When your granny called your school uniform 'smart' she meant 'neat', 'tidy', 'functional' - you didn' take it as a compliment. The same lack of cool might be said to apply to Smart cars: very practical (so short you can park at right angles to the kerb), but perhaps not what you want to be seen out in. All this, however, is set to change with Smart's latest car, the forfour

Who is the forfour for?
Instead of the toy-like two door design, this model has four doors - and so it actually looks like a car. A pretty stylish car at that. Aimed at the 'Super Mini' market (Smart hopes it will compete with Mini, Peugeot 206 and Volkswagen Polo), the forfour certainly punches its weight in terms of looks. With a sporty, modern, girl-about-town design, and a choice of 30 colour combinations, it's a vehicle you definitely wouldn't be embarrassed to be seen driving.

The feel and fun factors
Inside, the car has the same feel - light, attractive, cool. The dashboard display is pleasing to the eye, with the most important things (ie speedometer and fuel gauge) being the easiest to see. Add the fact that you can control the CD player, radio and mobile phone functions from your steering wheel, and this becomes a genuinely fun car to drive. An optional extra is the satellite navigation system, which uses a computerised map to direct you. But at over £800, it's expensive and you're probably better off using a map.

The lounge concept
To emphasise the difference from the two-door model, Smart prides itself on the forfour's 'lounge concept'. That's a pretentious way of saying that the seats fold down. If you ignore the jargon, though, the actual design is very useful. The rear seats slide forwards and backwards, depending on whether you want leg-room for passengers or boot space for shopping. They flatten to give room for, say, a kids' picnic. In some models the front seats also flatten, creating even more space. If you haven't got children yet, perhaps you and your boyfriend can think of another use for all that room (on the 'optional extras' list you'll find matching scatter cushions).

How does the forfour handle?
Surprisingly well. It comes with a manual or an automatic gearbox, and although the engine size isn't large (models range from 1.1 to 1.5 litre), the car gives a nippy, speedy ride. Obviously it won't eat up the miles like a tiger; if you do a lot of motorway journeys the forfour isn't the car for you. If you're looking to zip around town, pop to the supermarket before meeting a friend for coffee then collect the kids from school, it's ideal.

From DINKY to SINKY
The forfour also feels safe - strongly built, with a central locking system that operates whenever you drive (overridden when you open a door from the inside). The dent-resistant panels will protect the car not only from other motorists, but also from your little angels playing football in the driveway. 'Little' is probably the key word: when your children get older you might want to move on to a bigger car. The forfour, though, is a car that'll tide you over from DINKY (or even SINKY - 'Single Income No Kids Yet') to 'young family' stage.

All in all, with prices that compare favourably to its competitors', the Smart forfour is a smart car. In the proper sense of the word.

Smart forfour is available in petrol and diesel models, with 1.1, 1.3 or 1.5 litre engine. Prices start at £7,995 on the road, rising to £12,370 depending on finish and extras.