Yes, Smart Cars are here! These tiny vehicles are the antidote to Hummers everywhere with their unapologetic cargo space, two-seater capacity, eco-friendly construction and bubbly, futuristic styling. That's all part of the appeal as Smart Car owners proudly wave their "less is more" banners.

Get behind the wheel of one, and you'll attain "instant celebrity." People pause in the middle of busy cross-walks to give a thumbs-up, restaurant patrons and servers stop what they’re doing to press their noses to the glass and little kids go absolutely nuts, waving madly and jumping up and down.

And they don't even know what it's like inside. First thing you notice when you get in is how high you're seated. In fact, when you park and look at it from the outside, it's almost puzzling because you'd swear you were just driving a "normal" sized vehicle.

The panoramic roof, especially at nighttime, lets you take in great city views while other options like leatherette interior and power steering make the Smart feel sporty and sleek as you zoom through traffic.

A big plus are the paddle-shifters – two levers on either side of the steering wheel – that allow you to shift, minus a clutch. Not only does this give you the feeling of actually driving, it reduces the stickiness or jerkiness from first to second gear.

While the Smart comes equipped with an iPod jack that makes the car instantly feel more "you," the stereo system, admittedly, isn't the best. And the system upgrade only buys you a 6-disc changer, not extra speakers for the back. There's simply no room for them.

Curious about gas mileage? 33 city/41 highway. This is better than any non-hybrid out there, but you may expect it to be higher given its tiny footprint.

Friends (and strangers) ask about safety all time because it seems counterintuitive that the Smart is safe. But it has a 4-star crash rating since it's constructed similar to a race car with a cage-like system that protects passengers. The four airbags and ABS also offer peace of mind.

Part of Smart's philosophy is to tread a little lighter on the planet, providing another reason to fall in love with the car. The safety cage is powder-coated (a more energy-efficient method), and it uses water-based lacquers, resulting in low-VOC emissions. The body panels are made from 100% recycled plastic and can easily pop on and off if you change your mind about the color or get into a fender bender. Keep in mind that these are just a couple of examples.

There's no denying the Smart Car challenges the status quo. Many think it's a symbol of change, a shift in our thinking. And that comes with a price tag. Starting at $11,590 for the basic model that doesn't even have A/C, you’re not paying for bells and whistles. You're standing for something different and challenging others to re-think transportation and consumption.

Maybe that's lofty. But maybe it's not.

The waiting list is 9-12 months for those of you interested. Check out www.smartusa.com for more info.