2016 Smart Forfour

VEHICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Smart Forfour

Smart’s Forfour is a quirky four-seater that’s always felt like the oddball in a segment already packed with small-car options. You’re looking at a city hatchback built for tight Jo’burg parking bays and quick runs to the shops, but there’s only one currently up for grabs at R159,500. That’s not exactly a stampede of demand. With just a single 2018 Forfour Passion A/T on the market, showing a hefty 129,152 km, it’s clear this isn’t your Polo Vivo or Picanto, which you’ll spot on every corner and at every second dealership. The Forfour is, in truth, a Renault Twingo with a different badge—interesting on paper at least, but never a big seller here, and that matters if you’re worried about finding spares or a mechanic who’s seen one before. Anyone even half-interested in this high-mileage outlier will need to dig deep into its service records, because parts and expertise are thin on the ground. The Picanto, by contrast, offers broader dealer support and a much fatter used-car pool, so you’re not forced to take what’s on offer. Still, the Forfour does pull ahead for urbanites who care about a super-tight turning circle and genuinely tiny footprint, but you’ll have to pack smart and accept that used choices are non-existent. If variety or peace of mind is your priority, you’ll likely walk away disappointed. For those who want something left-field, though, this Smart’s scarcity is both its curse and its calling card.