The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has announced that the 2008 Smart Fortwo (the smallest car for sale in the U.S. market) earned its top rating of "good" for front and side crash protection. For protection against rear impact whiplash, the Fortwo's seat/head restraints earned the Insurance Institute's second highest rating of "acceptable".

Like the previous body style Smart (which was sold in Canada but not the U.S.) the ForTwo is strictly, well, for two. Behind the seats is enough room for 7.7 cubic feet of cargo, but this is a tiny little car - it's only 106 inches long, 61 inches wide, and 61 inches tall. To put that into perspective, the 1700-lb Smart not only weighs 900 lb less than a Mini Cooper, it's 39.5 inches - that's more than three feet! - shorter.

The smart ed (electric drive) is powered solely by electricity and is charged using a standard electric wall plug. The car emits no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons or particulate matter. It is incredibly economical and can achieve the equivalent of around 300mpg.

Consumption on the combined cycle is a staggering 85.6mpg. This means the new smart can travel 670 miles between fill-ups.

At less than nine feet long, it is the smallest car sold in the United States.

On the inside, the Fortwo has a spartan cabin dominated by economy-grade plastics. It is surprisingly roomy, with enough head clearance and leg room for very tall passengers. Shoulder room, however, will be tight for two large occupants. Cubby storage is minimal.

The Smart Fortwo's small stature is both a benefit and a curse. Given the short wheelbase, Smart engineers have had to work to make the Fortwo safe and stable. On that count, they've done a good job. By making electronic stability control and cornering brake control standard, Smart has electronically lengthened the wheelbase. While the handling doesn't feel sporty, the Fortwo never feels like it's going to tip over, even if you charge into a turn. And while it's not best suited for the highway, it feels planted at highway speeds.

While the Fortwo is one of the slower cars on the road today, it's not a moving traffic jam. Smart quotes a 0 to 60 mph time of 12.8 seconds, but the three-cylinder engine delivers its power best from a stop, allowing the car to keep up with the flow of traffic. It can even hold its own on the highway. It gets up to highway speeds reasonably well, and feels stable, though darty and jittery, at 65 mph.

The Smart Fortwo will not be the best choice for drivers that need an all-around vehicle to haul people and cargo, but it will work as a second car or city vehicle.