Smart averages 35.8 mpg combined across 1 petrol and diesel model (2008–2017). The best on record does 36 mpg, the thirstiest 35 — a yearly fuel gap of about $30. Its 2 electric models sit apart at 104.6 MPGe — 32.2 kWh per 100 miles, about $657 a year to charge, which is $416 less than the average Smart costs to fuel.
What that actually costs
What a Smart costs to feed, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average combined | 35.8 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,073 |
| Most frugal on record | 36 mpg — $1,067 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 35 mpg — $1,097 a year |
| Its electric models | 104.6 MPGe — $657 a year to charge |
Smart models by gas mileage
From the most frugal down. The yearly figure is what the fuel actually costs at 12,000 miles.
| Model | Average mpg | Best / Worst engine | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Fortwo | 36 / 35 | $1,073 |
The electric Smarts, measured differently
Smart has 2 models that never visit a filling station, averaging 104.6 MPGe. That figure looks four times better than the 35.8 mpg the petrol Smarts manage, but the two are not the same unit — so we keep them apart and price the electric ones in kilowatt-hours.
| Model | MPGe | kWh / 100 mi | Charging per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart EQ Fortwo | 31.2 | $636 | |
| Smart Fortwo | 32.4 | $661 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
Smart rests on 10 EPA ratings covering 1 model from 2008 to 2017, plus 2 electric ones counted separately in MPGe. The laboratory numbers are EPA's and go in unchanged; the money is ours, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Smart gas mileage?
35.8 mpg combined across 1 models and 10 EPA ratings, from 2008 to 2017 — 9 model years in one figure, which is why it sits below what a new Smart does today.
Which Smart model is the most economical?
The Smart Fortwo at 35.8 mpg, about $1,073 a year in fuel.
How much does a Smart cost to run?
About $1,073 a year in fuel, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon. Over five years that is $5,365, before a single service.
Does Smart make anything electric?
Yes — 2 models, rated 104.6 MPGe rather than in mpg, which works out to 32.2 kWh per 100 miles and roughly $657 a year at the socket. That is $416 less than the average petrol Smart, though the two ratings are not in the same unit.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.