Even in Europe, they’re not really popular. Plus Renault decided they won’t be making a next generation Twingo (which shares its platform with the current Smart car).
Always thought this was a really weird decision since it’s an extremely popular car here in France, but apparently it doesn’t make them enough money.
I would drive a smaller car in a heartbeat, but everyone around me drives stupidly huge things like F-150s, Defenders, etc. and if one those hit me—through no fault of my own—I’d be a goner. We really need to tax based on the size of the car and require commercial licenses and insurance for anything this pointlessly huge.
I rented a Twingo once in France (during a rail strike so we couldn’t take trains for a few days) and it was shockingly comfortable and spacious inside. Even though it looked smaller than basically any car sold in North America, it made excellent use of interior space. Two adults (one of them tall) and luggage had plenty room to spare.
I only test drove a Smart Car once many years ago and right away I felt like it was a very cheap build quality. Maybe it was just that car and I should have tried some others, but I was looking forward to trying it out and remember being disappointed by it. Ended up leasing a Scion IQ, almost identically sized, but felt way better to drive. Still funny to me recalling my friend’s reaction when realizing his arm rest in the back seat was the rear wheel well. Such an efficient use of space and absurd turn radius. That’s the car I miss.
![[image] Toronto Hotel Parking Lot](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/1589313a-7bcd-4f9b-8863-b4a40b47bd7b.png){kind=link}
I’m sad new Smart Cars are no longer sold in the USA.
Even in Europe, they’re not really popular. Plus Renault decided they won’t be making a next generation Twingo (which shares its platform with the current Smart car).
Always thought this was a really weird decision since it’s an extremely popular car here in France, but apparently it doesn’t make them enough money.
I would drive a smaller car in a heartbeat, but everyone around me drives stupidly huge things like F-150s, Defenders, etc. and if one those hit me—through no fault of my own—I’d be a goner. We really need to tax based on the size of the car and require commercial licenses and insurance for anything this pointlessly huge.
They’re getting rid of the Twingo? Boooooo.
I rented a Twingo once in France (during a rail strike so we couldn’t take trains for a few days) and it was shockingly comfortable and spacious inside. Even though it looked smaller than basically any car sold in North America, it made excellent use of interior space. Two adults (one of them tall) and luggage had plenty room to spare.
There’s subcompact cars at least, maybe not as tiny and efficient but still way better than the massive SUV pileup you see where I live
I only test drove a Smart Car once many years ago and right away I felt like it was a very cheap build quality. Maybe it was just that car and I should have tried some others, but I was looking forward to trying it out and remember being disappointed by it. Ended up leasing a Scion IQ, almost identically sized, but felt way better to drive. Still funny to me recalling my friend’s reaction when realizing his arm rest in the back seat was the rear wheel well. Such an efficient use of space and absurd turn radius. That’s the car I miss.