[Auto] RENAULT TWINGO ELECTRIC VS SMART EQ FORTWO: ELECTRIC MATCH

[H O L D F I R E 流]

Today is a match between Franco-German cousins. Two mini (or even micro) electric city cars with different spirits which are based on the same technical basis: the Renault Twingo Electric and Smart EQ Fortwo. A confrontation in six rounds. Zapping Autonews Green E85 bioethanol in question: part 3 E85 bioethanol in question: part 3 They do not look alike but are closer to each other than they appear. The third generation Renault Twingo indeed shares its platform with the third generation Smart. Comparable to the Smart Forfour in size, its technical twin, we contrast the French with its shortened two-seater version, the Smart Fortwo, offering an ultra-compact alternative for everyday journeys. At 2.70 meters long, it is 92 centimeters shorter than the Twingo. Both are available in 100% electric versions. It is even an obligation for the German renamed Smart EQ Fortwo. Who from the mini-city car or the micro-city car will win this match? Six point answer. Design Design Photo Credit - Autonews The styles of our two protagonists are very different. Rounder, the Smart adopts more modern lines when the Renault plays on references to the past and in particular to the Renault 5, which is much more rectangular. If the Twingo offers packs of stickers and shimmering colors to personalize it, it is however nothing compared to a Smart offering to choose a main color and that of its arch, with shiny or matt colors, for renderings very variable according to the associations. The number of colors or even rims is much greater than that in the French catalog and the car's original format does not prevent it from offering homogeneous proportions. The Smart puts the image package in order to seduce and stand out in the upscale neighborhoods and this gives it the advantage of the first point. Design victory: Smart EQ Fortwo Interior ambience Interior ambience Photo Credit - Autonews We find a very similar environment in the two models. The controls, the installation, the organization of the dashboard, everything is close. The main difference is in the finish, which is more qualitative on board the EQ Fortwo. The main piece of furniture is covered with a thick fabric and it is possible to choose its covering with shiny black, blue, carbon or even wood. The leather steering wheel is standard and the on-board computer screen is in color. On the top-of-the-range version, we get a more luxurious interior with leather upholstery and glass roof which are not available on the Twingo Electric. This does not deserve when you add a colorful customization pack, avoiding an atmosphere that is too dark. But that's not enough to counter the very chic Smart. Interior ambience victory: Smart EQ Fortwo Roominess, trunk Roominess, trunk Photo Credit - Autonews By dispensing with seats in the back, the Smart does not work miracles. It is full of tips to optimize the little space available and even has a trunk with a larger volume than the Twingo when the latter has the bench in place (260 liters against 188 liters) but with two more seats there. 'rear, two doors to access it and a folding bench in two parts (from the second level of finish), releasing a cargo space then significantly greater, the Twingo logically beats the micro-city from across the Rhine. Habitability victory: Renault Twingo Electric Conduct Conduct Photo Credit - Autonews The technical basis being the same, the two cars provide almost identical approval. The Smart's shorter wheelbase, however, increases pitching motions when accelerating and braking, and the trajectories vary more when braking on corners. Both models are firm, the main difference being in the pneumatic fit (15 or 16 inches). Our version of the Smart had the larger size and that degraded the comfort. But its lower weight (-73 kg) allows it to accelerate slightly more quickly (0 to 100 km / h in 11.6 sec against 12.9 sec). Queen of the cities with foolproof handling in both cases, the Renault must finally tilt despite its 4.3-meter turning radius. The Smart does indeed even better! With less than 3.50 meters, it turns around on itself and its 2.70 meters long allow it to sometimes be able to park perpendicular to the road, something impossible with the 3.62 meters in length of the Twingo . Driving victory: Smart EQ Fortwo Autonomy, consumption, charging time Autonomy, consumption, charging time Photo Credit - Autonews Designed for the city above all, the two chips do not have more than 200 km of autonomy according to manufacturer data. 190 km in m cycle