• Generous standard equipment offered as standard
• No Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though
• UK models don’t get connected services

The model range is made up of the Prime, Prime Premium, Edition 1, Passion Advanced, Pulse Premium, Edition Nightsky and Prime Exclusive – and standard equipment levels seem satisfactory. Even the entry level Prime advanced boasts 15-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, electric mirrors, DAB radio and Bluetooth, an infotainment including navigation and Android Auto, and a small raft of urban-appropriate safety systems.

Closer inspection, however, reveals no Apple CarPlay, but only Mirrorlink, no access to a bunch of on-line services coming to the rest of Europe, and a sat’ nav’ system so far behind your actually on-road position that driving in an unfamiliar city requires the neck of an owl and the concentration skills of a chess Grand Master.

Comfort

• Plenty of leg and headroom for two
• Ride quality is acceptable
• Low noise levels

Take this as a two seater for cities, and the Smart Fortwo absolutely delivers all that’s expected of it. There’s plenty of room for two generously-sized adults in it, with lots of legroom and more than adequate adjustment.

The seats are comfortable too. Admittedly we didn’t test it on a long run, but for jumping in and out and using it in town, the driver’s pew offers plenty of support, is firm and there’s excellent forward visibility.

Ride quality is firm and dependent on which wheels you choose – the largest ones will result in potholes jarring through uncomfortably. So do yourself a favour and plump for smaller wheels, given how poor most cities’ roads are these days.

Being an EV, it’s quiet with just a gentle whine under acceleration, and a little wind and tyre noise at higher speeds. Compared with more traditional petrol and diesel city cars, driving a Smart EQ Fortwo will be something of a revelation in terms of refinement.