Choosing the right Smart Roadster is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a prospective owner — and the differences between variants run far deeper than a simple power figure. This comprehensive Smart Roadster variants comparison breaks down every version produced between 2003 and 2006: the unloved 45kW Lite, the brilliant 60kW standard, the underrated 66kW SB2, and the legendary 74kW Brabus. Whether you’re hunting your first Roadster or considering an upgrade, understanding what separates these cars in terms of hardware, reliability, and real-world performance will save you money, frustration, and potentially an engine rebuild.
Understanding the Smart Roadster 452 Platform
All Smart Roadster variants share the same fundamental architecture: a 698cc three-cylinder turbocharged engine of Mitsubishi derivation, mounted in a mid-rear position ahead of the rear axle. This is not a front-engined car — the engine sits behind the seats, giving the Roadster its famously balanced handling and cheeky weight distribution. All variants use the Softouch automated manual gearbox, a six-speed sequential unit that is mechanically a conventional manual operated by electrohydraulic actuators. It is not a traditional automatic, and its leisurely, sometimes jerky shift behaviour is a characteristic of the entire range rather than a fault of any single variant.
The Bosch MEG 1.1 ECU governs fuelling, ignition timing, and boost management across all variants. The calibration stored within that ECU is what fundamentally separates a 45kW car from a 74kW Brabus — the hardware differences are real but perhaps smaller than you’d expect. For a deep dive into how that brain works, our article on the Smart Roadster MEG 1.1 ECU and its architecture is essential reading before you consider any variant-based purchase decision.
The 45kW Lite: The Variant to Avoid
The 45kW Lite was Smart’s entry-level offering, and it cuts corners in ways that matter enormously to long-term reliability. The most critical omission is the oil cooler. Where every other variant receives an oil-to-water heat exchanger to keep engine oil temperatures in check during sustained driving, the Lite gets nothing. In a car that already runs a small-displacement turbo engine hard, this is a significant engineering compromise. The result is accelerated engine wear under anything but the most gentle use.
Boost pressure on the 45kW is a modest 0.89 bar, producing around 45 kilowatts and approximately 100 Nm of torque. In a car weighing just over 800 kg, performance is adequate for urban use, but the driving experience feels noticeably blunted compared to its siblings. On paper, the 45kW is the cheapest entry point into Roadster ownership. In practice, the higher running costs, greater engine vulnerability, and difficulty finding desirable examples make it a false economy. Unless you are sourcing a 45kW car specifically as a parts donor or a project with the full intention of converting it, our recommendation is to walk away.
The 60kW Standard: The Sweet Spot of the Range
If there is one variant that earns universal praise in the Smart Roadster community, it is the standard 60kW. This is the car in which Smart got the formula right. Running 1.09 bar of boost, it produces 60 kilowatts and around 110 Nm of torque. More importantly, it includes the oil cooler that the Lite omits, giving it a fundamentally stronger foundation for longevity. The engine can breathe, stay cool under load, and reward drivers who enjoy pressing on through corners.
The 60kW represents the largest portion of the approximately 43,000 Roadsters produced globally — with around 7,251 examples sold in the UK — so parts availability, community knowledge, and comparison data are all in your favour as an owner. Mechanically, the 60kW is also the most thoroughly documented variant, which matters when diagnosing the Roadster’s well-known challenges: water ingress, SAM unit faults coded as B1xxx errors, steering rack wear, and soft top degradation.
In 2025 pricing terms, a good 60kW example sits in the €9,000–€12,000 range, with low-mileage or particularly well-maintained cars touching €12,000–€15,000. High-mileage cars can be found from €7,000–€9,000, though due diligence is essential at that price point. The 60kW is the benchmark against which all other variants are judged, and it earns that status deservedly.
The 66kW SB2: The Underrated Middle Ground
Sandwiched between the standard 60kW and the full Brabus, the 66kW SB2 (sometimes referred to simply as the Brabus SB2) occupies a curious position in the Roadster hierarchy. Running 1.33 bar of boost and producing 66 kilowatts, it was Smart’s factory-fitted halfway house between the standard car and full Brabus specification. The SB2 trim typically comes with additional Brabus styling elements — revised bumpers, badging, and interior detailing — making it visually indistinguishable to many casual observers from the full 74kW car.
