Small........? Yes! But the smart electric drive is a great city car that is perfect for the commuter who does not mind a little razzing from the boys. A regular smart for two is known for its cheap base price and excellent gas mileage. This car here though is ELECTRIC. Over in Europe these cars sell like hotcakes because they are perfect for those who live in the cramped city. Over here in the U.S. the smart car just doesn't get any respect. The smart electric drive changes all that thanks to the GREEEN factor. Power output comes via a 3-phase AC motor that makes 74 horsepower and 96 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is a 1-speed with a range of 76 city, 59 hwy and 68 combined. Now the MPGe ratings are 122 city, 93 hwy and 107 combined. With a 220-volt charger you can recharge the smart electric car in 6-hours. But most of the time you are just topping off the car. The outside is unique with the frog face and projector headlights up front. The rims are huge 15-inch units but the real cool factor is the gray and black 2-tone paint job. No one can deny the fact that this paint job is sweet. The doors are massive and seem to take up ¾ of the entire car. On the inside the smart electric drive has all the modern amenities you could want in a commuter car including power doors, windows, radio, storage bins, and so on. Base price on the smart for two electric drive is $25,000 which seems like a lot with cars like the Nissan Versa and Ford Focus starting in the $15k range. Then you realize that in the world of Electric Vehicle's where the Ford Focus EV starts in the mid-$30k range, the smart electric car is a great buy. But the real icing on the cake is all the Government incentives. The Federal Gov. is issuing a $7500 tax credit and many states have an EV rebate too! That can reduce the cost by up to $10k. The cherry on top is the $139 lease smart is offering on this electric car.

• published: 19 Oct 2013
• views: 206