I WAS a little apprehensive about being allocated the smart as my latest test car.

I generally prefer bigger cars – they seem more secure and safe to me. And in most cases they are more comfortable for driver and passengers. It’s easy to look at this car and assume it will be very plasticky and lightweight – after all, the body panels are made out of plastic.

But the forfour has left me pleasantly surprised. It’s proved a really comfortable driving experience, both on fast motorway journeys and in slow-moving traffic. I love the styling, with its two-tone colours and funky rear lights. Inside, the glass roof makes the cabin feel airy.

But once underway, the car is quite noisy. The diesel engine buzz intrudes into the cabin and there seem to be a number of airflow-induced whistles from the outside. Perhaps this is down to the unusually high number of panel gaps.

The limited boot space and lack of parcel shelf to hide valuables are minus points. The luggage for my next holiday will have to go on the back seat.

The dashboard controls are clear and simple and straightforward to use, but I did have to search for the reset button for the trip computer. It is hidden on top of the speedometer pod.

The smart forfour is nippy and funky. Although it wouldn’t be my first choice it has a lot of character for a small car.