Smart ForTwo 453-FL

The smart ForTwo 453 in facelift form (EQ fortwo, from around 2020) marks the end of the combustion era: in this phase smart offered the ForTwo only as a pure electric car. Powered by a 60 kW electric motor with a 17.6 kWh battery, it delivers a realistic range of around 100–130 km – deliberately designed as a city car, not for long distances. As standard it charges only single-phase at 4.6 kW; the optional 22 kW on-board charger (fast AC charging) is an important feature that markedly raises resale value and everyday usability – look specifically for it when buying. DC fast charging is absent entirely. Typical issues are occasional charging aborts and communication problems with certain wallboxes and public chargers, bugs in the smart Control app (pre-conditioning, charge-level display) and the range sensitivity in cold weather and on short trips that is normal for small batteries. The drivetrain itself is regarded as uncomplicated and low-maintenance. As a second car or a pure city and commuter vehicle in an urban setting, the EQ fortwo is ideal: nimble, quiet, with the smallest turning circle in its class. The batteries of this series are so far regarded as durable and little prone to degradation, but before buying you should have the state of health (SoH) read out – on short-trip city cars real battery stress is often low, which spares the cells. Also check the 12-volt system and the software version, since outdated levels cause some of the charging problems. Market status 2026: attractively priced used (roughly 8,000–14,000 euros depending on year, equipment and battery condition); prefer models with the 22 kW charger and good battery health. As the last classic ForTwo, the model also has a certain collector's appeal as the end point of the series. Unsuitable for long journeys, but unbeatably practical in city traffic, cheap to run and with minimal maintenance needs.