From a driver’s perspective, the SB2 delivers a genuinely perceptible step up from the 60kW. Throttle response feels sharper, the mid-range pulls more convincingly, and the car’s characteristic lightness is used to better effect. Crucially, the SB2 retains the oil cooler and is no more mechanically stressed in standard form than the 60kW — the higher boost is within well-mapped factory parameters. For buyers who want more performance without paying full Brabus premiums, the 66kW SB2 deserves serious consideration. It is frequently underpriced relative to its driving quality simply because buyers default to seeking either the base car or the full Brabus.
The 74kW Brabus: The Ultimate Factory Smart Roadster
The full 74kW Brabus is the pinnacle of Smart Roadster production, and it is priced accordingly. Running 1.43 bar of boost from the factory and producing 74 kilowatts alongside approximately 135 Nm of torque, the Brabus transforms the Roadster’s performance profile into something genuinely quick. Zero to 100 km/h arrives in around 7.4 seconds — a figure that feels faster than it reads because of how communicative and connected the Brabus feels through every phase of acceleration.
The Brabus Roadster received uprated brakes, bespoke Brabus suspension tuning, distinctive exterior and interior trim, and in many markets came with unique wheel designs. Mechanically, it shares its core engine architecture with all other variants, but the ECU calibration and turbocharger management are optimised for sustained high-boost operation. The MEG 1.1 ECU in the Brabus carries a specific firmware calibration that differs meaningfully from the standard 60kW map — understanding those differences is important context when considering any future remapping work. Our detailed explanation of how the MEG 1.1 ECU manages boost and fuelling gives useful technical background on what the Brabus calibration actually does differently at a hardware level.
Pricing for low-mileage Brabus examples has firmed considerably in recent years. Expect to pay €12,000–€15,000 for a well-presented car, with exceptional low-mileage examples occasionally exceeding that range. The rarity argument is real: full Brabus Roadsters represent a small fraction of total production, and genuinely unmolested examples are becoming increasingly hard to find.
Brabus Coupe vs Roadster: Which Body Style?
The Brabus package was available in both the open Roadster and the glass-roofed Coupe body style. The Coupe offers marginally greater structural rigidity and eliminates many of the soft-top related water ingress issues that plague Roadster variants, but the experience of driving a closed Roadster is fundamentally different from the open car. For most buyers, the Roadster body is the purer choice — the Coupe’s fixed roof removes the element of theatre that makes these cars special on a summer morning.
Smart Roadster Variants Comparison: Key Specs at a Glance
- 45kW Lite: 698cc turbo, 0.89 bar boost, ~45 kW, ~100 Nm. No oil cooler. Avoid for regular use.
- 60kW Standard: 698cc turbo, 1.09 bar boost, ~60 kW, ~110 Nm. Oil cooler fitted. Best all-rounder.
- 66kW SB2 Brabus: 698cc turbo, 1.33 bar boost, ~66 kW, ~120 Nm. Oil cooler fitted. Brabus trim. Underrated value.
- 74kW Brabus: 698cc turbo, 1.43 bar boost, ~74 kW, ~135 Nm. Oil cooler fitted. Brabus suspension, brakes, trim. Ultimate factory spec.
All variants use the Softouch automated manual gearbox and Bosch MEG 1.1 ECU. The firmware version stored in the ECU differs by variant and has a direct impact on drivability — the best available firmware reference across all variants is 1037371568, though original factory maps are variant-specific.
Which Variant Should You Actually Buy?
The honest answer depends on your budget and intentions. For the majority of buyers, the 60kW standard is the correct choice: it is reliable, well-supported, adequately powerful, and available in the greatest numbers. The 45kW Lite should be avoided unless you have a specific reason. The 66kW SB2 is a genuine bargain for the driving experience it offers. The 74kW Brabus is the enthusiast’s choice and worth the premium if you can find a genuine, well-documented example.
If performance enhancement is on your agenda after purchase, it is worth knowing that the ECU calibration is the primary lever available — the architecture across all oil-cooler-fitted variants can be tuned meaningfully within safe parameters. For buyers considering that path, understanding the MEG 1.1 ECU’s EEPROM structure and how maps are read and written is the essential first step before making any remapping decisions.
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice in the Smart Roadster Variants Comparison
This Smart Roadster variants comparison makes one thing clear: the differences between variants are real, consequential, and worth understanding before you commit. The 45kW Lite’s missing oil cooler is a dealbreaker. The 60kW standard earns its reputation as the definitive Roadster. The 66kW SB2 rewards the buyer who looks beyond badge snobbery. And the 74kW Brabus remains the ultimate expression of what Smart achieved with this extraordinary small car. Buy the best example you can find, avoid the Lite, and enjoy one of the most characterful driver’s cars of the early 2000s.
