Launched in 2004, six years after the introduction of the ForTwo->ke1744 and one year after the Roadster->ke1312 went on sale, the ForFour->ke1354 became Smart's third automobile. Unlike its previous offerings, the ForFour offered seating for five people and was only sold in Europe. Four engines were available at launch, including a 1.1-liter three-cylinder, a 1.3-liter four-cylinder, a 1.5-liter four-pot, all working on gasoline, and a 1.5-liter inline-three diesel. Transmissions included a five-speed manual and a six-speed semi-automatic. At the time, the ForFour was the only Smart car offered with a manual. Slow sales prompted the company to axe the ForFour in 2006, after only three years of production. Rumors about Smart->ke83's plan to revive the ForFour nameplate surfaced in 2012. Heading into the 2015 model year, the second-gen model is finally here as a longer, four-door version of the ForTwo.

Unlike its predecessor, the new ForFour borrows its styling cues and drivetrain layout from its smaller sibling. Once a front-engined car, the ForFour evolved into a rear-engined vehicle, while keeping its front-wheel-drive. Jointly developed with Renault->ke72, the new ForFour shares about 70 percent of its parts with the third-generation Renault Twingo, while its powertrains are shared with the 2015 ForTwo.

Click past the jump to find out more about the second-generation Smart ForFour.

Spy Shots

June 16, 2014 - 2015 Smart ForFour reveals its interior

Exterior

Unlike its forerunner, the second-generation ForFour is identical to the smaller ForTwo, save for a longer wheelbase and additional rear doors. The redesigned front fascia sports a more muscular design consisting of a beefier bumper, a larger grille, and reshaped headlamps. Around back, the familiar bumper and hatch area retain the traditional Smart cues but are joined by larger, square taillights that include both the signals and the reverse lights.

When viewed from the side, the ForFour reveals its trademark short overhangs, a slightly longer wheelbase, and nicely sculpted wheel arches. The roof also sits a bit lower, which enables the ForFour to have a more proportionate stance. The revised exterior package is rounded off by two-tone finish, standard on each model, new LED daytime running lights, and new wheel designs.

Of course, customers will be able to customize their fuel-efficient ride in many ways, as various color combos and rims will be offered when the five-door hatchback hits showrooms.

2015 Smart Forfour - Exterior Dimensions

Interior

The ForFour's interior is also brand-new, and, much like the exterior, it's more stylish compared to the previous generation. The dashboard, for instance, now consists of two individual sections- an outer section covered in fabric and a concave inner section that includes most of the cabin’s functional elements. The redesigned instrument cluster and the infotainment system appear to hover in front of the dashboard, while a larger center console splits the cabin's front compartment in two. In the back, legroom and shoulder room have increased, thanks to the car's slightly longer wheelbase and wider track.

High-quality textile surfaces replace the hard plastic areas previously seen on the the dashboard and the door panels, while the front seats carry a sportier design. The three-spoke steering wheel is also new and comes with optional radio and navigation controls. Gifted with an overall premium-like fit and finish, the cabin becomes a more enjoyable place, thanks to Smart's new smartphone integration and JBL sound system. The latter incorporates a six-channel DSP amplifier and no less than twelve high-performance speakers.

2015 Smart ForFour - Interior Dimensions

Drivetrain

Now a rear-engined car -- the previous ForFour had its engine mounted in the front -- the ForFour benefits from the same engines as the ForTwo. At launch, Smart if offering a naturally aspirated, 1.0-liter unit and a turbocharged, 0.9-liter mill, both with three cylinders. The 1.0 delivers 71 horses and 67 pound-feet of torque from 1,000 rpm and acts as a mid-range engine, sitting right below the turbo 0.9-liter (898cc). The latter is a tad peppier at 90 ponies and 99 pound-feet of torque.

The third powerplant, a naturally aspirated 1.0-liter, three-banger, will sit at the bottom of the lineup and join the ForFour a few months later. The entry-level ForFour will benefit from 60 horsepower, seven more than the previous base engine, a 0.8-liter (799cc) diesel, offered in the ForTwo.

Besides three updated powerplants, the Smart ForFour also gets two, brand-new transmissions. The outdated, five-speed semi-automatic was finally replaced by a twinamic, six-speed dual-clutch auto box, while a manual transmission with five cogs is also available.

More powerful and technologically advanced than its predecessors, the new drivetrains are also more fuel efficient. Each configuration comes with automatic start/stop, variable swirl control and variable adjustment of the inlet valves. Although Smart has yet to release mpg numbers as of July 2014, we expect significant improvements in this department.

2015 Smart Fortwo - Drivetrain Specifications

Suspension

The second-gen Smart ForFour comes with a reconfigured chassis and brand-new suspension system. A new McPherson suspension with a triple-path head bearing for the front axle brings elements found in the previous Mercedes-Benz C-Class to the ForFour, while an updated De-Dion axle comes in to handle the rear of the car. These updates and the wider track provide greater comfort and improve handling characteristics, a much-needed upgrade given the previous generation’s annoyingly firm ride.

Customers looking for a sportier feel behind the steering wheel can fit their ForFour with the company's sports suspension package. The bundle replaces the regular springs with firmer ones and lowers the vehicle’s ride by 0.4 inches (10 mm). Both the standard and the available sports suspension work in conjunction with the car’s updated ABS, ASR and ESP systems.

Prices

Specific pricing for the second-gen ForFour has yet to be released as of July 2014, but the automaker says it will cost around €600 ($806 as of 07/28/2014) more than new ForTwo, which "will correspond to that of the current Smart series." Needless to say, Daimler kept its word about making the Smart more affordable with the new generation.

There's no word on whether or not the new ForFour will be available in the United States, but if the four-door hatch crossed the Pond, expect pricing to begin from $14,000 and go all the way up to $19,000.

Competitors

Nissan Micra

The current European market is packed with superminis, but most of them are actually larger than the ForFour. The Nissan Micra is one the very few to match the Smart in size and pricing. Powered by a 1.2-liter three-banger rated at 79 horsepower, the base Micra may not match the ForFour in terms of premium features, but it does come with generous standard equipment. It includes an audio system with 4 speakers, remote central locking, USB, Bluetooth connectivity and front electric windows. The list grows to include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, climate and cruise control, and air conditioning as you move up the trim ladder.

Although not available in the United States as of July 2014, the Micra is on sale in Canada, where it returned after a 20-year hiatus. The Canadian-spec city car is powered by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 109 horsepower through either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. In Germany, the Micra is priced from €11.400, or about $15,300 as of 07/28/2014.

Toyota Yaris

The Yaris is brand new for the 2015 model year and comes with extensive updates inside and out. The exterior has been restyled to match that of the larger Corolla, making the Yaris one of the best-looking sub-compacts on the market. Interior updates are less obvious, but last year's design isn't too shabby. However, customers will benefit from an updated steering wheels and gauge cluster, revised seats and a few nips and tucks here and there.

The Yaris has received many engines globally, but the U.S.-spec model is available with only the 1.5-liter four-pot. The tiny unit cranks out 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque, which are routed to the wheels by either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. The Japanese hatch returns up to 37 mpg on the highway. Pricing for the 2015 Yaris begins from $14,845, while the range-topping version fetches at least $16,880.

Conclusion

Much like the ForTwo, the second-generation ForFour was improved in all aspects. The new styling is definitely more attractive inside and out, while the updated engines and transmissions keep the city car powerful enough and efficient. More importantly though, the new ForFour promises to deliver improved ride and handling, two feats most drivers and journalists have been complaining about in the past. Hopefully Smart will be shipping the ForFour to the States so we can asses those claims ourselves.