2010 smart fortwo coupe: MPG and fuel economy
The 2010 smart fortwo coupe is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 36 combined MPG, with 33 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway. That puts it well above the average for cars in the Two Seaters class in the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2010 smart fortwo coupe. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- Returns 90% better combined MPG than the average car in the Two Seaters class for the 2010 model year (18.9 MPG class average).
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2010 smart fortwo coupe. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 36 MPG |
| City MPG | 33 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 41 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,900 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 247 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2010 smart fortwo coupe compares
The 2010 smart fortwo coupe returns 36 combined MPG. Cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year average 18.9 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 90%.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2010 model year (across all classes) returns 20.2 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2010 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 416.7 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $950 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $1,900 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $3,167 |
Year-over-year MPG for the smart fortwo coupe
The EPA has rated the smart fortwo coupe across 10 model years, from 2008 smart fortwo coupe through 2017 smart fortwo coupe. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run, hovering close to 35 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 35 MPG | 2017 smart fortwo coupe |
| 2016 | 35 MPG | 2016 smart fortwo coupe |
| 2015 | 36 MPG | 2015 smart fortwo coupe |
| 2014 | 36 MPG | 2014 smart fortwo coupe |
| 2013 | 36 MPG | 2013 smart fortwo coupe |
| 2012 | 36 MPG | 2012 smart fortwo coupe |
| 2011 | 36 MPG | 2011 smart fortwo coupe |
| 2010 | 36 MPG | this page |
| 2009 | 36 MPG | 2009 smart fortwo coupe |
| 2008 | 36 MPG | 2008 smart fortwo coupe |
Compare against other Two Seaters for 2010
If you are cross-shopping the 2010 smart fortwo coupe, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
Specifications
The 2010 smart fortwo coupe runs a 1-liter 3-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (am5), sending power through rear-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Two Seaters
- Engine
- 1L 3-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (AM5)
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 8.3 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2010 smart fortwo coupe
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2010 smart fortwo coupe.
-
Is the 2010 smart fortwo coupe fuel efficient?
Yes. The 2010 smart fortwo coupe returns 36 combined MPG, which beats the average car in the Two Seaters class for the same model year by about 90%. -
What MPG does the 2010 smart fortwo coupe get?
The EPA rates the 2010 smart fortwo coupe at 36 combined MPG, 33 MPG in city driving, and 41 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 smart fortwo coupe per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,900 for the 2010 smart fortwo coupe. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 2010 smart fortwo coupe require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2010 smart fortwo coupe as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the smart fortwo coupe become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2008 smart fortwo coupe, 36 MPG) and most recent (2017 smart fortwo coupe, 35 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2010 smart fortwo coupe emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 247 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 3,703 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2010 smart fortwo coupe?
City driving returns 33 MPG and highway driving returns 41 MPG, a gap of 8 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2010 smart fortwo coupe?
The 2010 smart fortwo coupe has a 1-liter 3-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2010 smart fortwo coupe have?
The 2010 smart fortwo coupe comes with a automatic (am5) transmission and rear-wheel drive. -
How much does the 2010 smart fortwo coupe save on fuel compared to an average car?
The EPA estimates that over five years, the 2010 smart fortwo coupe will save you about $1,250 in fuel compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year. That figure uses the same 15,000 mile per year and EPA fuel-price assumption as the annual fuel cost.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.