This is one of the most unusual, if not absolutely dumbfounding, test drive comparisons ever written. Who would pit a Fit (pardon the pun) together with a Smart in a contest to determine which is the best low-cost sports car... and why? Winding Road Magazine, that's who, and they're serious. But wait, let's put this in the proper context. The editors were acknowledging that many enthusiasts do most of their driving in urban areas and therefore what constitutes sporty driving for them is different from the wide-open backroads where the people of say, Colorado or Nevada, might play. So a sports car for the city has different requirements including, in some families, the need for four doors and a reasonably spacious rear seat, while others may only need two seats. Add in low initial cost, fuel economy, a fun-driving quotient, and you have what us city folks would gladly accept as a sports car.

Personally I've owned a number of economy sedans that I drove around the city with considerable verve when safety allowed. Including oldies like a Morris Minor and a VW Rabbit. Still... a Honda Fit vs. a Smart? Sounds like no contest. The Fit enjoys a solid reputation with the test driving fraternity for its driving dynamics and remarkable interior flexibility. The Smart has been admired for its ability to park in tiny spaces and for its fuel economy but no one has ever called it "sporty" except (boasting a little here) yours truly when reviewing an example sent from Europe to test the reaction of potential Canadian buyers. So which car won in Winding Road's showdown? Well, I'm not going to tell you... not to be mean but because I think you'll really enjoy reading the online test drive. I will give you a hint, however. You're in for a big surprise.

[Photo Credit: Winding Road Magazine]