1998 Smart Fortwo Cabrio (A450) Dimensions, Size & Specs

The width of the Smart Fortwo Cabrio (A450) is 1515 millimeters (59.6 inches). This narrow width contributes to its exceptional agility, especially in congested city environments and narrow streets. The slim profile makes it easier to find parking spots that larger vehicles cannot fit into, enhancing urban driving convenience.

The vehicle stands 1549 millimeters (60.9 inches) tall. This height, combined with a cabriolet design, offers adequate headroom for two occupants despite the car's compact footprint. While the convertible roof adds to the driving experience, the relatively tall height for such a small car also gives it a distinctive, slightly upright driving position which some drivers find comfortable.

The Smart Fortwo Cabrio (A450) has a curb weight of 805 kilograms (1,774 pounds) and a maximum weight of 990 kilograms (2,182 pounds). The low curb weight helps enhance fuel efficiency and nimble handling, making the car easy to drive in urban conditions. Its lightweight structure also contributes to relatively brisk acceleration for its size and small engine capacity. The maximum weight indicates the highest allowed weight including passengers and cargo.

This generation of the Smart Fortwo Cabrio supports multiple tire sizes, including 145/65 R15, 175/55 R15, 175/50 R16, and 205/45 R16. The variation in tire sizes allows owners to tailor their driving experience – smaller tires typically offer a softer ride, while wider tires improve grip and handling. These sizes are optimized to maintain balance between comfort, road contact, and fuel economy.

Yes, the Smart Fortwo Cabrio (A450) easily fits into a standard home garage. With a length of just 2500 mm (98.4 inches) and a width of 1515 mm (59.6 inches), it is significantly smaller than most conventional cars. This compact size makes it particularly advantageous for urban homeowners who often face limited garage space, ensuring hassle-free parking without space constraints.

The Smart Fortwo Cabrio (A450) is the very first generation of the Fortwo Cabrio, produced from 1998 to 2007, so it does not have a predecessor model in the Cabrio variant. However, compared to the Fortwo coupé versions from the same era, the Cabrio maintains a very similar compact footprint, sharing comparable dimensions to uphold the brand’s ultra-compact urban mobility ethos.

Compared to other city cars of its time like the Fiat 500 (classic) or the Peugeot 106, the Smart Fortwo Cabrio (A450) is generally smaller in length and width. Its 2500 mm length contrasts significantly with those models, which were typically around 3200-3400 mm long. This size advantage allowed the Fortwo Cabrio to excel in tight urban conditions, offering unparalleled parking convenience and turning radius unmatched by most contemporaries.

The Smart Fortwo Cabrio (A450) is defined by its ultra-compact city car design, featuring a 2-seater convertible layout that prioritizes urban mobility, efficiency, and ease of parking. It utilizes a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout with a lightweight construction to maximize fuel economy and nimble handling. The retractable soft top adds an open-air driving experience while retaining the practicality of a small, easy-to-park vehicle.

Prospective buyers should note the crucial size metrics: the Fortwo Cabrio (A450) measures only 2500 mm (98.4 inches) in length, 1515 mm (59.6 inches) in width, and 1549 mm (60.9 inches) in height. Its curb weight of 805 kg (1,774 lbs) is significantly lower than typical larger city cars or compacts, which directly influences ease of maneuvering and fuel consumption. These dimensions emphasize its role as a highly specialized urban runabout rather than a family or multi-passenger vehicle.