smart cabrio BRABUS Review

smart cabrio BRABUS

Ease of Use

The smart is particularly suited to town driving and due to its length it can be parked in spaces that other drivers could only dream of fitting.

Parking and manoeuvring the smart cabrio BRABUS couldn't be more simple. It's vital statistics are 2,500 mm long and 1,537 mm wide so you certainly don't need parking sensors. With the roof down visibility is superb although, with the roof up it is a little difficult to see through the rear quarter lights and rear window.

The cabin is ergonomically laid out and all the controls are easy to use. The door mirrors although perfect to look at are fractionally too small for good visibility and electrically adjustable/heated door mirrors are an option. Neither of the windows are one shot up/down and both windows should be operable by the driver, at the moment you have to reach across if you want to lower the passenger window.

The TRITOP convertible roof is electrically opened by a one-shot back button which can be stopped at any point for comfort. If you keep your finger on the button for a few seconds longer the sunroof drops right down and can be locked in place and by detaching the roof bars and storing them in the integral storage compartment in the tailgate you have a completely open topped car. However, if rain threatens to soak the cabin you have to keep your finger on the button (it isn't one-shot close) which is inconvenient unless you have a passenger to do it for you.

To make it easier to pull off on a hill the smart city-coupe has Hill Start Assist (HSA). After releasing the brake pedal when stationary HSA will keep the smart braked for 0.7 seconds leaving you enough time to move your foot from the brake to the accelerator pedal without it rolling forwards or backwards. This did prove cumbersome when reversing out of a relatively steep driveway but generally it is a welcome improvement.

On a practical level our test car was equipped with a standard storage net in the luggage compartment, BRABUS leather storage pockets in the doors and an optional lockable storage drawer fitted under the drivers seat for the stowage of valuables.

Safety and Security

The following safety & security equipment is standard on the smart cabrio BRABUS. TRIDION safety cell, safety seats with integral seat belt, crash elements at front and rear, roll bar and body reinforcements, crash sensor (auto switch on of hazard warning lights/interior lighting), front fog lights, emergency interior switch for central locking, safety steering column, self-tensioning safety belts with belt-force limiter, indicators with lane changer function, hazard triangle, secure load cover, full size driver and passenger airbags, side airbag,central locking and immobiliser with radio remote control, ESP (electronic stability programme) includes HSA (hill start assist), HBA (hydraulic brake assist), ABS (anti-lock braking system) including EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), CBC (cornering brake control) and ASC (acceleration skid control).

Child Safety features include: base for child seat brackets and child seat recognition accessory (deactivates airbag when used in conjunction with a smart child seat and mounting brackets).