roadster road test
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
roadster road test
AutoBild recently did a group test of the four smallest and least expensive convertibles available in Germany. They were the smart roadster, the Peugeot 206 CC (Coupé/Cabriolet), the Ford StreetKa and the Mazda MX-5 Miata 1.6.
The smart acquitted itself well considering that the other cars had over twice the displacement and it also had unbeatable fuel economy. The test concluded by stating that the smart roadster with the gearbox of the Miata would have been the ideal combination. The smart has a 6 speed sequential gearbox, which takes some getting used to (and shifts nowhere near as fast as BMW's SMG II...
smart roadster
Top speed: 180 km/h (112 MPH)
0–50 km/h (31 MPH): 3,1 s
0–100 km/h (62 MPH): 11,3 s
0–130 km/h (81 MPH): 20,0 s
0–160 km/h (100 MPH): 40,2 s
60–100 km/h in 4th: 6,7 s
80–120 km/h 5/6th: 11,2/16,2 s
Braking distance from 100 km/h cold: 35.8 m (117 ft)
Braking distance from 100 km/h warm: 36.4 m (119 ft)
L/100 km min./max. during test: 5,3/9,2 (44/26 MPG US)
L/100 km avg. during test: 6.8 (35 MPG US)
The smart roadster's braking matches that of a Porsche Turbo, stunningly good results.
Also, it is a quick car for its measly 700 cc of dicplacement.
The fuel economy is pretty amazing considering the hammering road testers give their cars, and it was about 25% better than the other cars tested.
Sorry, due to my inability to replicate the table here I can't show the other cars' performance figures. The smart was faster than the Ford, and slower than the Peugeot and Mazda - but it handled far better than either.
The smart acquitted itself well considering that the other cars had over twice the displacement and it also had unbeatable fuel economy. The test concluded by stating that the smart roadster with the gearbox of the Miata would have been the ideal combination. The smart has a 6 speed sequential gearbox, which takes some getting used to (and shifts nowhere near as fast as BMW's SMG II...
smart roadster
Top speed: 180 km/h (112 MPH)
0–50 km/h (31 MPH): 3,1 s
0–100 km/h (62 MPH): 11,3 s
0–130 km/h (81 MPH): 20,0 s
0–160 km/h (100 MPH): 40,2 s
60–100 km/h in 4th: 6,7 s
80–120 km/h 5/6th: 11,2/16,2 s
Braking distance from 100 km/h cold: 35.8 m (117 ft)
Braking distance from 100 km/h warm: 36.4 m (119 ft)
L/100 km min./max. during test: 5,3/9,2 (44/26 MPG US)
L/100 km avg. during test: 6.8 (35 MPG US)
The smart roadster's braking matches that of a Porsche Turbo, stunningly good results.
Also, it is a quick car for its measly 700 cc of dicplacement.
The fuel economy is pretty amazing considering the hammering road testers give their cars, and it was about 25% better than the other cars tested.
Sorry, due to my inability to replicate the table here I can't show the other cars' performance figures. The smart was faster than the Ford, and slower than the Peugeot and Mazda - but it handled far better than either.
Last edited by Mike T.; May 25, 2003 at 03:08 AM.
