smart forfour BRABUS Review
Published: 28th August 2005
smart forfour
The electric power steering (EPS) is direct and well-weighted giving the correct amount of feedback to the driver keeping you composed and in tune with the road.
The forfour BRABUS is fitted with a roof spoiler which offers aerodynamic benefits by reducing lift on the rear axle by 50 kilograms at maximum speed providing additional stability.
The safety conscious smart forfour features Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Acceleration Skid Control (ASC) as standard. The ABS (anti-lock braking system) with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution) and ESP have been adapted to cope with the increased power.
Ease of Use
The smart forfour BRABUS is an exceptionally easy car to drive and manoeuvre - visibility is good but we did find that the ‘A’ pillars could hamper forward vision depending on the driver’s seating position.
The cabin is ergonomically laid out and the controls are tactile and intuitive to operate apart from the electric window switches which are positioned either side of the handbrake making them fiddly to operate - rear passengers cannot open or close their windows without leaning forward.
Despite the forfour's compact exterior dimensions interior cabin space is superb - almost tardis-like.
The 4-seater smart forfour BRABUS is a very easy vehicle to get in and out with wide opening doors and both head and leg room is excellent in the front and rear. The rear bench seat moves back and forth to increase the luggage area or to increase the rear seat passenger’s leg room by up to 15 cm, but one is at the expense of the other.
The rear backrests can be folded flat either individually or together and the entire rear seat has a tumble function which means that the seats can be folded vertically. With the seats in place the luggage capacity is just under 270 litres and this is increased to 620 or 910 litres by folding down the rear seatback's or folding forward the seat system. The boot features a light and luggage compartment cover.
The forfour BRABUS features a lane-changer indicator function which revolutionises indicating as you only have to briefly flick the indicator stalk to make the selected direction indicator flash three times. No more excuses for not indicating on the Motorway.
On a practical level the smart forfour BRABUS is equipped with an illuminated glove box, drinks holder in the front, storage compartment in rear centre console, central locking and immobiliser with key control, storage compartment in passenger foot well, multi-functional insert (in front drinks holder), 3 x grab handles, 12v power socket, 4 door bins, vanity mirrors, front fog lights, 2 x powerful reversing lights and drive lock (drive-away locking).
