Smart ForTwo

By granting 40 miles to the gallon, there’s no question that the Smart ForTwo will rank as one of the top subcompact automobiles at the fuel pumps. That kind of number even rivals some of the top hybrid cars.

The Smart’s less-than-$15,000 base price is also attractive. But heavy-hitter small cars like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit start in the $11,000 and $13,000 ranges, respectively. Those competitors may not carry the same cache as the Smart brand, but they offer more size and a proven track record for less money.

The ForTwo’s lackluster two-year warranty may turn out to be its Achilles’ heel. It is one of the worst protection offerings in the marketplace, and will not inspire much confidence in the vehicle’s mechanical integrity.