2009 smart fortwo Trims and Specs

To help keep costs down, the base 2009 smart fortwo pure trim offers a limited range of standard equipment. Owners will find such features as fabric upholstery, a two-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a central locking system with remote entry, and an outside temperature indicator. However, such features as air conditioning, power steering, and a choice of two audio systems, including a two-speaker premium system with a 6-CD changer, are all optional. The automaker also offers heated seats and an alarm system as options. The passenger seat folds flat to expand the fortwo pure's limited cargo space. The fortwo pure also offers storage areas beside the steering wheel and in both doors. Four airbags, including dual front and side airbags, come standard. Outside, standard features include projector-beam halogen headlights, a black plastic roof, and 15-inch steel wheels.

A 70-hp, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine powers the '09 fortwo pure. The engine connects to a five-speed automated manual transmission, which provides for both automatic and manual shifting. Most owners prefer the manual shift mode, in which the driver pushes the shift knob forward or back to upshift or downshift. The design of the shifter eliminates the need for a clutch pedal. Electronic stability control, which applies the brakes and reduces engine torque to help the driver stabilize the car in slippery road conditions or tight turns, comes standard. Antilock brakes, also a standard feature, come equipped with electronic brakeforce distribution, which aids the driver in emergency stops. In addition, automatic hill-start assist keeps the car from rolling backward when accelerating from a stop on a slope.

The 2009 smart fortwo passion represents a significant step above the entry-level smart pure trim, since it comes equipped with such standard features as a tinted panorama roof with a sunscreen, air conditioning with automatic temperature control, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, power windows, and a two-speaker AM/FM audio system with a CD player and an MP3 input jack. Other standard features for the '09 fortwo passion include a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a central locking system with remote entry, an outside temperature indicator, a fold-down passenger seat, and fabric upholstery. Drivers can opt for a textured hardtop in place of the panorama sunroof. Other options include heated seats, a premium sound system with a 6-CD changer, and a Comfort Package, which adds power steering, leather seats, and foglights. Outside, the fortwo passion displays such features as projector-beam halogen headlights and 15-inch nine-spoke alloy wheels.

Under its diminutive hood, the fortwo passion houses a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, which produces a relatively minuscule 70 hp. The engine mates to a five-speed automated manual transmission, which offers both automatic and manual operation. Since the automatic mode has generated mixed reviews, most owners opt for manual shifting, which they accomplish by pushing the shift knob forward or back to upshift or downshift. No clutch is required, and the fortwo passion doesn't include one. However, it does include electronic stability control, which helps drivers stabilize the rear-wheel-drive vehicle in slippery road conditions or tight turns by applying the brakes and reducing engine torque. In addition, antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution aid the driver in emergency stops. The '09 smart fortwo passion also comes equipped with automatic hill-start assist, which keeps the car from rolling backward when accelerating from a stop on a slope.

Owners who enjoy open-air cruising can opt for the 2009 smart fortwo passion cabrio, which features a fully automatic soft top equipped with a heated glass rear window. Drivers can adjust the soft top to any position while traveling at any speed, and can remove the side roof rails for an unencumbered open-air experience. (The roof bars stow in a special compartment in the tailgate.) The '09 fortwo passion cabrio also comes equipped with a five-speaker premium AM/FM audio system with a 6-CD in-dash changer and an MP3 input jack. Other standard interior features for the fortwo passion cabriolet include fabric upholstery, a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power windows and door locks, a remote entry system, and an outside temperature display. The passenger seat folds down to expand the passion cabrio's cargo space. Outside, standard features include projector-beam halogen headlights and 15-inch nine-spoke alloy wheels.

A 70-hp, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine powers the '09 fortwo passion cabriolet. The engine links to a five-speed automated manual transmission, which operates in both automatic and manual shift modes. In manual mode, which most drivers prefer, pushing forward or backward on the shift knob causes the transmission to upshift or downshift. The manual-shift mode operates without the need for a clutch pedal. Standard safety features include electronic stability control, which applies the brakes and reduces engine torque to help the driver stabilize the car in slippery road conditions or tight turns. Antilock brakes, which also come standard, include electronic brakeforce distribution, aiding drivers in emergency stops. The standard feature list also includes automatic hill-start assist, which keeps the car from rolling backward when accelerating from a stop on a slope.