipped with a rear in-line 3-cylinder, 0.8 liter diesel engine that puts out 40 hp; the car is rear-wheel drive and has a top speed of 120 km/h and consumes a mere 4 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km (or about 60 miles per gallon). It will travel 600 km between fill-ups.The Smart car has a manual transmission, but there's no clutch; the driver shifts gears by tapping a foot; If you tap up, it shifts up; if you tap down, it shifts down. Smart cars have a 'safety cell' called Tridion. This cage is what absorbs the energy on impact. The car has standard dual front and side air bags, ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist, electronic stability and traction control, and seatbelt pre-tensionners. There are some drawbacks to this tiny car. Although it contains many safety features, it is small, and designed primarily for city driving. It probably wouldn't stand up well to gravel roads or perform well in snow and mud, so it's not a good choice if you live in a rural area. Also, if you hit a deer or moose you won't live to tell about it.  There isn't a lot of room for packages or luggage ... two small bags is about the limit, unless you want to load up the passenger seat.
Refilling the washer fluid and checking the brake fluid level are difficult; you have to open a small panel on the outside at the bottom of the windshield, and space in there is tight.A spokesman for Mercedes-Benz Canada says the company will eventually bring a four-seat model here, and even introduce a Smart SUV! 
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