SMART stole a march on the competition when their funky little city cars began appearing on congested streets and clogged carriageways several years ago.
At last we had a pocket-sized propulsion unit for trendy young urbanites to park in the high rent spaces between their equally expensive loft appartments.
The trouble was that the quirky motors never quite did what it said on the tin.
Instead of value for money motoring served up in a wardrobe-sized package we got over-priced novelty without quite enough room to store all the newly purchased Jimmy Choos following a hard day's shopping on King Street.
On top of that there was the added disincentive of that sit up `n' beg driving position and a jerky semi-automatic gearbox which stops just short of throwing you through the windscreen.
As quickly as Smart cars became high fashion they have, in my opinion at least, become sooo last season.
But that's good news for the same rivals who stood by and watched as their boring little 106s and Kas were left Smarting. Now, they've stolen back the initiative and I think that Smart have literally been outsmarted.
A £1bn joint production venture between Toyota and Peugeot-Citroen has produced three variations of what is effectively the same city car, all powered and underpinned by the same Czech- produced platform. (see panel below)
And begging to turn heads on Deansgate alongside Toyota's Aygo and Citroen's C1 is Peugeot's 107, the smallest member of the roaring Lion family and not to be confused with the sliding door sensation which is the forthcoming 1007.
To give Smart their due, Peugeot's 3.43 metre 107 borrows more than a little from what must now have become part of the package when you're designing a "city" car.
It boasts a space station-style poddery of dashes and dials and a face which either looks uber-chic or puppy dog depending on how you look at it. I particularly like the glass rear hatch.
It's my guess that the laydees - and I don't think I'm breaking the conventions of political correctness when I say that it's a laydees' car - will love its cool and modern feel.
But here are the clever bits.
In a package not so much smaller than a Smart ForTwo you can easily fit four passengers. With the reat seats folded,there's enough space for designer shopping bags to keep Coleen McLoughlin occupied. Well for half an hour or so, at least.
And the three cylinder, 1,000cc petrol engine actually feels like a proper engine. I was able to get enough performance out of the power unit to keep me satisfied both on those close, clogged city streets and the more fluid A580.
Wind it up to the mid-rev range and it's quite accomplished. Thankfully, the brakes and handling felt just as easy to live with.
If nothing else, the 107 shows just how demanding car buyers have become since the 106, which it effectively replaces.
Sure, it's a bit plastic. But you'd hardly expect a walnut dash.
Peugeot's 107 will begin arriving in showrooms in the next week or so with a price tag of £6,995, just £1,000 more - and a lot trendier - than the incredibly reasonable, and popular, Hyundai Getz.
The Aygo is similarly priced, while the C1 is a tad cheaper.
And all of them will be offered with different trim levels, colours and levels of luxury.
The only downside is that, like a day at the shops, there might be just too much choice.
TECH SPECModel: Peugeot 107 with 1000cc petrol engine
Price: £6,995
0 to 60mph: 14.2 secs
Top speed: 100mph
Consumption: 61mpg
Emissions: 109g/km
Insurance Group: 1E
