The Smart Fortwo is a two-seater built from 2008 to 2026 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Germany — 100% of those on record. Between 2005 and 2019 it grew 20 cm longer and gained 95 kg. Engines offered: Electric, 3-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Fortwo is
The Smart Fortwo is a two-seater that Smart built from 2008 to 2026 — 19 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2008. It has been offered with Electric, 3-cyl power. Its closest sibling in the Smart range: EQ Fortwo.
Where the Fortwo is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 249 Fortwos on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | WME | 2008-2019 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Smart VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Fortwo belongs to. What every character in a Fortwo VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Smart Fortwo adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Fortwo generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Fortwo's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Fortwo that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-2007 | 250 cm | 181 cm | 735 kg | - | - |
| 2008-2019 | 270 cm | 187 cm | 830 kg | +20 cm | +95 kg |
Between 2005 and 2019 the Fortwo gained 20 cm in length (+8.0%) and 95 kg in weight (+12.9%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Fortwo that is 95 kg against 20 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Smart Fortwo tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Fortwo owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Smart Fortwo have? Power & range
The Smart Fortwo is offered with 2 powertrains — 0.9L 3-cyl, Electric. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Smart Fortwo, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-cyl | 0.9L · 3-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | RWD | Premium |
| Electric | Electric motor | Single-speed | RWD | Electricity |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Fortwo by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Smart Fortwo. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Fortwo | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 17 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 280 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $706/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 174 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Smart Fortwo?
The Fortwo is a two-seater, built from 2008 to 2026 across 2 generations. Engines offered: Electric, 3-cyl.
Where is the Smart Fortwo made?
Across 249 cars in our records the split is: Germany (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Fortwo have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2008. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Fortwo grew 20 cm longer and gained 95 kg.
What is the Smart Fortwo warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Fortwo reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Fortwo?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Smart
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart EQ Fortwo | 2018–2026 | — | 108 mpg | 4.5/5 |
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