Smart EQ Forfour 60kW EQ Premium 17kWh 5dr Auto [22kWch] Review

Category: Electric car

Section: Version review

The image may be different to the version you have selected
Smart EQ Forfour 2021 front right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 front right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear cornering
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior dashboard
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior rear seats
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior infotainment
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 front right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 front left static
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear right static
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear detail
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear lights detail
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior driver display
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior detail
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 boot open
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 front right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear cornering
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior dashboard
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior rear seats
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior infotainment
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 front right tracking
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 front left static
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear right static
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear detail
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 rear lights detail
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior driver display
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 interior detail
  • Smart EQ Forfour 2021 boot open
RRP £22,295
Fuel type:
electric
Gearbox:
auto
Doors:
5 doors

Find your perfect Forfour Hatchback

Cars available now

The Smart EQ Forfour has undoubted plus points. For a start it's one of the least expensive electric cars on sale to buy outright, undercutting the Renault Zoe (if you don’t lease the battery) and the Volkswagen e-Up. It's also zippy and easy to drive in town, thanks in part to its super-tight turning circle, and it's pretty well equipped, too. However, the ride and handling aren't very good, the boot is tiny, there's not a vast amount of space inside, and worst of all for an electric car, the range is very poor next to its best rivals. Unless you need an electric car solely for town, the range issue is the biggest reason that we’d suggest going for the Zoe instead.

Entry-level Premium trim is our pick of the range. That’s because it keeps the Forfour cheaper than its rivals while still giving you 16in alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, a panoramic roof, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, rear parking sensors, a central armrest, a rear-view camera and an 8in touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

The 80bhp electric motor powered by a 17.6kWh gives you plenty of shove off the line. Its 0-62mph sprint is sufficient for nippy city driving but it struggles when it comes to motorway driving, with the rate of acceleration dropping rapidly the closer you get to the 81mph top speed. The Forfour’s range will be the biggest problem for anyone who doesn’t have a short commute with access to a charger at each end.


Buying with What Car?

Get the best deal

At What Car?, we believe that no one should overpay for their new car, which is why we partnered with Autotrader to bring the biggest selection of discounted new cars available in the UK


Key information

Doors5
Seats4
0-62 MPH12.7 seconds
Fuel TypeElectric
GearboxAUTO

Available colours

Boot CapacityHow much space is there?

185

litres

EmissionsOfficial emissions rating

0

g/km