smart roadster Review
Published: 31st January 2004
smart roadster
Ease of Use
The smart roadster couldn't be easier to drive, park and manoeuvre. With the roof down visibility is superb although with the roof up it is a little difficult to see through the rear window when parking.
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.
The smart roadster comes with a soft top as standard and a gloss finish two-piece removable hardtop is available as a dealer supplied accessory. The soft top is made of black fabric and can be opened to your chosen position whilst stationary or on the move at the touch of a button. It takes 10 seconds for the roof to fully retract and slide under the roll-over bar into the rear luggage compartment.
To make it easier to pull off on a hill the roadster is equipped with 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 what about storage I hear you shout - well the roadster has 2 luggage compartments. The front has 59 litres and could accommodate a holdall or a reasonable shop at Sainsbury's. The rear load space offers 86 litres of space or 45 litres with the soft top open. Tailored luggage sets are available as an option which utilise all available space efficiently. An optional rear luggage rack is also available which offers additional storage for luggage weighing up to 23kg. It is rust-proof and is attached to the tailgate at 4 points and comes with its own LED high-level brake light.
Storage space inside the cabin of the roadster is limited and comprises of a small glove box which can literally hold a pair gloves and sunglasses. There are reasonably large door pockets and the handbrake lever has a mounted centre armrest with additional storage for small items which did compromise lateral cabin space.
