Skip advert
Advertisement

Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio (2014-2019) electric motor, drive & performance

The Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio is great fun to drive around town, but the small batteries and limited range mean it quickly runs out of puff

Overall rating

3.0 out of 5

Electric motor, drive & performance rating

3.0 out of 5

Fuel Type:
Electric
0-62mphTop speedDriven wheelsPower
11.8s81mphRear82bhp

The Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio is neither the fastest or the most fun car to drive. However, with a weight of just over 1,100kg, it feels light on its feet and pleasantly quick around town. Furthermore, those wind-in-the-hair thrills are just the flick of a switch away, adding to the thrill of the punchy electric motor.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The rear-wheel-drive layout is the same setup favoured by the finest vintage and modern sports cars, and while the Smart won’t challenge a Mazda MX-5 or Porsche 718 Boxster for driving fun, it’s more entertaining than you might think.

The best bit about the EQ ForTwo Cabrio is that it offers all the performance and usability of a normal city car, in a totally silent electrified package. It glides around town with minimal effort, and will continue to hold its own on the motorway, too. Beware, however, that faster driving will see your predicted range plummet.

Smart EQ ForTwo electric motor, 0-62mph and acceleration

The Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio is around 30kg heavier than the fixed-roof coupe, which – on paper, at least – blunts performance somewhat. There’s only one battery and electric motor combination to choose from, so you can’t add extra performance by splashing extra cash.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

All that means the 17.6kWh battery and 81bhp electric motor will propel the Cabrio from 0-62mph in 11.8 seconds – or around three tenths of a second slower than the coupe. Unless you raced the two side-by-side, however, you’re unlikely to notice the difference. The motor’s instant torque ensures there’s plenty of zip around town, with lots of boost away from traffic lights and junctions.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Top speed is limited to around 80mph, which is identical to the coupe. If you plan to use the EQ ForTwo Cabrio for nipping to and from the shops or into the office, then that’s unlikely to bother you. It does mean the car runs out of puff on faster roads, however, making it unsuitable for motorway commutes.

Handling

The EQ ForTwo Cabrio’s short wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) means it feels very agile and darty around town. While this makes nipping in and out of traffic a doddle, it can make the car feel a bit twitchy at higher speeds. Rivals with a longer wheelbase are more secure on the motorway.

The 17.6kWh battery gives it an impressive turn of speed, which only adds to the fun factor, letting you sprint away from traffic lights and junctions with ease. Take the Smart out of town and the motor does start to run out of puff above 50mph, but the 80mph top speed ensures it's more than capable of the odd motorway run.

Furthermore, the standard Smart’s tight body control and sharp steering remain intact, making the EQ a surprisingly fun car to drive on a winding road. Be careful you’re not too liberal with the accelerator, however, as high-speed driving will see your predicted range plummet.

But the best bit about the EQ ForTwo Cabrio is that you get all the fun of the standard car but with a folding electric roof. Nothing quite compares to feeling the wind in your hair on a sunny summer’s day.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is editor of DrivingElectric, as well as sister site Carbuyer.co.uk, and a regular contributor to Auto Express. An electric and hybrid car advocate, he spent more than five years working on the news and reviews desk at Auto Express and has driven almost every new car currently on sale.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Electric car repairs, servicing and maintenance: a complete guide
Electric car repairs
Your questions answered

Electric car repairs, servicing and maintenance: a complete guide

How, where and when should you get your electric car serviced? And does the process differ in any way from combustion vehicles? Find out here…
14 Nov 2024
Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024
Best hybrid family cars
Best cars

Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024

If you’re not ready to go fully electric yet, you should consider one of these: the best hybrid family cars to buy in the UK right now
22 Nov 2024
EV Deal of the Day: sharp-looking MG4 EV for £187 per month
MG4 EV - front tracking
News

EV Deal of the Day: sharp-looking MG4 EV for £187 per month

The MG4 EV is an impressive all-electric family hatchback, offering a decent range, plenty of tech and useful practicality
26 Nov 2024