Share

Driven: 2017 Smart ForTwo Brabus

<b> DIMINUTIVE BRABUS: </b> The Smart ForTwo Brabus won the hearts of the Wheels24 team. <i> Image: Charlen Raymond </i>
<b> DIMINUTIVE BRABUS: </b> The Smart ForTwo Brabus won the hearts of the Wheels24 team. <i> Image: Charlen Raymond </i>
Charlen Raymond

Cape Town - After years of wondering what 'those funny little Smart cars are', I finally had a go in the ForTwo for a couple of days.

But this wasn't a run-of-the-mill ForTwo, it was festooned with Brabus badges, sported twin exhaust pipes and a chunky steering-wheel.  

It's a cheeky design. It wears smart 16" Brabus Monoblock wheels at the front and 17" wheels at the back.

80kW/170Nm

You might suspect that a car this tiny would be powered by a 900cc engine... and you'd be correct. Except the Brabus version's been warmed up to deliver a healthy 80kW/170Nm. The result is sprightly performance for a car a the size of a shoe. 

From the outside, the ForTwo may look like a crammed city car built exclusively for people who only travel with an iPad. But it's a lot roomier than you'd think...

It's filled with niceties like cruise control, seat warmers, USB port and sat-nav. 

Thanks to no rear bench, leg room for both driver and passenger is sufficient. I had no qualms positioning my lanky frame in the drivers seat. The fixed glass roof gives a feeling of airiness and the dark trim somehow doesn't make the cabin feel claustrophobic.

READ: New fortwo, forfour driven - Is it a Smart choice in SA?

The ForTwo's party trick? Well it's turning circle is smaller than tricycle.

Aaah, so you're wondering what it's like to drive? 

In a word: fun. The little Brabus scoots off with enough urgency, the steering is on the right side of direct and despite its tallboy stance it didn't land on its side while I punched a ForTwo hole through a south-easter. 

Yeah, it might not give you the confidence to really chuck it around a corner, but it has an endearing quality I thought it wouldn't possess. Stiffer dampers mean the ride quality can be jarring on bumpy roads, but it's something I could live with.

READ: 5 little things you should know about Smart's ForFour

But all this comes at a price... our Xclusiv model pushed the digits to an eye-watering R360 000.

I bet you saw the price and probably spluttered an expletive or eight. Sure there are better propositions out there, but they don't wear a Brabus badge. 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE